In short: UAE and Qatar nationals can enter China visa-free under mutual exemptions in force since 2018, and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain were added to China's visa-free list on a trial basis from June 2025; we check the current status for your passport. China's large public hospitals have checkup centres and specialist teams that treat very high numbers of patients, and Kunming has a long-established Hui Muslim community with halal food.
Why a checkup or specialist visit in China
- Advanced equipment and large teams: China's major public hospitals run checkup centres with CT, MRI, ultrasound and endoscopy in the same building, and their specialist teams treat very high numbers of patients. Most of the hospitals in our guide hold Grade III, Class A, the highest rating in China's hospital system.
- A route to specialist care: if the checkup finds something, the same trip can continue with a specialist at a leading public hospital in the same city, or at the right specialist centre elsewhere in China.
- Privacy and comfort: a hotel or a standard private residence, with a chef, a housekeeper and a driver for the whole stay on request; female coordinators can be arranged.
Visa and entry
- UAE and Qatar: mutual visa exemption with China since 2018, usually for stays of up to 30 days.
- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain: added to China's visa-free list on a one-year trial from 9 June 2025, for stays of up to 30 days. Check whether it still applies on your travel date; we confirm it for you.
- Longer treatment needs a visa, supported by a hospital invitation letter. More in our visa-free entry guide.
Flights
Gulf carriers connect the region with Chengdu and other Chinese cities, and Kunming and Chongqing are reached directly or with one connection. Schedules change; we check current flights for your dates, and your coordinator meets you at arrivals.
Halal food and prayer
Kunming has a long-established Hui Muslim community, with mosques and many halal restaurants marked 清真 (halal). We arrange halal meals, point you to the nearest mosque and leave room for prayer times when we schedule appointments. See Before you arrive.
What is included
- A comprehensive checkup at the checkup centre of a large public hospital, in one of three programmes; see the programmes.
- Your report translated into English, or another language on request, and DICOM copies of the images your programme includes, where the centre provides them.
- A doctor explains the results, in person or by video. If something needs treatment, we arrange it at a leading public hospital in the same city or at the right specialist centre elsewhere in China.
- Airport pickup, private car, guide and hotel or a standard private residence through our licensed partner travel agency; a chef, a housekeeper and a driver can be arranged for the whole stay.
- A written, itemised quote before you travel, with hospital fees and our coordination fee listed separately.
A typical trip
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival, airport pickup, hotel; a briefing on fasting and what to bring |
| Day 2 | Checkup day, coordinator at your side |
| Day 3 onwards | Explore the city while your report is prepared |
| Before you fly | A doctor explains your results; specialist referral if needed |
Hospitals: see Kunming, Chongqing and Chengdu.
Frequently asked questions
Will my report be in Arabic?
Can a female doctor or coordinator be arranged?
Can my family come with me?
Sources: Gulf News, Gulf visa waiver; The New Arab, visa-free entry for Gulf states; China Briefing, visa-free travel guide. Always confirm entry rules with the Chinese embassy before you travel.