Online psychiatrist in Dubai: secure video appointments across the UAE
Belle Vie’s online psychiatrist in Dubai, Dr. Peyman Mirshahzadeh, sees patients by secure video from anywhere in the UAE. Assessment, diagnosis, most prescribing and follow-up reviews happen in the same way as they would in our JLT clinic, with the same DHA-licensed psychiatrist and the same clinical record.
Online appointments suit people who travel for work, live outside Dubai, have a full schedule, or simply find it easier to talk from home. Some things still need an in-person visit, and this page explains which. If you would rather start face to face, see our psychiatry service in JLT.
How Online Psychiatry Works at Belle Vie
You book through the contact page or by phone and choose an online slot. Before the appointment you receive a telehealth consent form and a secure video link. A first assessment lasts 50 to 60 minutes and a follow-up 20 to 30 minutes, the same as in the clinic.
At the start of the call, Dr. Peyman confirms your identity, as Dubai Health Authority telehealth standards require, and checks that you are somewhere private. He then takes a full history in the way he would in person: what brought you, how long it has been going on, your sleep, physical health, current medication, and what you are hoping will change.
If medication is appropriate, the prescription is issued electronically and we explain how to collect it. If therapy would help alongside or instead of medication, he can refer you to one of Belle Vie’s psychologists, and the two of them coordinate so you are not carrying two separate plans.
What an Online Psychiatrist in Dubai Can Help With
An online psychiatrist in Dubai can assess and treat most of what is seen in the clinic. Dr. Peyman sees adults and adolescents aged 15 and over, in English and Farsi. Eating disorders are the one area we do not treat. Online appointments cover:
- Depression and persistent low mood
- Anxiety, panic attacks and health anxiety
- Bipolar disorder and mood swings
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- PTSD and trauma-related conditions
- Adult ADHD follow-up and non-stimulant medication (stimulants need an in-person visit)
- Perinatal and postnatal depression
- Sleep problems linked to mood or anxiety
- Burnout and stress that no longer responds to rest
- Medication reviews and second opinions on an existing prescription
- Ongoing follow-up after a diagnosis made elsewhere
- Physical symptoms that keep returning when tests are clear
What Can and Cannot Be Done in an Online Psychiatry Appointment
Most psychiatric care translates to video without losing anything: taking a history, reaching a diagnosis, explaining the options, starting and adjusting most medications, and reviewing how you are doing. Antidepressants, most mood stabilisers and antipsychotic medication can all be prescribed online in the UAE.
The limit is set by regulation, not by preference. The DHA Standards for Telehealth Services do not allow narcotic, controlled or semi-controlled medication to be prescribed through telehealth. In practice that covers most benzodiazepines, stimulant medication for ADHD, and some sleeping tablets and painkillers.
You will need an in-person appointment at the JLT clinic if:
- The medication being considered is controlled or semi-controlled
- A physical examination or blood tests need to be arranged
- You are in crisis or there is a concern about safety
- A private space or a reliable connection is not available to you
- You are outside the UAE (ask us first; the rules differ by country)
- Dr. Peyman judges that the assessment needs to be face to face
None of this locks you into one format. Many people have a first assessment in person and move to online follow-ups, or start online and come in for a single visit when a specific medication needs it. Your record, your psychiatrist and your treatment plan stay the same either way.
Privacy, Consent and Identity Checks
Online psychiatry in Dubai is regulated in the same way as in-person care. Before your first video appointment you sign a telehealth consent form, and at the start of each call Dr. Peyman confirms at least three identifiers, usually your full name, date of birth and Emirates ID or phone number. This is a DHA requirement, not a Belle Vie policy.
The video link is encrypted and your notes are kept in the same confidential clinical record as in-person visits. Sessions are not recorded. We ask that you join from a private space: a closed room at home or at work is fine, an open-plan office is not.
If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian consents on your behalf and is usually present for part of the first appointment.
Your First Online Psychiatry Appointment: What to Expect
The first appointment is a 50 to 60 minute assessment. It is a conversation, not a test. Dr. Peyman asks about the difficulty that brought you, when it started, how it affects your days, your sleep, appetite, energy and concentration, your physical health and any previous treatment. By the end you should have a working diagnosis, or an honest statement that it is not yet clear, and a plan you understand.
Before the call, it helps to have:
- Your Emirates ID or passport for the identity check
- A list of current medication, including doses and anything bought over the counter
- Any previous reports, prescriptions or discharge letters
- A note of what you want to get out of the appointment
- Headphones and a charged device on a stable connection
- A private room where you will not be interrupted for an hour
Follow-ups are shorter, 20 to 30 minutes, and are where most of the work of medication happens: checking the response, adjusting the dose and watching for side effects. Regular reviews in the first weeks matter, and online appointments make them easier to keep. The evidence base for telepsychiatry is now well established; the American Psychiatric Association summarises research showing good outcomes and high patient satisfaction with video-based psychiatric care.
Meet Your Psychiatrist
Dr. Peyman Mirshahzadeh, MD is a Dubai Health Authority licensed Specialist Psychiatrist with more than eight years of clinical experience. He earned his Doctor of Medicine and completed his residency in Psychiatry at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, and has worked across general hospitals, private clinics and his own psychiatry practice. He consults in English and Farsi and sees adults and adolescents aged 15 and over, in person at our JLT clinic and online across the UAE. Read more about Dr. Peyman, see the full psychiatry service in Dubai, or find out about online therapy with our psychologists.
Where We Are
Belle Vie Therapy & Wellness is at HDS Business Centre, Office 403, Cluster M, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Dubai. Online appointments are available to anyone in the UAE; in-person visits are by booking only. Directions and contact details.
In an Emergency
Online psychiatry is not an emergency service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 998 for an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. For urgent but non-emergency concerns, contact us and we will find the earliest available appointment, in person or online.