Desk research against primary sources. Figures are traced to the issuing UAE authority and linked on the page.
No referral being required for a second opinion is a statement about access, not about cost — the appointment itself is still billed like an ordinary consultation, and whether your insurer treats it as routine outpatient cover or something needing separate approval depends on the plan rather than the fact that no referral was needed to get there. Confirming that distinction with your insurer before booking avoids a surprise bill for what felt like a straightforward, unreferred appointment.
Getting the records released takes time, since the original hospital or clinic has to prepare the imaging and reports rather than hand them over instantly, so request them as soon as you decide to seek a second opinion rather than the day before the appointment. Ask the second clinic in advance what format they can actually accept, because not every system reads the same disc or file type, and turning up with the wrong format defeats the purpose of bringing your records at all.