The strengths of this study include the high response rate and participation of multi-ethnic patients. We also attempted to minimise the effect of social desirability response bias by assuring respondent confidentiality. Our results, however, should be viewed in light of some limitations. First, the cross-sectional study design provides correlation, but not causal inference. Patients from only two institutions were surveyed; however, both participating hospitals have large oncology units and one is the regional referral centre for the UAE and neighbouring countries. Also, most patient participants had breast or gynaecologic malignancies. Perspectives of patients with other malignancies, including gastrointestinal cancers, are important. Finally, inherent to any self-report of complex issues, such as quality of life, there are influencing factors that may not have been fully addressed in this study, including family/caregiver and social support, spirituality and patient individual personality. Notwithstanding these limitations, to our knowledge, this is the first study in the region that has assessed the supportive care needs of cancer patients and provides valuable information to improve patient care. Identifying and understanding cancer patient perspectives is a first step in the development of hospital and community services to meet their needs. Future studies focusing on the implementation of integrated multidimensional approaches to cancer support services are needed to help improve the quality of UAE cancer patients’ and families’ lives.