Overview
In the UAE, health insurance is tied to residence. Every resident needs valid cover, and a residence visa is generally not issued or renewed without it. Who pays depends on the emirate and on whether you are the employee or a family member.
The rules by emirate
| Emirate | Regulator | Who must provide cover |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Department of Health (DoH) | The employer or sponsor covers the employee and their family: one spouse and up to three children under 18 |
| Dubai | Dubai Health Authority (DHA) | The employer covers the employee; the sponsor (often the employee) covers dependants |
| Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah | Federal scheme with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Ministry of Health and Prevention | Since 1 January 2025, employers must buy health insurance for private sector employees and domestic workers before their residence is issued or renewed |
UAE nationals are covered by government schemes, such as Thiqa in Abu Dhabi and Enaya for Dubai citizens and government staff.
What employers must provide
- Cover for the employee, paid by the employer. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi the employer cannot pass the cost of this cover on to the employee.
- In Abu Dhabi, the employer or sponsor also covers the spouse and up to three children under 18.
- In the northern emirates, the federal scheme applies to new work permits from 2025, and to existing workers when their residence is renewed. A low-cost basic package was introduced so that every worker can be covered. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation publishes its current price and benefits.
- Domestic workers must be insured by the person who sponsors them.
The minimum benefits are set by each regulator; in Dubai this minimum is called the Essential Benefits Plan. Many employers offer more than the minimum, so read your job offer carefully.
Dependants
Outside Abu Dhabi, the person who sponsors the family, usually the working parent, must buy cover for the spouse, children and any sponsored parents. Insure a newborn quickly after birth, and check how your policy treats pregnancy and childbirth before you need it, as many plans apply waiting periods for maternity.
Choosing a plan
Compare plans on:
- Network: which hospitals, clinics and pharmacies accept the card directly.
- Co-payment and deductibles: what you pay at each visit and for medicines.
- Annual limit and area of cover: UAE only, or also abroad.
- Pre-existing and chronic conditions: whether they are covered from the start.
- Maternity, dental and optical: often limited or added at extra cost.
Islamic insurance (takaful) is also widely available. Prices depend on age, emirate, benefits and insurer, so ask several licensed insurers or brokers for quotes rather than relying on published averages.
Visitors and people still abroad
Visitors are not covered by residents' schemes. Buy travel insurance that covers medical care in the UAE; some visit visas require it. If you are planning a move, budget for family cover from the day your family's residence is issued.
Common mistakes
Assuming the employer covers the family in Dubai or the northern emirates: it usually does not, unless the contract says so. Letting a policy lapse between jobs or at renewal, which can block visa renewal. Buying a plan whose network does not include the hospitals near your home.
Recommended next step
Check which emirate you will live in and what your job offer says about insurance for you and your family. Then ask two or three licensed insurers for quotes for any dependants your employer will not cover.