Getting Mandatory Health Insurance in the UAE

Researched from official sources ยท May 11, 2026

Getting Mandatory Health Insurance in the UAE

Estimated time

Employer typically purchases the policy within 1-3 working days; the policy must be in place before applying for residency-permit issuance or renewal.

Cost

ุฏ.ุฅ320 per year basic-package premium (federal floor); higher tiers vary by insurer and coverage level

What You Need

Tap to check off items as you gather them

Additional Items

  • Employer details โ€” your employer purchases the policy on your behalf in the standard private-sector route, so you typically do not transact directly with the insurer.
  • Dependent documentation โ€” if your spouse and children under 18 are covered under your sponsor's policy (Abu Dhabi mandate covers 1 spouse and 3 children under 18 by default), provide their passport copies and birth certificates.
  • Salary details โ€” used by the insurer to determine eligible coverage tier; the federal mandate's basic package is AED 320 per year regardless of salary.
Last checked 1 month ago

Step-by-Step

  1. 1

    Your Employer Purchases the Policy

    1. Employer chooses a DHA-licensed (Dubai) or DOH-licensed (Abu Dhabi) insurer from the licensed-insurer list.
    2. Employer purchases the federal-mandate basic package (AED 320 per year per insured) or a higher tier.
    3. Insurer issues the policy and provides the policy number and insurance card.

    ๐Ÿ’ก Tip: Your employer is responsible for purchasing the policy as a federal-mandate residence-permit prerequisite. Ask your employer about the policy tier โ€” the basic AED 320 package has co-payment caps, while higher tiers offer broader coverage.

  2. 2

    Receive Your Insurance Card or Digital Confirmation

    1. Receive the insurance card from your employer or directly from the insurer (digital or physical).
    2. Confirm your name, policy number, and validity period.
    3. Download the insurer's app to access your in-network provider list, claim history, and digital insurance card.

    ๐Ÿ’ก Tip: The insurance card lists the network healthcare providers covered under your policy. Confirm before booking appointments that the provider is in-network.

  3. 3

    Complete the Residence Visa Application

    1. Your employer attaches the insurance policy as a residency-permit prerequisite when submitting the residence application to ICP.
    2. ICP verifies the policy and proceeds with the residence-visa stamp and Emirates ID issuance.

    ๐Ÿ’ก Tip: The insurance policy must be active before the residence-permit application. ICP rejects residence-permit applications without a valid policy.

    u.ae โ€” Getting a health insurance (u.ae โ†—)
  4. 4

    Use the Coverage

    1. Inpatient care: 20% co-payment, max AED 500 per visit, AED 1,000 annual cap (including medications). Beyond the cap, the insurer covers 100%.
    2. Outpatient care: 25% co-payment, max AED 100 per visit.
    3. Use the insurer's app to confirm in-network providers before booking appointments.

    ๐Ÿ’ก Tip: Keep all medical receipts. For reimbursement claims, submit via the insurer's app or website with the receipts and the treatment summary.

  5. 5

    If Needed: File a Claim or Complaint

    1. In Dubai: file via iPROMeS at Dubai Health Insurance Corporation for any complaint about an insurer, broker, or third-party administrator.
    2. In Abu Dhabi: file via Department of Health, Abu Dhabi or directly via Daman customer service.
    3. Federal-level cross-emirate: Central Bank of the UAE handles broader insurance-related complaints.

    ๐Ÿ’ก Tip: Dubai's iPROMeS platform also accepts suggestions and compliments โ€” useful for non-complaint feedback to your insurer.

  6. 6

    Renew at Residence-Visa Renewal

    1. Renew the insurance policy at the same time as your residency-permit renewal.
    2. Your employer is responsible for renewing both โ€” confirm with HR that the policy renewal is included in the residence-permit renewal package.
    3. Update the insurer's records with your renewed Emirates ID once it is issued.

    ๐Ÿ’ก Tip: Insurance and residence visa renew together. Without insurance, the residence-permit renewal cannot proceed.

Local Tips from the Community

  • From 1 January 2025, your employer must purchase a health insurance policy before applying for your residence-permit issuance or renewal. This is a federal mandate, not an emirate-specific rule.
  • The basic-package premium is AED 320 per year per insured. Validity is 2 years. The age band is 1 to 64; applicants over 64 must complete a medical disclosure form with recent medical reports.
  • Local health authorities are split: Dubai is regulated by Dubai Health Authority (DHA); Abu Dhabi by Department of Health (DOH); other emirates have their own arrangements โ€” check with the local emirate's health authority. The federal level (Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP) sets the overarching framework.

What Could Go Wrong

Confirm employer has purchased the policy: Residency-permit application is rejected because no valid health insurance is in place

Recovery: The post-Jan-2025 mandate makes insurance a hard prerequisite. Your employer must purchase the policy before the residency-permit application. Escalate to your employer's HR team if the policy has not been issued โ€” without insurance, the residence permit cannot be issued.

Renew insurance at end of 2-year validity: Your employer renews the residency permit but not the insurance

Recovery: Insurance must be renewed at residency-permit renewal. Confirm with your employer's HR team that the policy renewal is included in the residence-permit renewal package; otherwise, the residence permit cannot be renewed.

Access network healthcare provider: Provider is not in the insurer's network

Recovery: The basic-package coverage is provider-network-dependent. Use the insurer's app or website to find in-network providers. Out-of-network treatment requires higher out-of-pocket co-payment and may not be reimbursable.

File a claim: Insurer denies the claim or disputes the coverage

Recovery: In Dubai, file a complaint via iPROMeS. In Abu Dhabi, file via DOH or Daman customer service. At the federal level, file an insurance complaint via Central Bank of the UAE.

Costs

Item Amount Payment Notes
Basic-package premium (per year, per insured) ุฏ.ุฅ320 Annual premium, employer-paid in the standard private-sector route Federal-mandate basic-package premium per u.ae Getting a Health Insurance. No waiting period for workers with chronic illnesses.
Inpatient co-payment cap per visit ุฏ.ุฅ500 Max insured pays per inpatient visit Inpatient co-payment is 20% of treatment cost, capped at AED 500 per visit and AED 1,000 annual cap including medications. Beyond the annual cap, the insurer covers 100%.
Inpatient annual cap (including medications) ุฏ.ุฅ1,000 Annual cap on insured's out-of-pocket inpatient costs Cumulative ceiling on the 20% co-payment for inpatient care, including medication costs.
Outpatient co-payment cap per visit ุฏ.ุฅ100 Max insured pays per outpatient visit Outpatient co-payment is 25% of treatment cost, capped at AED 100 per visit.
Basic-package premium (per year, per insured) ุฏ.ุฅ320
Payment:
Annual premium, employer-paid in the standard private-sector route
Notes:
Federal-mandate basic-package premium per u.ae Getting a Health Insurance. No waiting period for workers with chronic illnesses.
Inpatient co-payment cap per visit ุฏ.ุฅ500
Payment:
Max insured pays per inpatient visit
Notes:
Inpatient co-payment is 20% of treatment cost, capped at AED 500 per visit and AED 1,000 annual cap including medications. Beyond the annual cap, the insurer covers 100%.
Inpatient annual cap (including medications) ุฏ.ุฅ1,000
Payment:
Annual cap on insured's out-of-pocket inpatient costs
Notes:
Cumulative ceiling on the 20% co-payment for inpatient care, including medication costs.
Outpatient co-payment cap per visit ุฏ.ุฅ100
Payment:
Max insured pays per outpatient visit
Notes:
Outpatient co-payment is 25% of treatment cost, capped at AED 100 per visit.
Total: ุฏ.ุฅ1,920

FAQ

Documents

Why do I need health insurance for my residence visa?

Since 1 January 2025, federal law requires employers to purchase a health insurance policy as a prerequisite for issuing or renewing residency permits of private-sector employees and domestic workers. The mandate is fully active in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; rollout to the other emirates is in progress โ€” confirm the effective date with your local emirate's health authority.

Are my family members covered under my insurance?

In Abu Dhabi, the basic mandate covers 1 spouse and 3 children under 18 years through the employer's policy. In Dubai, sponsors are required to insure resident dependents. The basic-package premium of AED 320 per year applies per dependent. Family members beyond the mandated dependents need separate self-purchased insurance.

What if I am 65 or older?

The basic package covers ages 1 to 64. If you are above 64, you must complete a medical disclosure form and attach recent medical reports. Specific insurer policies determine the coverage terms for over-64 applicants โ€” premiums may be higher and waiting periods may apply.

I'm outside Abu Dhabi and Dubai โ€” does the mandate apply?

Yes โ€” the federal mandate extends to all emirates. As of 2026, rollout to the remaining emirates is in progress. Confirm the effective date with your local emirate's health authority.

Is the health insurance the same as the medical fitness test for my residence visa?

No. The medical fitness test (chest x-ray, blood tests for communicable diseases) is paid out-of-pocket at an accredited centre โ€” typically AED 250-700. The health insurance policy is a separate requirement covering ongoing treatment costs. Both are required as residence-visa prerequisites.

Does Dubai require TB screening like Abu Dhabi for the medical fitness test?

Abu Dhabi screens for pulmonary tuberculosis via chest x-ray at first issuance. Dubai does not require TB screening at first issuance. However, all resident expatriates must undergo TB screening at residence-visa renewal, per the 2016 Cabinet Resolution.

Costs

Who pays for my health insurance โ€” me or my employer?

Your employer in the standard private-sector route. In Dubai, employers are required to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. In Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors provide coverage for their employees and their families (1 spouse and 3 children under 18 years).

How much does the basic insurance package cost?

AED 320 per year per insured, with no waiting period for chronic illnesses. Validity is 2 years. The premium covers ages 1 to 64; over-64 applicants must complete a medical disclosure form.

What does the basic package cover?

Inpatient care with 20% co-payment, capped at AED 500 per visit and AED 1,000 annual cap (including medications). Outpatient care with 25% co-payment, capped at AED 100 per visit. Beyond the inpatient annual cap, the insurer covers 100% of treatment costs.

After This Process

  • โ†’ Medical fitness test โ€” separate from the insurance policy; required for residence-visa issuance. See the residence-visa guide for the medical-fitness test workflow.
  • โ†’ Emirates ID โ€” issued together with your residence visa; the insurance card and Emirates ID together cover most healthcare-system interactions.
  • โ†’ MOHRE work permit โ€” your employer's prerequisite for the residence-permit application; see the MOHRE work permit guide.
  • โ†’ Bank account โ€” once your residence visa and Emirates ID are issued, opening a UAE bank account unlocks the salary-account flow.

Sources

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  1. T1
    u.ae โ€” UAE Government Portal 2026-05-11

    The u.ae Getting a Health Insurance aggregator documents the federal mandate effective 1 January 2025 (employers must purchase health insurance as a prerequisite for issuing or renewing residency permits of private-sector employees and domestic workers; fully active in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with rollout to the other emirates in progress), the basic-package premium of AED 320 per year with no waiting period for chronic illnesses, the 2-year validity, the 1-64 age band, the 20% inpatient co-payment with AED 500 per visit cap and AED 1,000 annual cap (including medications), and the 25% outpatient co-payment with AED 100 per visit cap. It also documents the emirate-level frameworks for Dubai (DHA) and Abu Dhabi (DOH, including Daman), and notes separate UAE-national programmes that are out of scope for this expat-focused guide.

    u.ae
  2. T1
    u.ae โ€” UAE Government Portal 2026-05-11

    The u.ae Health Authorities page establishes the federal health hierarchy: Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) is the federal authority providing comprehensive healthcare, with Emirates Health Services Establishment (EHS) implementing federal preventive and treatment services. Local health authorities are Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH), and Sharjah Health Authority. The Emirates Drug Establishment regulates medical products.

    u.ae
  3. T1
    u.ae โ€” UAE Government Portal 2026-05-11

    The u.ae Health Conditions for UAE Residence Visa page documents the medical fitness test requirements: free of HIV and TB; specific worker categories (nursery workers, domestic workers, food handlers, salon staff, health-club staff) test for syphilis and Hepatitis B; female domestic workers test for pregnancy. Abu Dhabi screens for TB via chest x-ray at first issuance; Dubai does not at first issuance. Per the 2016 Cabinet Resolution, all expatriate residents undergo TB screening at residence-visa renewal.

    u.ae
  4. T1
    Department of Health, Abu Dhabi (DOH) โ€” Shafafiya regulatory portal 2026-05-11

    DOH's Shafafiya regulatory portal is the canonical Abu Dhabi health data-exchange standards repository, governing how healthcare information is exchanged between healthcare entities and DOH. Shafafiya operates the Data Exchange and Notices systems. The portal confirms DOH's role as Abu Dhabi's emirate-level health authority and the regulatory framework for its mandatory health insurance scheme.

    doh.gov.ae
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