Mandatory Health Insurance in UAE
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from UAE federal decrees, laws, and ministerial decisions. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Health insurance is mandatory in the UAE. Your employer or sponsor is generally required to provide it:
- Employer obligation: All private-sector employers must provide health insurance for their employees. In Dubai, employers must also cover dependents if the employee's salary is below AED 4,000/month.
- Visa requirement: You cannot obtain or renew a residence visa without active health insurance in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
- Minimum coverage: Insurance plans must meet the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) standards, which include outpatient visits, inpatient care, emergency treatment, maternity care, and prescription medicines.
- Domestic workers: Employers must provide health insurance for domestic workers as well.
- Free zones: Free zone authorities typically require employers to provide health insurance, often with specific minimum coverage levels.
When does it apply?
- You are a resident of the UAE (employed, self-employed, or a dependent).
- You live in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, where health insurance is mandatory. Other emirates are implementing similar requirements.
- You are a domestic worker employed by a UAE household.
What to Do If Your UAE Employer Has Not Provided Health Insurance
- Confirm your employer has enrolled you in a health insurance plan before you start working.
- Get a copy of your insurance card and understand what your plan covers — especially co-pays, network hospitals, and exclusions.
- If your employer does not provide insurance, file a complaint with MOHRE through the MOHRE app or 600-590000 hotline, or with the health authority in your emirate — DHA (800-342) in Dubai, DOH (800-555) in Abu Dhabi. Employers face fines of up to AED 10,000 per uninsured worker.
- Golden Visa and Green Visa holders must arrange their own health insurance, as they are self-sponsored. The DAMAN basic plan in Abu Dhabi is the most affordable EBP-compliant option.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not go without insurance — medical care in the UAE is expensive, and you face fines for not having valid coverage.
- Do not accept a plan that does not meet EBP standards — check with the health authority if you are unsure.
- Do not forget to update your insurance when changing jobs — there may be a gap in coverage during the transition.
Common Questions
When does it apply — mandatory health insurance?
You are a resident of the UAE (employed, self-employed, or a dependent).You live in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, where health insurance is mandatory. Other emirates are implementing similar requirements.You are a domestic worker employed by a UAE household.
What should I do if my employer in the UAE has not enrolled me in a health insurance plan?
Confirm your employer has enrolled you in a health insurance plan before you start working.Get a copy of your insurance card and understand what your plan covers — especially co-pays, network hospitals, and exclusions.If your employer does not provide insurance, file a complaint with MOHRE through the MOHRE app or 600-590000 hotline, or with the health authority in your emirate — DHA (800-342) in Dubai, DOH (800-555) in Abu Dhabi. Employers face fines of up to AED 10,000 per uninsured worker.Golden Visa and Green Visa holders must arrange their own health insurance, as they are self-sponsored....
What should you NOT do — mandatory health insurance?
Do not go without insurance — medical care in the UAE is expensive, and you face fines for not having valid coverage.Do not accept a plan that does not meet EBP standards — check with the health authority if you are unsure.Do not forget to update your insurance when changing jobs — there may be a gap in coverage during the transition.