Mandatory Health Insurance
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on UAE federal decrees, laws, and ministerial decisions.
UAE Federal Law
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 should you do?
- 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 or the health authority in your emirate (DHA in Dubai, DOH in Abu Dhabi).
- Golden Visa and Green Visa holders must arrange their own health insurance, as they are self-sponsored.
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.
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