Health insurance for employees in the UAE, emirate by emirate

Yes. Every private sector employee in the UAE must have health insurance, and the employer pays for it. Each emirate got there at a different time and runs it a little differently, which matters most for family cover.

When it became mandatory, and who runs it

In the five emirates that joined in 2025, the employer must buy the policy before a residence permit is issued or renewed. Employees whose work permits were issued before 1 January 2025 come in at their next residence renewal.

Who pays

The employer pays for the employee, everywhere.

• Dubai: the law says the employer bears the cost and must not charge it to the employee. DHA adds that it can’t be deducted from salary under any circumstances.
• Abu Dhabi: an employer who recovers any part of its share from the employee is fined AED 10,000 per person and must pay the money back.
• The other five emirates: MOHRE puts the cost on the employer when the residence permit is issued or renewed. The Labour Law also makes the employer bear the cost of the worker’s medical care, and bars charging the worker for recruitment and employment costs.

The family

This is where the emirates differ.

• Abu Dhabi: the employer must also insure one spouse and up to three children under 18, if they hold an Abu Dhabi residence visa. Parents and a fourth child are the sponsor’s cost.
• Dubai: the sponsor, usually the employee, insures the people they sponsor. DHA encourages employers to cover the family, and some do as a benefit.
• The other five emirates: family members can join the same MOHRE package at the same price. ICP needs valid insurance for their residence permits too. No official page puts their cover on the employer.

If you’re comparing offers across emirates, put the family cover in the package. The same salary means something different in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai.

The minimum plans

• Dubai, Essential Benefits Plan: the minimum every employer must offer, and the plan for employees earning AED 4,000 a month or less. Its annual claims limit is AED 150,000. DHA set the 2025 price band at AED 550 to 750 a person a year, plus VAT.
• Abu Dhabi, Basic Plan: for lower-income workers, below DoH’s income threshold. Other employees are covered on enhanced plans.
• The other five emirates, MOHRE’s package: AED 320 a year, sold as a two-year policy, with the second year refunded if the visa is cancelled. It covers ages 1 to 64, with no waiting period for chronic conditions. Co-payments: 20% for inpatient care, capped at AED 500 a visit and AED 1,000 a year; 25% for outpatient visits, capped at AED 100; 30% for medicines, up to AED 1,500 a year. Telehealth has no co-payment except for pharmacy.

Most skilled hires get more than the minimum. Plans above it are priced by insurers, not set by the government, so get quotes for your team.

The visa link

No policy, no visa. Abu Dhabi law bars issuing or renewing a residence permit without one. DHA has refused new and renewed Dubai visas without insurance since 2015. In the other five emirates the policy is a condition of issuing or renewing the residence, and ICP lists valid health insurance among the documents.

That’s why we arrange the policy before the residence visa, and renew it with the visa.

Fines

Emiratis and domestic workers

• Emiratis: Abu Dhabi nationals are covered by Thiqa, the government programme. In Dubai, the law covers nationals too, and DHA’s employer guidance lets an Emirati in the private sector join the employer’s scheme, which the employer then pays for. In the other emirates, Emiratis use their health card with Emirates Health Services.
• Domestic workers: the household employer insures them or pays for their treatment, under Federal Decree-Law 9 of 2022. In the five emirates that joined in 2025, the same MOHRE package applies at visa issue or renewal.

How we handle it

Through us as Employer of Record, every employee is insured before their residence visa, on the plan you choose. The premium is at cost, with the insurer’s receipt, plus our service fee per person insured. In Abu Dhabi the family cover the law requires is in the quote from the start. You can see the cost by emirate and plan in our employer cost calculator.