UAE health insurance is mandatory for all UAE residents and it is a prerequisite for obtaining or renewing a UAE residence visa. Here is a complete 2025 guide to UAE mandatory health insurance requirements.
UAE Health Insurance Mandate
Dubai: mandatory health insurance for all residents (employees and dependents) since 2014 (phase-in completed for all Dubai employers by 2016). Abu Dhabi: mandatory health insurance for all residents since 2006. Other Emirates (Sharjah, RAK, etc.): mandatory health insurance for employees is being phased in under the Dubai and Abu Dhabi model. Check current status with MOHAP or the specific emirate’s health authority. Employer responsibility: Dubai and Abu Dhabi regulations place the health insurance obligation on the EMPLOYER (not the employee). Employers must pay for employee health insurance, not deduct it from salary. Domestic workers: health insurance is mandatory for housemaids and domestic workers. The employer must pay.
Minimum Required Health Insurance Coverage
Dubai Enhanced Network Policy (basic mandatory plan): minimum AED 150,000 annual benefit limit, coverage for in-patient and day surgery, emergency and repatriation, and maternity (AED 10,000 coverage). Annual cost for basic plan: AED 600-2,000 per person depending on age, gender, nationality, and insurer. Higher-tier plans: AED 2,500-10,000+/year per person. The AED 150,000 minimum is the DHA floor. Most employers provide better coverage for higher-earning employees.
Health Insurance for Self-Employed/Freelancers
Freelance permit holders and investor visa holders must obtain health insurance independently (no employer). Buy a UAE health insurance policy from any DHA-approved insurer (Daman, AXA, MetLife, ADNIC, Nana, etc.) and submit the policy certificate when applying for or renewing your visa. Annual cost for a 30-year-old on a basic plan: AED 800-1,500. For a 50-year-old: AED 2,000-4,000. Chronic conditions: may be excluded in the first year of some policies. Ask your broker about pre-existing condition coverage.