# Health insurance in the UAE: who provides it

> In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, employers insure their employees and sponsors their dependants. For private-sector employees and domestic workers, health insurance is a condition of the residence permit. The basic package costs AED 320 a year.

- Section: Insurance › Health insurance
- Last updated: 2026-11-12
- Source: https://staging.nuzan.ai/en-ae/knowledge/health-insurance

## Who provides it

- **Abu Dhabi:** employers and sponsors provide health insurance for their employees, covering one spouse and three
  children under 18. \[1]
- **Dubai:** employers must provide health insurance for their employees, and sponsors insure their resident
  dependants. \[1]
- **Private sector and domestic workers, across the UAE:** employers buy a health insurance policy as a prerequisite
  for issuing or renewing the residence permit. It is mandatory in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and is being extended to the
  other emirates. \[1]

## The basic package

The basic insurance package costs AED 320 a year, with no waiting period for workers with chronic illnesses. It covers
people aged 1 to 64; people over 64 complete a medical disclosure form with recent medical reports. Family dependants
of the worker can have the same benefits and price. \[1] For what you pay at a visit and for medicines, see "Cover for
chronic conditions and medicines under the basic package". \[1]

## Who regulates it

The Central Bank of the UAE supervises and regulates the insurance sector and licenses insurance companies; it
publishes the list of registered insurance companies. \[2] In Dubai, the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation regulates
the health insurance sector. \[1]

## Sources

1. UAE Government portal, "Getting a health insurance" (updated 8 September 2026):
   <https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/health-and-fitness/Healthcare-access-and-insurance/getting-a-health-insurance>
2. UAE Government portal, "Insurance" (updated 28 September 2026):
   <https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/finance-and-investment/insurance>

Arabic version: https://staging.nuzan.ai/ar-ae/knowledge/health-insurance