Employers are responsible for arranging and paying for mandatory health insurance for their eligible employees in the UAE. This requirement applies to private-sector workers across all seven emirates, although the applicable insurance scheme and family coverage rules can differ.
The nationwide expansion of mandatory health insurance took effect on 1 January 2025 for private-sector employees and domestic workers in the northern emirates. Dubai and Abu Dhabi already had mandatory insurance systems.
The main distinction is between insurance for an employee and insurance for their family. An employer must arrange the required coverage for the employee, but responsibility for a spouse or children depends on the emirate, sponsorship arrangements and applicable insurance rules.
If you work in the UAE, here is what you need to know about who pays, what your employer must provide and what to do if your coverage is missing.
Who Pays for Employee Health Insurance in the UAE?
The employer must arrange and pay for the required health insurance policy for an eligible employee. Mandatory employee insurance is not an ordinary personal expense that a company can simply deduct from the worker's salary.
MoHRE's July 2026 guidance reaffirmed several requirements for covered workers:
- The employer must provide a policy that meets the applicable minimum coverage requirements.
- The worker must not bear the cost of subscribing to or renewing the required policy.
- Coverage must remain valid throughout the relevant work-permit period.
- An employer must not cancel the policy in a way that leaves the worker without required coverage.
Insurance compliance is also connected to work-permit procedures. The authorities verify the required insurance when processing relevant permit applications and renewals.
These requirements mean that an employer cannot treat mandatory employee health insurance as an optional benefit. However, the exact policy benefits depend on the applicable scheme and the plan selected.
What Changed on 1 January 2025?
Before 2025, mandatory health insurance arrangements for private-sector workers were already established in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The nationwide expansion extended the required insurance scheme to private-sector workers and domestic workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Under the expanded scheme, employers must arrange the required policy when the applicable residence-permit requirements take effect.
There are transition provisions for certain existing workers. MoHRE's published guidance explains that workers with qualifying permits issued before 1 January 2025 were not necessarily required to purchase the new policy immediately, but insurance becomes necessary under the applicable renewal arrangements.
Therefore, an employee who was already working in the UAE before 2025 should not assume either that the new requirement applied immediately or that they remain exempt indefinitely. Their permit and renewal circumstances matter.
The nationwide requirement also does not mean that every worker receives the same policy. A basic scheme and a more comprehensive company-sponsored plan can have different benefits, limits and provider networks.
Does Health Insurance Responsibility Differ by Emirate?
Yes. The employer-funded requirement for employee coverage applies broadly, but the rules governing dependents and the applicable insurance scheme require closer attention.
Dubai: Employers insure employees, sponsors insure dependents
Under Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013, employers must enrol their employees in the required health insurance and bear the cost. The employer must also maintain the required coverage during the employee's service period.
The law prohibits charging the cost of the employee's mandatory insurance to the beneficiary.
What about a spouse or children?
Dubai distinguishes between an employee's insurance and insurance for people sponsored by that employee.
If a company provides only employee coverage, the employee who sponsors a spouse or children generally remains responsible for arranging their insurance, unless they are covered through another qualifying arrangement.
For example, a company might pay for an employee's policy but exclude the employee's spouse and children. The employee should check the sponsorship and insurance requirements before assuming that the family is covered.
The official Dubai health insurance guidance (opens in a new tab) explains the distinction between employer responsibilities and sponsors' obligations.
Abu Dhabi: Family coverage has broader requirements
Abu Dhabi has a separate mandatory health insurance framework. Official UAE government guidance states that employers and sponsors are responsible for providing coverage for eligible employees and their families, generally including one spouse and three children under 18.
The precise responsibility depends on the applicable rules, sponsorship arrangements and insurance scheme. It is therefore important not to assume that every family member, regardless of circumstances, must be covered under the same employer policy or that every dependent's premium is always paid in the same way.
If you work in Abu Dhabi, ask HR which policy applies to you and your eligible dependents. If you have additional children or an unusual sponsorship arrangement, confirm the requirements with the Department of Health Abu Dhabi rather than relying on a general description.
Sharjah, Ajman and the other northern emirates
The mandatory scheme introduced in 2025 requires employers to arrange the applicable health insurance for eligible private-sector employees and domestic workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
The basic insurance package provides a minimum option for eligible workers. Employers can also arrange other qualifying insurance policies where appropriate.
The important point is that employers remain responsible for the required employee policy, including its cost. Family coverage and additional benefits should be checked against the particular policy and applicable rules rather than assumed to be identical to Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Who Pays for Health Insurance for Family Members?
This depends on the emirate and the family member's circumstances. The responsibility for an employee's own mandatory policy should not be confused with the responsibility for a spouse or child.
| Situation | General rule |
|---|---|
| Eligible private-sector employee in Dubai | Employer arranges and pays for the required employee coverage |
| Spouse or child sponsored by a Dubai employee | Sponsor generally arranges insurance if the dependent is not covered through an employer's plan |
| Eligible employee and dependents in Abu Dhabi | Employer and sponsor responsibilities follow Abu Dhabi's separate rules |
| Eligible private-sector employee in a northern emirate | Employer arranges and pays for the required employee policy under the applicable scheme |
| Employer offers family insurance voluntarily | Check which dependents are included and what costs or conditions apply |
Some employers provide family coverage as part of their employment packages. Others cover only the employee, subject to the rules that apply in the relevant emirate.
If family insurance is important to you, ask HR for the details in writing. Confirm whether the policy includes your spouse and children, whether there are age or eligibility limits, and who is responsible for arranging any additional required coverage.
Do not assume that an offer letter mentioning medical insurance automatically covers your entire family.
Can an Employer Deduct Health Insurance Costs From Your Salary?
An employer must not make the employee pay for the required mandatory employee insurance subscription or renewal.
MoHRE's guidance confirms that workers must not bear any portion of those costs under the covered scheme. Dubai's health insurance law also explicitly requires employers to bear the cost of enrolling employees and prohibits charging that cost to beneficiaries.
If your payslip shows a medical insurance deduction, ask HR what it relates to. It could concern a separate benefit or a dependent's policy rather than your mandatory employee coverage.
Request a written explanation and check the applicable rules before drawing conclusions. If the deduction appears to cover your own required employee policy, you can raise the matter with the relevant labour or health insurance authority.
Remember that insurance co-payments are different from insurance premiums. Depending on the policy, an insured person may still have to contribute towards certain consultations, medicines or treatments.
What Should You Do if Your Employer Has Not Provided Insurance?
If you have started working and cannot confirm that your health insurance is active, take the following steps.
1. Ask HR for your policy details.
Request the insurer's name, policy number, coverage dates and insurance card. If your card has not arrived, ask whether the policy has been activated.
2. Confirm that the coverage is valid.
Check the effective date and make sure the policy covers the relevant employment period. A promise that insurance is being processed is not the same as confirmation of active coverage.
3. Keep written records.
Save your employment contract, offer letter, payslips and messages about insurance. These documents may help if you need to explain the issue to an authority.
4. Contact the appropriate authority if the issue remains unresolved.
For covered private-sector employment matters, you can contact the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. You may also need to contact the relevant health insurance authority, depending on your emirate and circumstances.
5. Do not assume you must purchase a replacement policy yourself.
If your employer has failed to meet its obligations, buying another policy may not resolve the compliance issue. Ask the relevant authority how to proceed and keep records of any expenses you incur.
Does an Employer Have to Provide Comprehensive Health Insurance?
Not necessarily. The employer must meet the applicable minimum requirements, but this does not automatically entitle every employee to a premium or comprehensive policy.
A basic policy may have a limited provider network, treatment limits, exclusions or co-payments. A more comprehensive employer-sponsored plan may offer broader hospital access and additional benefits.
Before relying on your insurance, check:
- Which hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are included.
- Whether specialist appointments require referrals.
- How much you must contribute towards consultations and medicines.
- Whether maternity care and pre-existing conditions are covered, and under what terms.
- Whether dental, optical or other additional services are included.
- What exclusions, waiting periods and annual limits apply.
Having mandatory insurance does not mean that every treatment is free. Understanding your policy can help you avoid unexpected medical expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is health insurance mandatory for private-sector employees in the UAE?
Yes. Mandatory health insurance applies to eligible private-sector employees across the UAE. The nationwide expansion to the northern emirates took effect on 1 January 2025, subject to applicable transition and renewal arrangements.
Can my employer deduct the cost of mandatory insurance from my salary?
No. For covered mandatory employee insurance, the employer must bear the subscription and renewal costs. If your payslip shows an insurance deduction, ask HR to explain it in writing and check which policy it relates to.
Does my employer have to insure my wife and children?
The answer depends on the emirate and your circumstances. Dubai generally places responsibility for sponsored dependents on the sponsor when they are not covered through an employer's plan. Abu Dhabi has broader requirements for eligible dependents, subject to its rules.
What happens if my employer does not arrange health insurance?
Your employer may be failing to meet the applicable requirements. Ask for the policy details in writing, keep relevant employment records and contact the appropriate authority if the problem remains unresolved.
Does mandatory health insurance cover every medical expense?
No. Coverage depends on the policy. Co-payments, treatment limits, exclusions and provider networks can affect what you pay.
Final Thoughts
In the UAE, employers must arrange and pay for the required health insurance for eligible employees. The main differences concern the applicable insurance scheme and who must arrange coverage for family members.
Dubai generally separates employer-funded employee coverage from the sponsor's responsibility for dependents. Abu Dhabi has broader family coverage requirements, while the nationwide scheme introduced in 2025 extended mandatory employee insurance to the northern emirates.
If you are checking your own benefits, confirm that your policy is active, find out exactly who it covers and check the rules that apply to your emirate. Those three steps will give you a clearer picture of your coverage and responsibilities.
