How is health insurance guaranteed for employees?

Employee Health Insurance Guarantees in the UAE

Whether you are an employee or an employer in the UAE, providing health insurance has become a legal obligation on the employer across all emirates — not an optional benefit. The rules vary slightly from one emirate to another, but the outcome is the same: a work permit may not be issued or renewed without valid health coverage in place.

Quick Answer

Guaranteeing health insurance for a worker is the employer's responsibility. In Abu Dhabi, Health Insurance Law No. 23 of 2005 applies, and the employer is required to provide coverage for the worker and their family within specified limits.^[1] In Dubai, Law No. 11 of 2013 applies, which obligates the employer alone to insure the worker — not their family.^[2] Under a Cabinet Resolution issued in March 2024, the obligation extended to the remaining emirates effective 1 January 2025, and proof of coverage is required when issuing or renewing a work permit through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).^[3]

Who Bears the Cost of Health Insurance?

The employer. This is the fundamental rule and admits no negotiation.

In Dubai, Law No. 11 of 2013 on Health Insurance explicitly prohibits the employer from deducting the insurance premium from the worker's salary or passing any portion of the cost on to them. Full responsibility rests with the employer, and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the regulatory body that accredits insurance companies and sets the minimum benefits.^[2]

In Abu Dhabi, the scope is slightly broader. Health Insurance Law No. 23 of 2005 requires the employer to insure the worker as well as their spouse and children up to a certain age — three children under eighteen, according to the regulatory interpretation of the Department of Health (DoH). Anything beyond that may fall on the worker.^[1]

In the Northern Emirates — Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah — health insurance was, from a regulatory standpoint, optional before 2025. That has changed.

The New Federal Rule from 2025 Onwards

In March 2024, the Cabinet approved a federal health insurance scheme covering private-sector workers and domestic workers in emirates that do not have their own mandatory health insurance system. Implementation began on 1 January 2025.^[3]

The practical implication is straightforward: an employer in Ajman or Fujairah, for example, cannot issue or renew a work permit through MOHRE without submitting proof of a valid health insurance policy for the worker. The Ministry links this requirement electronically to the permit process.^[3]

Note: If your contract is registered with MOHRE and you work in Sharjah or Fujairah, the absence of an insurance policy means that both your residence visa and work permit renewals will be blocked simultaneously. The legal responsibility lies with the employer, but the practical impact falls on you.

Minimum benefits, hospital networks, and approved insurance companies are all determined by the relevant regulator: DHA in Dubai, DoH in Abu Dhabi, and the Ministry of Health and Prevention in coordination with MOHRE in the other emirates. Consult each authority's official website before signing any policy.

What If the Employer Does Not Provide Insurance?

This is an explicit legal violation, not an administrative oversight. Penalties and fines are determined by each regulatory authority separately, and figures are not cited here because they change; the official references are DHA for Dubai, DoH for Abu Dhabi, and MOHRE for the other emirates.

Your options as an affected employee:

• File a labour complaint with MOHRE via the hotline 600590000 or the Ministry's app. Health insurance is part of the contractual rights the Ministry protects.
• In Dubai, you may report the non-compliant employer directly to the Dubai Health Authority.
• Keep a copy of your employment contract and any correspondence in which you have requested insurance. Documentation is decisive in any dispute.

Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations, a material breach of the employer's contractual obligations — including the provision of health insurance where it is mandatory — may entitle the worker to terminate the contract while retaining their entitlements.^[4] This is a serious legal remedy, but do not invoke it before seeking legal advice.

Before escalating the dispute, send a written notice to the employer. The majority of cases are resolved at this stage.