In the UAE, your health insurance is inextricably linked to your employment. It is as standard as your salary
or your holiday days.
Most employees assume: “Note to self: Insurance is the company’s problem.”
This is true for You (the employee). But when it comes to your wife, husband, or children,
the rules split dramatically depending on which Emirate stamped your visa. And understanding this split is
crucial for your household budget.
The Golden Rule: The Sponsor Pays
The core legal principle in UAE Health Law is simple: The Visa Sponsor must ensure the Sponsored
Person has insurance.
But who is the sponsor?
- For You: Your Company is your sponsor. They MUST pay.
- For Your Family: YOU are usually the sponsor. (Unless the company generously agrees to
sponsor them).
The Tale of Two Cities: Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi
The law is enforced differently in the two main business hubs.
🏙 Abu Dhabi Law (The Family Protector)
The Rule: Employers in Abu Dhabi are typically required to provide health insurance
coverage for the Employee + Spouse + Up to 3 Children (under 18).
The Impact: If you work for an Abu Dhabi company, your family’s insurance is usually
covered by your boss. It is a massive financial relief worth AED 5,000 – AED 15,000 per year.
🌇 Dubai Law (The Employee Focus)
The Rule: Employers in Dubai are required to provide health insurance for the
Employee ONLY.
The Gap: Coverage for the spouse and children is NOT mandatory for the
employer. While many specialized/multinational companies offer it as a perk to attract talent, they are
not legally obliged to.
The Result: If your Dubai employer says “No,” then YOU (as the visa sponsor of your
family) are legally required to buy insurance for them from your own pocket.
The “Basic Benefit” Trap (EBP)
So, you work in Dubai, and you have to buy insurance for your wife and kids. You look for the cheapest
option.
Enter the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) or “Basmah” plan.
This is the government-regulated minimum standard, designed for lower-income workers (earning under AED
4,000) or non-working dependents.
- Cost: Approx AED 600 – AED 800 per year. (Very cheap).
- Coverage: AED 150,000 Limit.
- Network: Very limited list of clinics.
Is it enough?
For a healthy young person? Maybe.
For a child who gets sick often? It can be risky. The low limit and restricted hospital list mean that if a
serious illness strikes, you cannot go to the “good” hospitals. You will be stuck in crowded clinics or face
massive upgrade bills.
The Visa Renewal Checkpoint
Why can’t you just “risk it” and not buy insurance?
The Digital Lock: The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)
systems are linked to the Insurance Database.
You literally cannot type a visa renewal application until the system sees a valid health
insurance policy active for that Passport Number. No Insurance = No Visa.
The “Job Hopping” Danger Zone
This is where employees get caught out.
You resign from Company A on March 1st. You join Company B on April 1st.
- March 1st: Company A cancels your visa. They also cancel your insurance (often that
same day or after 30 days). - The Gap: You are on a “Grace Period” for your visa. But are you insured?
Most insurers offer an automatic 30-day “run-off” cover after cancellation, giving you time
to switch. BUT, this is strictly for emergency cases usually. Routine treatments might be blocked.
Tip: Never assume you are covered during the transition. Ask Company A: “What is the
exact date my policy terminates?”
Negotiating Your Package
Knowing the “Dubai Rule” is a powerful negotiation tool.
Scenario: You get a job offer in Dubai for AED 20,000/month.
- You ask: “Does this include Family Medical Insurance?”
- HR says: “No, only for you.”
- You calculate: To buy decent insurance for a wife and 2 kids will cost you AED 10,000
to AED 15,000 per year. That is roughly AED 1,200/month out of your salary. - Counter-Offer: “Since family insurance isn’t included, can we increase the base salary
by AED 1,000 to cover that cost?”
FAQ: Employee Rights
Q: Can my employer deduct the insurance cost from my salary?
A: ABSOLUTELY NOT. For the employee’s own insurance, the employer must pay 100%. Deducting
premiums from your wage is illegal under UAE Labor Law.
Q: I am on my husband’s visa, but I work. Who pays?
A: Your Employer. Even if you are sponsored by your husband for the visa, your Employer is
still responsible for your health insurance card. They cannot say “Ask your husband to insure you.”
generous perk, not a right. If you are moving to Abu Dhabi, make sure they don’t “forget” to add your
family.