Health Insurance in Dubai

Health insurance for Dubai residents is mandatory. This means that all sponsors are required to provide the Dubai health insurance to their dependents.  

This is so, whether residents are sponsored by someone else or self-sponsored. Therefore, all those who sponsor their family members, including under a Golden Visa, are required to provide Dubai health insurance to their dependents. 

And for those who are sponsored by their employers, the obligation is on the company to provide the Dubai health insurance for them.

Importantly, for those employees who are sponsored by either

1) Family members or

2) Self-sponsored, the obligation for the Dubai health insurance lies on the sponsor, and not the employer.  

Furthermore, failure to provide health insurance in Dubai is subject to various penalties. For example, employers who sponsor their employees, but fail to provide medical insurance, are subject to a fine of a minimum of AED 1,000/employee.

Overall, the Dubai health insurance legislative framework in Dubai is rather extensive, with over 120 regulations, directives, circulars, notices, and guidelines issued by various authorities. But one of the most notable ones is Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013 re. Health Insurance in Dubai and, specifically, Articles 7 (1) and 9. As well as, Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 7 of 2016 on Fees and Penalties regarding Health Insurance in Dubai.