Health insurance laws in the United Arab Emirates  

Dubai Health Insurance Law requires all residents to have a level of health insurance that meets or exceeds the minimum benefits stipulated by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

Employers in Dubai are legally required to provide health coverage to their employees. Article 10, section 2, stipulates that employers must not deduct premiums or reduce the employee's salary to reduce the cost of insurance coverage.

The law also states that all dependents (including spouse and children) and domestic workers (including domestic workers, cooks, and drivers) must also be covered by basic health insurance. This basic health insurance is called a Basic Benefits Plan (EBP).

Employers are not required by law to provide coverage to their employees' dependents (although they are encouraged to do so), and the responsibility lies with the visa sponsor.

The law was implemented in phases (depending on the size of the company) that came into effect in January 2014.

The deadline for companies with 1,000 or more employees was October 31, 2014.

The deadline for companies with 100-999 employees was July 31, 2015.

The deadline for businesses with 100 or fewer employees and all residents, domestic workers, and employee dependents was June 30, 2016, but this deadline was subsequently extended twice until December 31, 2016 and then again until on March 31, 2017.

The Dubai Health Authority has stated that fines will be imposed on sponsors and employers who do not comply with the regulation. A fine of Dh500 will be issued for each month of non-compliance, and no new visas will be issued or existing ones will be renewed. The fines will be paid during the renewal or cancellation of residence visas.

For Emiratis, their health insurance is covered by the government sponsored plan established by the Dubai Health Authority. Citizens working in the private sector have the option of subscribing to an employer health insurance policy or joining the national government plan.

The Abu Dhabi Health Authority (HAAD) is the regulator of the health sector in Abu Dhabi.

Emiratis in Abu Dhabi are covered by the Thiqa program.

Employers are legally required to provide health coverage to their employees and families. Dependents include the spouse and up to 3 children under the age of 18, and the employer is only required to pay 50% of the cost to the dependents, with the remaining 50% paid by the sponsor / employee. If the employee has other dependents, such as parents or fourth child, they are legally obliged to bear the cost themselves.

The minimum level of expatriate health insurance coverage is set out in the Abu Dhabi Basic Plan provided by the National Health Insurance Company (Daman).

The Ministry of Health oversees the health care systems in the United Arab Emirates in Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Fujairah. However, some emirates have also created their own health institutions.

Employers in these Emirates are not required by law to provide coverage to employees or their dependents.

In Sharjah, health care coverage is provided to employees and their families who work for their government.