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Which health cover do you need?

Pick the emirate that issued the visa and who needs cover. You get the rule, who pays and the least cover allowed.

Which emirate issued your visa?
Who needs cover?

Your employer must insure you and pay for it.

Who pays
Your employer. The cost may not be taken from your salary.
Least cover
The Essential Benefits Plan, up to AED 150,000 a year.
Price band
AED 550 to AED 750 a year plus VAT, set by the Dubai Health Authority from 1 January 2025.
See what the plan covers

You must insure the family you sponsor, unless your employer does.

Who pays
You, the sponsor, if your employer does not.
Newborn
Covered on the mother’s plan for 30 days, then needs its own plan.
Fine
AED 500 per month of delay.
Read about cover for your family

You must insure your domestic worker and pay for it.

Who pays
You, the sponsor. Charging the worker is fined AED 10,000.
Least cover
The Essential Benefits Plan, up to AED 150,000 a year.
Published price
From AED 535 a year before fees and VAT, on Dubai National Insurance’s page on 11 November 2026.
Read about cover for domestic workers

With no employer or sponsor, you buy your own cover.

Who pays
You.
Least cover
The Essential Benefits Plan is the minimum for any Dubai policy.
Your visa
Not issued or renewed without cover.
See how to get covered

Your employer must insure you, one spouse and three children under 18.

Who pays
Your employer.
Basic plan
Up to AED 250,000 a year per person, sold by Daman.
Fine
AED 300 per person per month, charged to the employer or sponsor.
See the Abu Dhabi plans

Your employer covers one spouse and three children under 18. You cover anyone else.

Who pays
Your employer for those four. You for a parent or a fourth child.
Fine
AED 300 a month for every person without cover.
Read about cover for your family

You must insure your domestic worker and pay for it.

Who pays
You, the sponsor.
Basic plan price
AED 750 to AED 8,822 a year before VAT in 2026, by your nationality and the worker’s age.
Fine
AED 300 a month for every person without cover.
Read about cover for domestic workers

You need health cover to get or renew an Abu Dhabi residence visa.

Who pays
You, if no employer covers you.
Fine
AED 300 per person per month.
See the Abu Dhabi plans

Your employer must insure you and pay for it.

Since
1 January 2025, for private sector employees.
Basic package
AED 320 per person per year before VAT.
Annual limit
AED 50,000 for hospital stays and AED 10,000 for clinic visits.
See what the basic package covers

The rule names employees and domestic workers.

Dependants
The rule does not say they must be insured.
Basic package
AED 320 per person per year before VAT, for employees and dependants.
Read about the northern emirates scheme

You must insure your domestic worker and pay for it.

Who pays
You, the employer.
Basic package
AED 320 a year before VAT. The policy runs for two years.
Maternity
Excluded from the basic package.
Read about cover for domestic workers

Each answer links to the guide that holds its sources. The rule in every emirate is on the health insurance law page.

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