Health Insurance for Your UAE Residence Visa: What Employers and Residents Should Know

How health insurance connects to your residence visa

1. 1

   Know that cover is a prerequisite for the permit

   For private sector employees and domestic workers, from 1 January 2025, employers are required to purchase a health insurance policy as a prerequisite for applying for the issuance or renewal of residency permits. In other words, no valid policy means the permit application cannot move forward.

   Documents:PassportResidency permit application
2. 2

   Understand who pays in Dubai

   In the emirate of Dubai, employers are required to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. If you are an employee, this cover is your employer's responsibility, not something you arrange for yourself as a condition of the visa.

   Documents:Employment contract
3. 3

   Check the wider family rule if Abu Dhabi applies to you

   Rules differ by emirate. In the emirate of Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors are responsible for providing health insurance coverage for their employees and their families (1 spouse and 3 children under 18 years). If your sponsorship runs through Abu Dhabi, confirm how far the cover extends.

   Documents:Marriage certificateChildren's birth certificates
4. 4

   Know the regulator in Dubai

   Dubai Health Insurance Corporation is the entity responsible for regulating the health insurance sector and ensuring the rights of the insured nationals and residents of Dubai. It also licenses insurance companies, third party administrators (TPAs), brokers and health services providers — so you can check that whoever you deal with is properly licensed.

5. 5

   Recognise Enaya, the unified system

   All government health insurance systems in Dubai have been unified under one umbrella, known as Enaya. If your cover comes through the government scheme, this is the framework it now sits within.

6. 6

   Understand what your card gives you

   The insured will get a Thiqa card, through which he or she can get access to a large number of private and public healthcare providers registered in the network of Daman, the health insurance provider. Keep the card to hand when you visit a clinic or hospital.

   Documents:Thiqa card

Fees and timelines may change — verify with the official source.

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