UAE onboarding, explained from both sides.

Mandatory employee health insurance in the UAE: an employer's guide (2025-2026)

Every private-sector employer in the UAE must provide health cover for its employees, and the cost falls entirely on the employer - it cannot be deducted from wages. Dubai (regulated by the DHA under Law No. 11 of 2013) and Abu Dhabi (regulated by the DOH under Law No. 23 of 2005) have required this for years, and from 1 January 2025 a nationwide basic package extended the same duty to the Northern Emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah). A valid, compliant policy is now a prerequisite for issuing or renewing a residency permit.

1. 1Confirm which emirate's rules apply. The obligation is set at emirate level. Dubai employers follow DHA rules (Law No. 11 of 2013); Abu Dhabi employers follow DOH rules (Law No. 23 of 2005); employers in the five Northern Emirates follow the nationwide basic scheme that took effect on 1 January 2025. A company with staff across emirates must meet each emirate's standard for the staff based there.
2. 2Buy cover from a UAE-licensed insurer before applying for the visa. From 1 January 2025 a health insurance policy is a prerequisite for issuing or renewing a residency permit for private-sector employees and domestic workers. There is no waiting period for cover to begin, including for pre-existing chronic conditions under the basic package.
3. 3Meet the minimum benefit standard for that emirate. In Dubai, the DHA Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) applies to employees earning AED 4,000 or less per month and carries a minimum annual claims limit of AED 150,000, covering inpatient, outpatient, emergency and basic maternity care. Abu Dhabi's DOH sets its own basic-product standard. The Northern Emirates basic package (from AED 320/year) sets federal minimums on co-payments and network.
4. 4Cover dependants where the emirate requires it. Abu Dhabi (DOH) requires employers to cover the employee plus immediate family - one spouse and up to three children under 18. In Dubai the employer's legal duty is generally to the employee; the resident sponsor is then responsible for insuring their own dependants, elderly parents and domestic staff.
5. 5Pay the premium in full - do not deduct from salary. Across all emirates the employer bears the full cost of the employee's mandatory cover. Deducting the premium from wages or reducing salary to qualify an employee for a cheaper plan is prohibited.

Fees and timelines vary by emirate, free zone and nationality - confirm the current figure with the regulator before you rely on it.