Insurance in the United Arab Emirates: What You Have and What to Add

Public cover in the UAE, how much life and income cover fits you, and plain pros and cons of each type of insurance. Private, free calculator.

How Cover Works in the United Arab Emirates

Health insurance from your employer is compulsory, and unemployment insurance is compulsory for most employees. Life cover matters especially for expatriates, because a family's residence often depends on the earner.

What You Already Have

Compulsory Health Insurance

Since 1 January 2025 employers in every emirate must buy health insurance for private sector employees and domestic workers when issuing or renewing a residence permit; the basic federal plan costs AED 320 a year. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, sponsors must also insure their dependants.

Official site

Involuntary Loss of Employment Insurance

Compulsory unemployment insurance for private sector and federal government employees, costing at most AED 5 a month (basic salary up to AED 16,000) or AED 10. After 12 continuous months of subscription it pays 60% of basic salary for up to three months, capped at AED 10,000 or AED 20,000 a month, if you lose your job for reasons other than discipline or resignation. Not subscribing costs a AED 400 fine.

Official site

Thiqa

Full health cover for UAE nationals from Abu Dhabi, with cover in the Abu Dhabi public network for nationals from other emirates and some dependants of nationals.

Official site

End of Service Gratuity

Not insurance, but a lump sum your employer owes when you leave after a year or more: 21 days of basic pay per year for the first five years, then 30 days, capped at two years' pay (Article 51 of Federal Decree Law 33 of 2021).

Official site
Health cover
Check what your employer plan covers for outpatient care, maternity, dental and treatment outside the UAE, and whether your family is included. Top up gaps with a family plan, and keep cover continuous so new waiting periods do not start.

Types of Insurance, Pros and Cons

Family Health Top Up

Covers family members and anything your employer plan leaves out, such as maternity or treatment abroad.

Pros

  • Keeps the family covered between jobs
  • Choice of network and higher limits
  • Can include treatment in your home country

Cons

  • Premiums rise with age
  • Pre existing conditions may have waiting periods
  • Overlaps with employer cover if not checked

Term Life Insurance

A lump sum to your family if you die during the term, wherever they live.

Pros

  • Pays out even if the family leaves the UAE
  • Low cost for large sums
  • Can be in a currency of your choice

Cons

  • No value at the end
  • Check that the insurer pays claims worldwide
  • Medical tests for large amounts

Critical Illness

A lump sum on diagnosis of a covered serious illness.

Pros

  • Funds treatment choices and time off
  • Paid regardless of employment
  • Often added to life cover

Cons

  • Only listed illnesses
  • Can be costly
  • Strict definitions

Repatriation and Expatriate Cover

Covers moving a person or remains home, and medical evacuation.

Pros

  • Avoids large one off costs
  • Cheap add on
  • Peace of mind for families abroad

Cons

  • Often already in other policies
  • Limited use
  • Terms vary widely

Checked October 2026. Rules and amounts change, so confirm on the official page before you rely on a figure. Who to check with in the United Arab Emirates.