Family Health Insurance in Dubai: Who Pays, What It Covers, How to Buy
Family health insurance in Dubai: sponsor vs employer duties, newborn 30-day rule, maternity under the EBP, Abu Dhabi and Northern Emirates rules, AED 500 fine.
In Dubai the sponsor must insure every dependant on their visa: spouse, children, parents and domestic workers. Employers only have to insure the employee, unless the contract says otherwise. A newborn is covered under the mother's policy for 30 days and then needs its own policy. Missing cover costs AED 500 per person for each month of delay. In Abu Dhabi the employer must insure the employee plus one spouse and up to three children under 18.
Last checked: 19 October 2026
Who pays for family health insurance in Dubai
Dubai Health Insurance Law No. 11 of 2013 makes cover compulsory for everyone living in Dubai. The law splits responsibility between employer and sponsor:
| Person | Who must arrange and pay |
|---|---|
| You (private sector employee) | Your employer. The premium cannot be deducted from salary. |
| Your spouse and children | You, as their visa sponsor, unless your employer chooses to cover them |
| Parents on your visa | You, as sponsor |
| Domestic workers (nanny, driver, housemaid) | The household that sponsors them |
| Newborn baby | Covered on the mother's policy for 30 days, then the sponsor must buy a policy |
A lawyer quoted by Gulf News put it simply: sponsors are required to provide private health insurance for their dependants, and whether the employer pays for family cover depends on the contract and company policy (Gulf News). Read your offer letter before you assume the family is covered. Many offers say "medical insurance" and mean the employee only.
Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates are different
- Abu Dhabi: under Article 5 of Abu Dhabi Law No. 23 of 2005 and its regulation, the employer must insure the employee and family, limited to one spouse and three children under 18 (Gulf News). Extra children or a second spouse are the sponsor's cost. See our Daman guide.
- Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah: since 1 January 2025 private sector employees and domestic workers need at least the federal basic package (AED 320 a year). MOHRE says dependants can be added on the same benefits and price, but the package excludes pregnancy, childbirth and dental. See DubaiCare basic health insurance.
The minimum plan for a Dubai family
Every policy sold in Dubai must at least match the DHA Essential Benefits Plan (EBP). Since 1 January 2025 the EBP includes an annual limit of AED 150,000, maternity cover (8 antenatal visits, 3 scans and delivery up to AED 10,000, normal or caesarean, with 10% co-pay), dental up to AED 500, and mental health outpatient counselling up to AED 800. Full table in our Dubai health insurance guide.
The EBP is built for people earning AED 4,000 a month or less, and it is sold only by DHA "Participating Insurers". Families on higher salaries usually buy an enhanced plan: wider hospital networks, direct specialist access without a GP referral, higher limits, better dental and maternity.
Maternity: plan it before the pregnancy
- Under the EBP, maternity is covered. On enhanced plans, check the maternity limit, the co-pay, and any waiting period written into the policy.
- Your first ever UAE policy can carry a waiting period of up to 6 months for pre-existing conditions. Emergencies are covered even during that period.
- The federal basic package in the Northern Emirates does not cover pregnancy or childbirth. If your spouse is on that package, she needs a better plan before a pregnancy.
- Register the baby on its own policy within the 30-day newborn window. Doing it late risks the AED 500 monthly fine and gaps in cover for vaccinations and check-ups.
How to buy family cover: step by step
- Ask HR in writing whether your employer covers dependants, which plan and which network. If yes, ask for the cost of adding each person and the cut-off date.
- Compare at least three quotes for the same network tier. Price depends on age, network, co-pay and medical history. A cheap plan with a narrow network can mean no access to the hospital you actually use.
- Check the insurer is permitted. Only companies with a DHA Health Insurance Permit can sell in Dubai. DHA publishes the list of permitted insurers, TPAs and brokers on isahd.ae.
- Read four lines of the policy: annual limit, maternity limit and co-pay, outpatient co-pay, and the network list.
- Insure before the visa step. Residence visas are not issued or renewed without a valid policy linked to the visa holder.
- Diary the renewal. Each policy has its own renewal date. A lapse for one child is still a fine.
Fines for not insuring dependants
Under Executive Council Resolution No. 7 of 2016, a sponsor who fails to insure a dependant pays AED 500 per person for each month of delay, with part months rounded up. Three uninsured family members for four months is AED 6,000.
Frequently asked questions
Does my company have to pay for my family's health insurance in Dubai?
Not by law. Dubai's law makes the employer pay for the employee and the sponsor pay for dependants. Your contract can give you more, so check it.
How long is a newborn covered on the mother's insurance?
30 days from birth in Dubai. After that the baby needs its own policy.
Is maternity covered by the cheapest Dubai plan?
Yes. The DHA Essential Benefits Plan covers 8 antenatal visits, 3 scans and delivery up to AED 10,000 with a 10% co-pay. The federal basic package used in the Northern Emirates does not cover maternity.
What is the fine for not insuring my wife or child in Dubai?
AED 500 per person for every month without cover.
Does my employer in Abu Dhabi have to cover my family?
Yes, for one spouse and up to three children under 18, under Abu Dhabi's health insurance law.
Run a maternity, paediatric or family clinic and want insured families to find you? Read how to get more paediatric patients.
Sources
- DHA ISAHD: Health insurance FAQ
- DHA circular GC 03/2024: EBP table of benefits
- Executive Council Resolution No. 7 of 2016 (fees and fines)
- DHA list of permitted insurers, TPAs and brokers
- Gulf News: Does medical insurance from my company cover my dependants?
- MOHRE: Basic Health Insurance Package
Published 19 Oct 2026 · Access One
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