UAE health insurance has been mandatory since 1 January 2025 for private-sector employees and domestic workers across all seven emirates. The Basic Health Insurance Scheme is available to eligible workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah; Dubai and Abu Dhabi have separate systems. Before a UAE visa renewal, Indian workers should confirm which policy applies and what document is required. See MOHRE’s scheme guidance.
MOHRE’s Basic Health Insurance Scheme costs AED 320 a year and is intended for eligible private-sector employees and domestic workers in the five Northern Emirates. This basic health insurance scheme is separate from the Dubai and Abu Dhabi systems, so confirm eligibility before buying a policy for UAE visa renewal. MOHRE’s published summary describes co-payments for inpatient treatment, outpatient visits and medicines; confirm the current benefit schedule and exclusions with the insurer before treatment. This is a specific basic package, not a description of every UAE health-insurance policy.
MOHRE guidance describes a transition for certain existing work permits, with coverage required when the permit is renewed. Because the applicable transition depends on the permit and the current official rule, anyone relying on an older policy should confirm their case with MOHRE or the relevant authority before renewal.
Health-cover rules can also apply to some Golden Residency categories. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) says investor applicants and their family members need comprehensive, valid cover when applying; for real-estate investors, its guide says cover must remain valid throughout the residency. Requirements depend on the Golden Residency category, so applicants should check the current ICP guidance for their category rather than assume one rule applies to every long-term resident.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi already run more developed insurance markets than the Northern Emirates, with a wider range of private and employer schemes regulated respectively by the Dubai Health Authority and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi. This is precisely where the Thiqa confusion tends to surface.
The basic scheme and emirate-specific cover
The AED 320 MOHRE package is a basic scheme for eligible workers in five Northern Emirates. Dubai and Abu Dhabi operate their own health-insurance systems, so the MOHRE package should not be treated as a description of cover throughout the country. Check the relevant authority and insurer for policy limits, exclusions and renewal documents. Dubai’s health-insurance guidance explains the emirate’s separate framework.
What UAE health insurance changes mean for Indian residents
For Indian private-sector employees and domestic workers, UAE health insurance is part of the residence-permit process. Ask the employer or sponsor which policy applies, when it expires and what document is required before UAE visa renewal. Residents in other visa categories should check their own permit conditions with the issuing authority. Golden Residency applicants should also verify any category-specific insurance requirement with ICP.
Exact benefit details, including which preventive checks, screenings or specialist referrals a given plan covers, vary by insurer and by scheme tier, and should be confirmed directly with the relevant health authority or the insurer itself, not assumed from any general summary, including this one.
What Indian residents renewing their UAE visa are asking
Who is covered by the UAE-wide requirement?
The UAE-wide requirement took effect on 1 January 2025 for private-sector employees and domestic workers. MOHRE says employers must provide cover as part of the relevant residence-permit process. It is not a statement that every visa category uses the same policy; check the rules for your own permit.
I already had insurance before the reform came in. Do I need to change it immediately?
The transition may allow certain existing permits to retain cover until renewal. Check the current MOHRE rule against your permit date and circumstances; do not assume an exemption applies.
Does the Northern Emirates Basic scheme cover maternity or dental care?
The scope and exclusions depend on the current policy wording and insurer. Indian residents in the UAE should confirm maternity and dental cover directly before relying on the AED 320 package for care. UAE health insurance benefits vary by scheme and policy.
Will my plan cover preventive screenings like a routine checkup or blood tests?
This varies by insurer and plan tier, and specific preventive-care coverage could not be verified against an official health authority source for this article. Confirm exactly what your policy includes directly with your insurer or the relevant health authority before relying on it, rather than assuming coverage from this or any general summary.
