Health insurance in Abu Dhabi
Under the 'Thiqa' programme, Abu Dhabi Government provides full medical coverage to:
- UAE nationals and those with a similar status from Abu Dhabi
- UAE nationals and those with a similar status from other emirates
- ·non-UAE nationals sponsored by a UAE national family member (as per the criteria set by Department of Health –Abu Dhabi.)
You can enrol in, or renew your insurance through the Thiqa website or by using the Thiqa app on App store or Google Play.
Insurance includes broader geographical coverage and extra health benefits.
The insured will get a Thiqa card, through which he/she can get access to a large number of private and public healthcare providers registered in the network of Daman, health insurance provider.
Check eligibility requirements.
Find answers to FAQs on Thiqa.
Source:
- Thiqa website
- Thiqa Programme- TAMM.
Health Insurance 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.
Find DHA Insurance Service Catalogue - (PDF, 509 KB).
The unified health insurance system - Enaya
All government health insurance systems in Dubai have been unified under one umbrella, known as Enaya.
Enaya serves as the healthcare benefits scheme for employees of Dubai Government and citizens of Dubai. It offers a broad range of coverage including treatment for almost all types of ailments, chronic and acute.
Refer to Enaya Beneficiary Guide - (PDF, 718 KB) for more information.
Medical services under the Enaya scheme are delivered through two companies
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for coverage under Enaya, you must either be a:
- citizen of the emirate of Dubai and must not already covered by any other government insurance or
- an employee of Dubai Government.
Enrolment in the scheme
Enrol in ‘Enaya’ either online or through the Enaya kiosk.
Regulatory and compliance systems
To ensure an integrated health insurance system of high quality services, Dubai implemented the following monitoring systems:
- Insurance system for advanced healthcare in Dubai (ISAHD)
ISAHD is a comprehensive initiative of Dubai Health Insurance Corporation. It aims to establish a sustainable high quality healthcare in Dubai, catering to nationals, residents and visitors.
It serves as an advisory, offering insights on the insurance coverage, laws and any other insurance related queries.
ISAHD takes measures to enhance the healthcare system and plays a role in the licensing process for insurers, intermediaries and TPAs.
- Insurance Partner Relation Management eSystem (iPROMeS)
The interactive platform iPromes provides individuals with a channel to express their opinions, offer their feedback, file complaints, provide suggestions or compliments to insurance service providers and regulators in the emirate of Dubai.
- Health Insurance Compliance and Audit Log (HICAL)
Health Insurance in Sharjah
The Department of Health Insurance at Sharjah Health Authority oversees health insurance coverage for UAE nationals in the emirate of Sharjah. Initially, Sharjah Government provided health coverage only to Sharjah Government employees, their dependents and and Senior Emiratis (those who are 60 years old or above). However, since January 2020, it decided to extend the insurance coverage to all citizens of Sharjah.
Health Insurance in Ajman
The Government of Ajman provides all its employees with health insurance. An updated list of hospitals, clinics and pharmacies approved by the health insurance network and claim forms can be accessed from Ajman Government site.
Health insurance for resident expatriates
The extent of coverage for employers and their dependents is determined by the employee's salary, designation etc. The extent of coverage and type of policy/scheme would determine the cost of your medical services.
In the emirate of Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors are responsible for the providing health insurance coverage for their employees and their families (1 spouse and 3 children under 18 years).
In the emirate of Dubai, employers are required to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. Sponsors are required to get insurance cover for their resident dependents.
There are several insurance companies in the UAE. Many also provide Islamic insurance (takaful).
Related links:
Health insurance for private sector employees and domestic workers
From 1 January 2025, employers are required to purchase health insurance policy as a prerequisite for applying for the issuance or renewal of residency permits of private sector employees and domestic workers. The system is implemented on a mandatory basis in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and will extend to private sector workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
Exception
However, the mandate does not apply to employees with work permits issued before 1 January 2024 that remain valid, but will become mandatory when their residency permits are due for renewal.
Validity
The policy will be valid for two years.
Age group
The policy covers individuals aged between 1 and 64 years. Those over 64 must complete a medical disclosure form and attach recent medical reports.
Dependents from the worker’s family can access the same benefits and pricing, as specified in the insurance policy.
Premium
The basic insurance package costs AED 320 per year, with no waiting period for workers suffering from chronic illnesses.
Coverage
The package covers treatment expenses with a 20 per cent co-payment for inpatient care. The insured pays a maximum of AED 500 per visit with an annual cap of AED 1,000, including medications. Beyond these limits, the insurance company covers 100 per cent of treatment costs.
As for outpatient care, the co-payment is 25 per cent, where the insured pays a maximum of AED 100 per visit. No co-payment is required for follow-up visits for the same condition within 7 days. Co-payments for medications are capped at 30 per cent, with an annual cap of AED 1,500.
Note that the premium for the second year can be refunded if the visa is cancelled.
The network includes:
- 7 hospitals
- 46 clinics and medical centres and
- 45 pharmacies.
Where to buy health insurance from?
Purchase health insurance through one of the following channels:
- the DubaiCare network
- accredited insurance companies
- the Insurance Pool website.
Source: MoHRE
Updated On :
24 Mar 2025
