If you’ve just arrived in the UAE, getting your head around medical insurance in Dubai can be challenging.

As well as getting to grips with a new city, culture and job, you also need to figure out how on earth you get a doctor’s appointment or pick up a prescription.

Or you might be asking the question — do I even have medical insurance? Do I need it? If so, how do I get it? And where do I access it?

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Fear not. To make things a little easier, we’ve put together a guide on medical insurance in Dubai, which should answer some of your burning questions.

How to get medical insurance in Dubai

I’ve just arrived in the UAE – do I automatically have medical insurance in Dubai?

The short answer is no. If you are coming to the UAE for work, your employer will most likely cover your medical insurance. However, this will not apply to everyone. For example, if you are coming to seek out a job in Dubai but are yet to secure a job, or if you’re coming with a loved one who has secured work here.

If you have entered the UAE on a tourist visa, you are not covered on your new employer’s insurance initially while your visa process is carried out, which can take around 1-2 weeks. Again, you should confer with your employer about this to understand timeframe. It is advised to take out travel insurance for this period. For some countries this is mandatory for a UAE tourist visa, while for others it is not.

If you are entering on an employment visa, you must have your visa stamped upon entering the UAE so you can provide this to your employer. From there, they can add you to the medical insurance quickly. If this is not provided, then the process will take longer.

Medical insurance: What is your employer responsible for?

If you are a full-time employee in Dubai, your employer is responsible for providing you with at least a basic medical insurance plan by law.

There are different categories of medical insurance plans available, and exactly what is included will depend on your plan and provider. Most plans will include general cover, excluding dental and optics, while some more extensive plans will include this.

Medical insurance: What is your responsibility?

Although your employer is responsible for giving you a medical insurance plan, it is your responsibility to follow-up with them to ensure this has been carried out, and what the expiration date is for your plan. You should also follow-up with them regarding any questions you have, or instructions on how to access your insurance provider and healthcare network.

If you are a freelance employee or similar, you should have medical insurance provided from either your visa provider or a plan you have organised yourself.

If you are a woman who has got married during your time in the UAE, it is also your responsibility to update your employer and have your marriage certificate attested by the UAE Government so your employer can update your medical insurance policy.

I need to get my own medical insurance, where do I start?

Getting medical insurance cover on your own is a very easy process, and can be completed in as little as a one day. First of all, you need to make sure you have all of your basic information and that of your dependants if you are applying for them too. To get a quotation, you will need to have a copy of your passport, Emirates ID and visa. You may also need to declare any pre-existing conditions.

You can search online for different providers, with popular organisations including, Axa, Sukoon and Lifecare. If you want to compare policies and prices, you can also do this on websites such as insurancemarket.ae.

Having dependants on your medical insurance

If you want to add your husband, wife or children on your medical insurance, this is possible. Different employers will have different policies on how this is managed. For example, some may deduct the additional insurance payment from your salary, while others will see no cost deduction as it will be included in their company benefits.

Is my medical insurance linked to my Emirates ID?

Once your Emirates ID is issued, your medical insurance will be linked to it. This means that if you are going to a health appointment or similar, you can take your EID instead of your health insurance card. However, it’s always useful to have a saved copy of your health insurance e-card for your personal reference.

If you have not yet been issued with an Emirates ID, then you must use your health insurance card that will have been issued by your employer or the insurance vendor themselves. This can be a physical card, but will now often be a digital card you can carry on your smartphone.

What is included in my medical insurance and how do I get an appointment?

Firstly, you need to understand who your insurance provider is, which can be done by asking your employer. From there, many larger providers in the UAE will have apps you can download, that will provide you with everything included in your plan, from network cover to doctors’ surgeries, clinics, treatments and medications. Others will have master lists with all of this information that will be available to access.

What is the system for payment?

If you are using a facility or clinic covered by your provider, this will be immediately covered by your policy — called ‘Direct Billing’. This means that the majority cost of your appointment/treatment will be covered by your insurance. You may be asked to pay a nominal fee, which is often around Dhs50. However, if you are using a facility not included in your policy, you will need to claim the cost with your insurance provider — called ‘Pay & Claim’.

However, this does not apply in a life-threatening emergency. If you are taken to a facility not included in your insurance, you will not be required to pay immediately. Instead your documentation will be collected and the cost and claim will be dealt with at a later date.

Medical insurance: Moving out of Dubai

If you are leaving Dubai and moving to another Emirate, check with your new employer what will be required regarding medical insurance. For example, a move from Dubai to Abu Dhabi will require you to provide your new employer with a continuity certificate from your insurance provider.

If you are leaving the UAE altogether, you should be covered by insurance for a period of time. Once your visa is officially cancelled by your employer, you have a 30-day grace period before you need to leave the country. This is the same for your linked medical insurance, as a 30-day grace period will also apply.

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