51�ԹϺ�����

Jump right in:

• How healthcare works in the UAE
• Pros & cons of the UAE healthcare system
• All about public healthcare in the UAE
• An overview of private health insurance
• How to find a doctor or dentist
• Giving birth in the UAE

The UAE has a comprehensive, government-funded healthcare system and a rapidly developing private sector that delivers a high standard of care. Healthcare is regulated at both the Federal and Emirate level.

Expats are able to take advantage of both public and private facilities. However, where Emirati nationals receive treatment at public facilities and clinics at a low cost, and sometimes for free, expats will have to pay a fee.

UAE healthcare facts

• The UAE ranks among the top six global medical travel destinations, especially for orthopedics, dermatology, and fertility treatments.

• Health insurance is mandatory for all residents, in fact residency visas won’t be issued without proof of health insurance.

• If you’re uninsured at some point, you would be fined a monthly charge of 500 AED (approx. 140 USD).

• Private healthcare facilities currently outnumber public ones.

• It’s mandatory that your company provide health insurance for you. In Abu Dhabi, this mandatory coverage extends to your family (dependents) as well. In Dubai, the government encourages companies to cover employees’ families, but it’s not mandatory.

• Dependents include one spouse and up to three children under the age of 18. Health insurance coverage for a fourth child is the responsibility of the employee.

Pros:

• Medical care is of high quality.
• Innovative technology is widely used.
• English is widely spoken within private healthcare facilities.

Cons:

• Healthcare is expensive.
• Public health facilities are less expensive, but wait times are long.
• Those who don’t speak Arabic or English may struggle to find a medical professional they can communicate with.

Why is healthcare so expensive in the UAE?

• The UAE’s healthcare system is predominantly private and operates on a fee-for-service model.
• Most hospitals rely on imported pharmaceuticals and medical devices and that increases the costs of healthcare.
• Most residents visit specialists directly without GP referrals.

Free public healthcare in the UAE is exclusively for citizens (Emiratis). Expats in the UAE have access to public healthcare, but it’s not free. The standard of care is high at both public and private facilities.

You can obtain a health card to access government-run hospitals for lower-cost, routine, or emergency care — but this doesn’t replace the legal requirement to have private health insurance. While a government-issued health card can be obtained to access discounted rates at certain public facilities, most expats rely entirely on their private health insurance networks.

What does the UAE public healthcare cover?

In general, public healthcare covers the following basic health needs:

• emergencies
• maternity services
• mental health services
• basic health care services (general examinations, diagnostic and treatment services by general practitioners, specialists, and consultants; laboratory services; radiology diagnostic services; physiotherapy services; prescribed drugs and other medicines)
• preventive services (essential vaccinations and immunizations for children and newborns)

Things that are excluded:

• cosmetic procedures
• dental and gum exams
• hearing and vision aids
• fertility treatment such as IVF
• vision correction by surgery or laser

Essential benefits plan

If you’re living in Dubai and your employer doesn’t provide healthcare for your dependents, you can either take out a standard private healthcare plan or opt for the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP).

The EBP is an entry-level private insurance package that covers basic, essential medical services only. It’s mainly used by lower-income expats and their dependents, while higher-earning professionals usually choose more comprehensive coverage. It’s only available to individuals who earn less than 4,000 AED (approx. 1,100 USD) per month.

The process is straightforward and online, typically taking 1–2 weeks for approval. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Confirm eligibility: You must earn less than 4,000 AED (provide a salary certificate), hold a valid Dubai residence visa, and, for dependents, be sponsored by an eligible family member.

2. Choose an insurer: Check DHA-approved providers such as Sukoon, GIG Gulf, and DNI for price quotes.

3. Submit documents to your chosen insurer.

4. Pay the fees.

Required documents:

• Emirates ID (for you and your dependents)
• Passport copy (for you and your dependents)
• Your address
• Salary certificate or work contract
• Sponsor documents:
  • Individual sponsor: passport, visa, and ID
  • Company sponsor: Trade License and Establishment Card
• For dependents:
  • A signed Medical Application Form (MAF) and proof of previous UAE insurance (if waiving the 6-month waiting period)

If you employ domestic workers, you’ll need to provide healthcare for them. Most expats choose the Essential Benefits Plan. The EBP costs between 550 and 650 AED per year (approx. 150–175 USD). Note that this cost is only accurate for domestic workers and basic, low-salary employees. The cost of the EBP is much higher for other dependents such as children, spouses, or elderly parents.

Similar basic health insurance plans (with slight changes to the name and requirements) are also available in the other emirates.

Almost all expats in the UAE have private health insurance plans. If you’re an employee, this insurance is paid for by your employer. Although private health insurance throughout the UAE is expensive, the care provided is high quality and you get direct access to international specialists.

Insurance policies typically cover a wide range of services and treatments. Wait times for appointments are short, and even getting a same-day appointment is not uncommon.

Types of health insurance plans

Most private insurance providers offer four main types of health insurance plans that cover everyone from the solo expat to the relocated family:

• individual plans: for a single person or family group looking for a comprehensive UAE medical insurance

• family plan: these plans can provide great value with qualifying family discounts

• group plans: significant discounts and other extended benefits are possible for policies with more than 20 members

• traveler plans: for individuals and groups who travel to the UAE frequently; these plans typically offer a high level of flexibility and can be tailored according to your travel itinerary

List of private insurance companies in the UAE

Average health insurance cost in the UAE

These are the average price ranges for a mid-tier private health insurance plan.

Medical tourism and healthcare cities

“Healthcare Cities” in the UAE refer to massive, specialized free zones and medical districts that act as one-stop hubs for medical treatment, research, and education. Instead of just being single hospitals, these are complexes comprised of clinics of various specialties.

Presently, there are two healthcare cities in the UAE:

• Dubai Healthcare City
• Sharjah Healthcare City

One of the best ways to find a doctor or dentist in the UAE is online. The lists resources for finding a doctor. Expats who want to know how to find a specialist can also use the portals through their own private insurance companies.

Official health department websites for each emirate:

Abu Dhabi: To find a doctor or dentist in Abu Dhabi, expats should visit the websites of the .

Dubai: Expats looking for a doctor in Dubai can use listings to search for providers or the .

Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah: The offers an online search tool for professional doctors in the Northern Emirates of the UAE.

You may be wondering what it’s like giving birth in the UAE as an expat. The country’s high standards for healthcare and advanced medical equipment mean giving birth in the Gulf country is worry-free.

Things to know about giving birth in the UAE

In the UAE, it’s standard practice for your baby to stay in the room with you.

Many private hospitals will allow your husband to be in the room with you while you give birth, and some even allow him to stay in your room overnight. Check which hospitals offer this if this is important to you.

Home births are not allowed. You must have your baby in a public or private hospital.

All expat mothers must complete baby documentation, including passport and visa, within 120 days to avoid fines.

Steps for having a baby in the UAE as a foreigner

Step one: Birth registration

For married mothers, registering the birth is almost automatic with a marriage certificate, and employer insurance typically covers maternity and newborn care.

Unmarried parents are fully eligible for maternity care, as out-of-wedlock pregnancies have been entirely decriminalized in the UAE. To register the child without a marriage certificate, both parents must obtain a judicial “Declaration of Parentage” through the Civil Family Courts, a process that typically takes up to 5 working days.

Once approved, this document allows the health authority to issue a birth certificate. Parents then have a strict 120-day window from the date of birth to secure the baby’s passport and residency visa to avoid daily fines.

Note that unmarried parents may face out-of-pocket medical costs, as most insurance plans don’t include coverage for unmarried pregnancy and birth.

Step two: Health insurance

Check that your health insurance provider covers maternity needs and see how much is provided.

In case maternity care is not covered, below are the general costs of giving birth in the UAE. Note that these amounts don’t cover prenatal check-ups.

As health insurance is mandatory to secure a residency visa, maternity care should usually be covered. If your health insurance does not cover maternity costs, see about upgrading the plan.

Step three: Collect required documents

In order to give birth in the UAE, there are several documents you’ll need to present:

• valid health card of expectant mother
• medical records
• marriage certificate (original and copy)
• original passports and copies of both husband and wife
• residency visa and copies of both husband and wife

Post birth

You have 30 days to register the birth and 120 days to secure the residency visa to avoid daily fines.

• For babies born in public hospitals, an Arabic birth certificate will automatically be issued.

• For babies born in private hospitals, parents will need to apply to the health authority in their emirate of residence for a birth certificate. This can be done via the , , or .

• Newborn’s passport: Applied for through your home country’s embassy or consulate.

• Newborn’s residency visa: Requires the baby’s passport, attested birth certificate, passport-sized photos, and the sponsor’s (usually father’s) salary certificate and tenancy contract (Ejari).

You can apply for a Dubai-specific birth certificate online through the .

Benefits of giving birth in the UAE

Unfortunately, giving birth in the UAE doesn’t grant citizenship or permanent residency. As UAE citizenship is passed on through the father, a child born in the UAE is only considered a citizen if the father is already a UAE national. If only the mother is a UAE national, the child will only receive the nationality of the expat father at birth. However, the mother can apply for UAE citizenship for her child at the age of 6, provided the child is being raised in the UAE.

If both parents are expats, then the child takes the nationality of their parents.