UAE to extend private employee mandatory health insurance across all Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government announced the introduction of a mandatory health insurance system for registered employees in the private sector, including domestic workers, who do not have existing health insurance coverage from 1 January 2025.

The new measure was approved at a UAE Cabinet meeting on 18 March. The UAE Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation will be responsible for carrying out awareness campaigns and programmes around the policy.

An official government release said: “According to the new system, employers in private sector companies along with employers of domestic workers in the UAE will be required to pay for the health insurance coverage for their registered workers upon issuance or renewal of their residency permits.”

A mandatory health insurance requirement was already in place for Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but the new law will apply across all the Emirates, including Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.