Health Insurance for Dependents in Dubai

Who are Dependents in Dubai ?

In Dubai, the term dependent in health insurance doesn’t just mean your immediate family. It also includes anyone you sponsor under your UAE residency. That’s why understanding exactly who qualifies as a dependent is important when arranging medical insurance for dependents. For most residents, dependents usually include Spouse (husband or wife) Children (biological, adopted, or stepchildren) Parents (if sponsored and residing in the UAE) Domestic workers (such as housemaids, nannies, drivers, cooks — if you are their visa sponsor)

Is Health Insurance for Dependents Mandatory in Dubai?

Yes, health insurance for dependents is mandatory in Dubai. If you're sponsoring someone — whether it's your spouse, children, parents, or domestic worker — you are legally required to provide them with valid health coverage. This rule falls under Dubai Health Insurance Law No. 11 of 2013, which makes it clear: no one can live in Dubai without proper medical insurance, including every dependent in health insurance.

Many people assume that employers will cover the entire family, but that’s not the case. Most companies only insure the employee. So if you have family living with you, it's your responsibility to arrange dependent medical insurance through an approved insurer.

Without valid insurance, dependents may face problems during visa renewal or residence visa applications. In some cases, there may also be penalties or delays. Plus, medical costs in Dubai can be expensive without coverage, even for simple treatments.

Can We Add Dependents to Health Insurance in Dubai?

Yes, you can add dependents to health insurance in Dubai. But how you do it depends on your situation. 

If your employer offers family coverage, you may be able to include your spouse and children under your company’s group plan. However, most employers only cover the employee. So in many cases, you’ll need to buy separate medical insurance for your dependents.

To add a dependent to health insurance, you’ll need to approach a licensed insurance provider in the UAE. You’ll be asked to provide documents like passport copies, visa pages, Emirates ID (if available), and (sometimes) medical history or fitness tests, generally for older dependents like parents.

Affordable Essential Benefits Plans (EBPs) are also available for low-income earners and domestic workers. These plans meet the minimum legal requirement and cover basic healthcare needs. This is a common choice when arranging insurance for dependents like housemaids or nannies.

Whether you're adding your spouse, child, or house help, always make sure the plan you choose meets the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) standards. Not all insurance plans are accepted for visa processing, so it's best to go through approved providers.

Best Medical Insurance for Dependents in Dubai

Plan Name	Medical Cover (AED)	Pharmacy Limit	Price
Noor Takaful - Dependent	1,50,000	Upto AED 1,500
Orient Insurance - D-Med	1,50,000	Upto AED 1,500
Sehteq - Basic	1,50,000	Upto AED 1,500
Takaful Emarat - Silver	10,00,000	Upto AED 1,500
See More Plans >>>

Basic Health Insurance Policies for your Dependents

For Dubai

The basic plans for health insurance Dubai are often known as Essential Benefits Plans. These kinds of plans are offered by over 12 health insurance providers. As per the law of UAE, the expats that are residing in the emirate of Dubai can have a health insurance cover worth AED 150,000 at the maximum per annum.

For Abu Dhabi

The basic health insurance policy in Abu Dhabi is offered by the National Health Insurance Company. Under this plan, all employees must pay 50% of the premium of the policy for their dependents. This is capped at one wife and 3 children. If the employee has his or her house help or parents as dependents, then the employee needs to bear the cost of covering them under health insurance.

As per the law in UAE, the maximum amount of cover per year is capped at AED 250,000 for the expats residing in Abu Dhabi. Many of the insurance providers in the UAE also offer Islamic insurance or Takaful.

Choose Additional Benefits for Health Insurance

In the UAE, a basic health insurance plan may offer your dependents with certain benefits. However, these can be limited from additional health care such as dental, vaccinations, or eye care. The health of your dependents, be it your spouse, your child, or your parents, is very important.

Opting for additional coverage options might turn out to be more cost-effective as opposed to the high medical bills that come along with an unforeseen health problem. There are many cases around the UAE wherein the expats and tourists experience the burden of debt because of the medical expenses that become unaffordable for them while they are in the Gulf country.

Health Insurance is Different for Dependents

Depending on the relationship of the visa holder with their dependents, the UAE health insurance plans differ, thereby, having some dependents that become more costly to insure. If you are someone who has a limited budget, it is usually more budget-friendly to opt for a family medical insurance policy.

There are some companies in the UAE that might require the employees to have all of their dependents covered under one family plan, as this brings along a lower risk of rejection of the insurance claims.

Before you go ahead and secure a family insurance policy, it is good to check with your company, insurer, and broker.

However, if you only have a small family or selected dependents to cover under a health insurance, below is how the health plans can vary:

Parent Dependents

For those in UAE with dependents as their parents, it is good to note that it is difficult to secure health insurance for people that are aged above 65 years. Some insurance companies might straight-up refuse to provide coverage for any pre-existing medical condition. This can be common among the elderly. Even if you get an insurer to provide coverage, the premium charges are likely to be quite high.

Health insurance plans for seniors that are aged above 50 years can be more costly as opposed to plans for a spouse or a child. The premium on insurance for such individuals can even go up to AED 30,000.

Household Workers as Dependents

In the UAE, the domestic help’s health insurance must be taken up and paid for by the house head who is to be legally his or her visa sponsor. Some of the health insurance policies for the domestic workers in the UAE start from just AED 650.

Make Sure to Compare Health Insurance Plans

When you are on a lookout to find the best health insurance for your dependents in the UAE, a few minutes of thorough research on the different insurance providers in the market can prove to be useful in obtaining the best value.

You can make use of the various online tools and platforms that allow you to compare the different insurance providers and the different policies offered by them under one tab.

You might want to consider international health plans to increase the scope of your coverage to provide worldwide coverage.

Inclusions and Exclusions of Health Insurance for Dependents in Dubai

Before you buy health insurance for your dependents in Dubai, it's important to know what’s actually covered and what isn’t. Not all plans are the same, especially when it comes to dependent health insurance. The coverage depends on the type of plan you choose, the age, and health of your dependent and the insurer’s policy.

✅ What’s Usually Included

1. Doctor Consultations (General Practitioners and Specialists)
2. Basic Diagnostics (blood tests, X-rays, and more)
3. Emergency Treatment
4. Surgery & Hospital Stay (in-patient care)
5. Maternity care (in some policies)
6. Medications (as prescribed and covered under the plan)
7. Chronic Condition Management (e.g. diabetes, hypertension)
8. Referrals to Specialists
9. Vaccinations (especially for children)

These are standard in most mid-range and comprehensive plans. Even the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) — which is the most affordable option — will cover the legal minimums required by DHA for every dependent in a health policy.

❌ Common Exclusions

1. Dental and Optical (unless added as optional cover)
2. Cosmetic Procedures (like Botox or plastic surgery)
3. Alternative Therapies (homeopathy, acupuncture, and more
4. Fertility Treatments
5. Mental Health Services (not always included unless it's a comprehensive plan)
6. Coverage outside UAE (unless international coverage is purchased)

When you add a dependent to medical insurance, always ask the insurer for a full list of policy inclusions and exclusions. It helps avoid surprises when you actually need to use the coverage.

How to Buy Health Insurance for Dependents in Dubai?

Buying insurance for your dependents in Dubai is about choosing the right plan that can take a bit of research. Whether you're covering your spouse, children, parents, or a domestic worker, the process is easy if you follow a few steps.

One of the easiest ways to get started is through Policybazaar.ae, a trusted insurance comparison platform in the UAE. Just go to their ‘Health Insurance’ page and click on any banner or call-to-action (CTA). This will take you to a short form. Fill in basic details like the age of the dependent, visa status, and required coverage. Once submitted, you'll either see multiple quotes instantly or call their insurance expert who can guide you through the options.

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