Health Insurance Law

Federal Law No. 8 of 2004 

Jurisdiction: UAE-wide
Status: Active

This law was one of the first attempts by the UAE government to bring some structure to various segments, which positively impacted the private health insurance sector. Before this, the sector was loosely governed under broader trade regulations. Law No. 8 of 2004 made it clear that only licensed insurance companies could provide health coverage, and those companies must comply with certain standards, consumer protection rules, and reporting obligations.

It created a national baseline for:

1. Licensing of insurance providers
2. Financial and medical oversight
3. Penalties for violations
4. Legal recourse for policyholders

Dubai Health Insurance Law No. 11 of 2013

Jurisdiction: Dubai (including all free zones except DIFC)
Status: Active

This is the landmark law that made health insurance mandatory in Dubai. Every Dubai resident, whether an Emirati or an expatriate, must have health coverage under this law. 

What’s interesting is that it puts the responsibility on employers, not employees. So if you’re working in Dubai, your company must provide you with at least a basic essential benefits plan (EBP).

Highlights —

1. Mandatory coverage for all residents
2. Dependents and domestic workers must be insured by their sponsors
3. Employers cannot deduct insurance premiums from salaries
4. Violations result in fines of up to AED 500 per person per month

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the regulatory body enforcing this law. They’ve even set up a dedicated platform—ISAHD (meaning ‘happiness’ in Arabic) — to manage medical insurance compliance.

Executive Council Resolution No. 6 of 2017 (Dubai)

Jurisdiction: Dubai
Status: Active

This resolution came in as a supporting document to the 2013 law. While the original law set the foundation, this resolution fine-tuned the enforcement mechanisms, added clarity on penalties, and addressed situations like —

1. When coverage lapses
2. What happens if an employer fails to insure an employee
3. Timeframes for compliance

It emphasised transparency between insurers and providers and required more accurate data sharing to avoid fraud.

Abu Dhabi Health Insurance Law No. 23 of 2005

Jurisdiction: Abu Dhabi
Status: Active

Abu Dhabi actually took the lead in making health insurance mandatory before Dubai. This law requires all private-sector employers to provide coverage not only for employees but also for their spouses and up to three children under 18 years old. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) manages the policy and its enforcement.

This law also introduced the Thiqa Program, a government-funded health cover initiative that covers Emiratis in Abu Dhabi.

Key points —

1. Employers must register staff with a certified insurer
2. Insurers must be licensed by DOH
3. Dependents are included by default
4. DOH oversees pricing, policy approval, and compliance

Cabinet Resolution No. 7 of 2006

Jurisdiction: Federal
Status: Active

This resolution came into effect as a federal-level mechanism to oversee organisations operating in the UAE. While it doesn’t deal directly with whether you must have insurance, it plays a significant role in ensuring that insurance companies are behaving ethically, pricing their plans fairly, and treating customers right.

It outlines —

1. Penalties for non-compliance
2. The role of the Ministry of Health in licensing
3. Conditions for suspending or revoking licenses

This law helps protect customers from fraud and unethical business practices.

Federal Law No. 2 of 2019 – Use of ICT in Health

Jurisdiction: UAE-wide
Status: Active

While this law isn’t specific to medical insurance, it plays a major role in the modern digital health ecosystem in the UAE. It regulates how data from insurance claims, medical records, and telemedicine is collected, stored, and used.

This means —

1. Insurers and hospitals must keep your data private
2. Health data can only be shared with authorised parties
3. Misuse of data can lead to legal action

Mandatory Health Insurance Across the UAE From January 2025

Here’s what the new 2025 mandate entails —

1. All residents across all Emirates must have health insurance starting January 1, 2025
2. The move brings uniformity to healthcare coverage across the UAE
3. Previously, Dubai and Abu Dhabi had specific laws (Dubai's Law No. 11 of 2013 and Abu Dhabi’s Law No. 23 of 2005) making insurance mandatory — this law expands those requirements to cover the remaining Emirates
4. The new system is expected to reduce pressure on public healthcare facilities and provide better private healthcare access for all UAE residents
5. Implementation is being coordinated through MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention) and enforcement will be in collaboration with individual emirate authorities