Country guide — North Africa and the Middle East
Expat insurance in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
In short
Yes, health insurance is mandatory for every resident of the United Arab Emirates, Emirati or foreign — but each emirate applies its own law. In Dubai, Law No. 11/2013 requires the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP), paid for by the employer for employees; in Abu Dhabi, Law No. 23/2005 requires a Basic Plan (Daman) with coverage of up to 250,000 AED. Failure to have insurance is penalised (500 to 150,000 AED in Dubai, 300 AED/month in Abu Dhabi) and blocks renewal of the residence visa in both cases. No social security agreement links France to the UAE.
Key figures
- 33,438 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 in the United Arab Emirates alone (29,671 in 2024, +12.70%) — excluding Oman, which separately counts 670 registrations in 2025.
- Life expectancy at birth: 82.9 years in 2023.
- Health spending per capita: 3,727 USD in 2023, about 5.0% of GDP.
Local healthcare system
The Emirati system rests on two tracks: a public sector funded by each emirate (the Thiqa programme in Abu Dhabi, reserved for nationals) and a dense, internationally standard private sector widely used by expats. France Diplomatie describes the hospital system as “modern”, with French-speaking staff in several facilities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai.
A foreign resident normally has no access to the free public benefits reserved for nationals: access to care goes through the mandatory health insurance tied to their residence visa. Life-threatening emergencies are treated everywhere, but billed afterwards if there is no valid cover.
Legal and visa obligations
There is no single federal law: each emirate has its own regulations.
- Dubai (Law No. 11/2013, Resolution No. 78/2022): mandatory insurance for nationals, resident expats and, in some cases, visitors. Regulator: Isahd (Dubai Health Authority). Minimum level: Essential Benefits Plan (EBP); for a monthly salary ≤ 4,000 AED, the employer must provide at least the EBP from day one, without deducting it from the salary. The ICP will not issue or renew a residence permit without proof of valid insurance.
- Abu Dhabi (Law No. 23/2005, in force since 1 June 2006, regulated by the DoH): the employer covers the employee, spouse and up to three children under 18. Minimum level: Basic Plan (Daman), up to 250,000 AED in annual coverage for an income ≤ 5,000 AED/month, with co-payment on medication and tests.
- Other emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah): since 1 January 2025, employer-provided health cover has been mandatory for every private-sector employee (MOHRE regulation), with a minimum annual coverage cap of 150,000 AED. A standardised “Basic Health Insurance” plan, covering chronic conditions and pre-existing conditions with no waiting period, is offered at a reference rate of about 320 AED/year.
An employer is legally required to insure its expat staff; a resident without local employment (spouse, retiree, student, independent visa) must take out their own cover to obtain or renew their residence visa.
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation | — | ≈150-500 AED (average ≈250 AED) |
| Specialist consultation | — | from ≈300 AED |
| Emergency room visit | — | ≈500-3,000 AED depending on urgency |
| Night in hospital (private room) | — | ≈1,000-6,000 AED/night |
| Dental scaling | — | ≈200-400 AED, up to 700 AED at a specialised clinic |
| MRI | — | ≈1,200-5,000 AED depending on area |
| Vaginal delivery | ≈4,000-7,000 AED | ≈8,000-25,000 AED or more |
| Ambulance | Dubai: 600 AED (on-site treatment) to 1,200 AED (advanced intervention), billed to the insurer; Abu Dhabi: free via 998 | Abu Dhabi: ≈500 to 1,500 AED (non-urgent transport) |
Social security agreements with France
There is no bilateral social security agreement between France and the United Arab Emirates (confirmed absent on the CLEISS website and cross-checked against specialised expat sources).
- No coordination or totalisation of contribution periods for retirement.
- No reimbursement of care by French Assurance Maladie, except through voluntary affiliation with the CFE, which offers a dedicated health plan for French residents in the UAE.
- The local scheme (Thiqa, mandatory insurance) depends on residency status and employer, not French nationality.
- A France-UAE tax treaty exists (1989, amended 1993) but covers taxation, not healthcare.
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday visa | Does not exist for this country (no France-UAE working holiday agreement) | Falls under a tourist or specific visa (visitor, freelance/digital nomad) — insurance requirement to be checked case by case |
| Student | Insurance generally required for the student visa | Check the coverage level of the institution's group policy against the local legal minimum |
| Seconded employee / local contract | Employer legally required to provide the EBP (Dubai) or the Basic Plan (Abu Dhabi) | Supplementary cover useful for a wider care network or to keep a link with the CFE |
| Retiree | No automatic legal scheme | Private insurance or CFE needed for the visa (including a dedicated retirement visa); hospital costs rising with age |
| Family | Coverage of dependants varies by emirate (mandatory in Abu Dhabi for spouse + 3 children, encouraged in Dubai) | Check precisely what the employer's policy covers before assuming the family is insured |
Hospitals and care network
- American Hospital Dubai (Dubai) — multi-specialty, JCI-accredited, member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.
- Mediclinic City Hospital (Dubai Healthcare City) — international Mediclinic group, geared towards expat patients.
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (Al Maryah Island) — 411 beds, Mubadala/Cleveland Clinic partnership, reference for complex cases.
Practical steps
- Before departure: recommended vaccinations (yellow fever, hepatitis A/B, typhoid, rabies depending on profile) and health + repatriation insurance taken out before leaving.
- On arrival: residence visa (employment, investment, or specific visa) with the ICP — proof of compliant insurance required for issuance/renewal.
- Taking out the mandatory insurance: as soon as hired for an employee, or before applying for a visa for a non-employed resident.
- Consular registration recommended with the French consulate — makes procedures easier but does not replace insurance.
- Annual check: coverage must stay continuously active for any visa renewal (1 to 3 years depending on type).
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance really mandatory for all residents, including foreigners?
Yes. In Dubai (Law No. 11/2013) as in Abu Dhabi (Law No. 23/2005), the obligation applies to all residents, with rules and minimums specific to each emirate.
What happens if I don't have health insurance in the United Arab Emirates?
In Dubai, a fine of 500 to 150,000 AED may apply (doubled for repeat offences); in Abu Dhabi, 300 AED per month without cover. In both cases, lacking insurance blocks visa renewal in practice.
My employer already provides insurance: do I need supplementary cover?
Not legally required, but employer insurance often matches the legal minimum (EBP or Basic Plan), with a network and caps that can be limited — worth checking before assuming it's enough for the whole family.
Does French social security still cover me in the United Arab Emirates?
No, except in specific cases. With no bilateral agreement, there is neither automatic reimbursement nor continuation of rights through French Assurance Maladie; voluntary affiliation with the CFE is an option.
Is there a free health scheme for expats?
No. Free or subsidised public programmes (such as Thiqa in Abu Dhabi) are reserved for nationals. A foreign resident depends on the mandatory insurance tied to their visa.
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Written by Expavy
Sources
- France Diplomatie — United Arab Emirates, Health
- France Diplomatie — Register of French nationals living abroad (2025 data)
- CLEISS — Bilateral social security agreements
- ISAHD — FAQ on mandatory health insurance in Dubai
- Government of Dubai — Law No. 11 of 2013
- Department of Health Abu Dhabi — Law No. 23 of 2005
- Daman Insurance — FAQ Basic Health Insurance Plan
- Our World in Data — United Arab Emirates health profile
- MOHRE — The Basic Health Insurance Scheme
- Gulf News — Resolution fixes Dubai ambulance services fees
- Khaleej Times — Dubai announces fees for ambulance services