Health insurance for you and your family, matched to your hospitals
The cheapest plan is rarely the one that works at the hospital you actually use. Tell me who needs cover and where you'd like to be treated, and I'll compare plans across insurers on network, co-pay, limits and maternity.
- Individuals & families
- Domestic workers
- Visa-compliant plans
- Preferred hospital matching
By Shamna Ponnath Valappil, Senior Insurance Officer · Updated 26 September 2026Health insurance is mandatory for residents across the UAE. In Dubai, employers must insure their employees and sponsors must insure their dependants. In Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors cover employees and their families. Since 1 January 2025, a basic scheme costing AED 320 a year covers private-sector employees and domestic workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. Once the legal minimum is met, what matters is the hospital network, co-pay, annual limit and maternity cover.
The rules at a glance
| Emirate | Who must arrange cover | Dependants |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Employers for their employees | Sponsors insure the dependants they sponsor |
| Abu Dhabi | Employers and sponsors | Employee's family (1 spouse and 3 children under 18) included |
| Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, Fujairah, UAQ | From 1 Jan 2025, employers buy cover for private-sector employees and domestic workers before a residency permit is issued or renewed | Dependants can be added on the same benefits |
For the full detail and official sources, see my guide to UAE health insurance rules by emirate.
Basic vs enhanced plans: what actually differs
- Network: which hospitals and clinics you can use with direct billing. This is the first thing I match to your preferences.
- Annual limit: the maximum the plan pays in a policy year.
- Co-pay and deductibles: the share you pay per visit, prescription or admission.
- Pre-existing and chronic conditions: how they are covered and whether any waiting period applies.
- Maternity: limits and waiting periods vary widely. If a pregnancy is planned, tell me first.
- Dental and optical: usually only on enhanced plans or as an add-on.
- Area of cover: UAE only, or wider (for example worldwide excluding the USA) if you travel often.
Who I help
Families and sponsors
Plans for a spouse, children or sponsored parents, including top-up cover when your employer only insures you.
Domestic workers
Compliant plans for nannies, housemaids and drivers, including the Northern Emirates basic scheme.
Self-employed and investors
Individual cover for freelancers, partners and golden visa holders who need their own policy.
Employers
Covering staff is a separate product. See group medical insurance.
What I'll ask you
- Who needs cover, their ages, and which emirate issued each visa.
- Your preferred hospitals or clinics.
- Any existing medical conditions (full disclosure protects future claims).
- Whether maternity, dental or travel cover matters to you.
- A rough annual budget.
Documents you'll need
Emirates ID or passport and visa page for each person, plus your current policy card or schedule if renewing. Please email documents to Sales@insurewithshamna.com (copy shamna.v@gargashinsurance.com), never on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose which hospitals I use?
Yes. Each plan comes with its own network of hospitals and clinics. Tell me where you'd like to be treated and I'll only compare plans that include them with direct billing.
Is maternity covered?
It depends on the plan. Maternity limits and waiting periods vary widely, and basic plans offer much less than enhanced ones. If a pregnancy is planned, tell me up front so we choose a plan whose waiting period and limits fit.
Do I have to declare existing medical conditions?
Yes. Declaring everything on the application protects you. An undeclared condition can lead to a claim being rejected later. Insurers handle pre-existing conditions differently, which is another reason to compare.
My employer covers me. Can I insure my family separately?
Yes. Many employers cover only the employee. I can arrange a separate family plan for your spouse and children, ideally on a network that matches yours.
What is co-pay?
Co-pay is the share of each bill you pay yourself, for example 20% of an outpatient visit up to a cap. Lower co-pay means a higher premium. The right balance depends on how often your family sees a doctor.
What health insurance does a domestic worker need?
Domestic workers must be insured by their employer. In Sharjah and the other Northern Emirates, the federal basic scheme (AED 320 a year) applies from 1 January 2025. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, compliant plans are arranged under each emirate's rules.
10+ years in insurance, six internationally and four in the UAE market. Shamna compares personal and business cover across insurers for clients in all seven Emirates. More about Shamna
Last reviewed: 26 September 2026. General information only, not advice; policy terms decide cover.
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Shamna Ponnath Valappil is a Senior Insurance Officer with Gargash Insurance Services LLC, a UAE insurance broker regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. Insurance arranged through this site is placed by Gargash Insurance Services LLC. Quotes are subject to underwriting by the relevant insurer(s); final terms, premiums and cover are confirmed when a policy is issued.