Public healthcare is free for Emirati nationals. However, medical care for foreigners is separate.
In 2014, the Dubai Health Authority implemented new legislation that requires all residents – foreigners and Emirati alike – to have medical insurance. Additionally, the legislation mandated that companies must provide private health insurance plans in Dubai for all their expat employees.
The Essentials Benefits Plan (or EBP) assists expats and international citizens on lower salaries by providing affordable primary medical care coverage. The EBP also includes coverage for children, domestic staff, and non-working residents.
Employers are free to choose an international health insurance plan other than the EBP for employees earning more than 4,000 dirhams a month. However, the plan they choose must be as good as, if not better than, the essential benefits offered through EBP. It is illegal for employers in Dubai to pay an employee a reduced salary to meet low-cost EBP coverage standards.
Although employers must provide medical insurance for their international employees, there are no requirements to cover their family or dependents. Some employers may provide family coverage, but many do not.
As an employee covered by the EBP, you can expect a co-payment of 20% of medical costs at each clinic and a hospital visit. Co-payments are capped at 1,000 dirhams a year.
