UAE Health Insurance Checks Required for Residency and Work Visa Renewals

According to a report by NRI Affairs, health insurance has been mandatory across all seven emirates since 1 January 2025 for private-sector employees and domestic workers, meaning that foreign residents cannot renew their residency visas without valid health insurance coverage.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) provides a Basic Health Insurance Scheme costing AED 320 per year for eligible private-sector staff and domestic workers in the five Northern Emirates: Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. The scheme's summary specifies co-payments for inpatient treatment, outpatient visits, and pharmaceuticals.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi operate separate health insurance frameworks regulated by the Dubai Health Authority and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, respectively. Workers renewing visas in those emirates must comply with their specific local insurance rules rather than the MOHRE Northern Emirates scheme.

MOHRE guidance notes that certain existing work permits are subject to a transition period requiring compliant coverage upon renewal. Additionally, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) requires investor applicants and family members applying for Golden Residency to hold valid comprehensive coverage, with real estate investors required to maintain insurance throughout their stay.