Dubai Mandates 30-Day Health Insurance Coverage Following Employee Visa Cancellation

Under Dubai regulations, employer-provided health insurance does not immediately lapse upon the cancellation of an employee's residence visa, Emirates 24|7 reported. According to Article 26 of Administrative Resolution No. 78 of 2022, which issued the Implementing Bylaw of Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013 Concerning Health Insurance, employers must keep health insurance active for 30 days after an employee's visa is cancelled, or until the person exits the UAE, whichever occurs first.

Under Law No. 11 of 2013, health insurance is compulsory across Dubai. Employers located in mainland Dubai as well as free zones are legally required to provide health insurance coverage to their employees, while sponsors are required to cover dependents, including spouses, children, and domestic staff. Coverage must be obtained through insurers authorized by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

When employment terminates in Dubai, employers are responsible for cancelling the employee's health coverage unless alternative arrangements are made, such as transferring the policy to an individual plan funded directly by the worker. During the broader residency grace period granted by UAE immigration authorities—which ranges from 30 to 90 days depending on the visa category—Dubai workers retain insurance for the initial 30 days.

In contrast to Dubai, other emirates across the UAE do not maintain a standardized regulatory requirement to extend health insurance post-visa cancellation, according to public relations specialist Musa Dayani cited by Emirates 24|7. In those emirates, some employers terminate medical coverage on the visa cancellation date, while others maintain policies throughout the grace period depending on insurer agreements and company policies.