If your UAE work permit is stuck, missing health insurance may be the reason. MOHRE now runs a work permit health insurance check: its systems look for a valid policy before a permit is issued or renewed. Your employer must pay for that policy – you should not pay any part. Ask HR for your policy details, check that the cover is active, and contact MOHRE if the company asks you for money.
What changed with work permit health insurance?
On 23 July 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issued a guide on health insurance for workers, reported by the official news agency WAM. The guide links work permit issuance and renewal to a valid health insurance policy. It applies to private-sector workers and domestic workers.
MOHRE said the guide does not add any new obligations on employers. It explains rules that already existed and builds the check into the permit system. In simple words: the rule is not new, but the system now checks it automatically. As of October 2026, the main points of the guide are:
- A work permit is not issued until a valid health insurance policy is in place for the worker.
- The cover must meet the minimum approved level.
- Cover must stay active for the full validity of the work permit.
- The employer cannot cancel the policy during the permit period in a way that leaves you without insurance.
- Workers must not bear any part of the cost of the insurance subscription or renewal.
Who pays for my health insurance?
Your employer. This comes from more than one rule:
- Article 13 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (the UAE labour law) says the employer must bear the costs of the worker’s medical care, in line with UAE health rules.
- Article 6 of the same law says the employer cannot charge the worker, directly or indirectly, for recruitment and employment costs.
- MOHRE’s July 2026 guide says workers bear no part of the cost of the policy or its renewal.
One thing you may still pay: co-payments when you visit a clinic or buy medicine, if your policy has them. That is different from the policy price.
What is the basic health insurance scheme from 1 January 2025?
From 1 January 2025, a basic health insurance scheme started for private-sector and domestic workers. MOHRE’s page on the scheme says it targets workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain. WAM said it completes the UAE-wide system and complements the systems already running in the other emirates. If you work in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, your employer still has to insure you, but under that emirate’s own system.
| Item | Basic scheme (MOHRE page) |
|---|---|
| Price | Dh320 per year, paid by the employer |
| Policy length | 2 years |
| Outpatient co-pay | 25%, up to Dh100 per visit |
| Inpatient co-pay | 20%, up to Dh500 per visit and Dh1,000 per year |
| Medicines | 30% co-pay, capped at Dh1,500 per year |
| Not covered | Pregnancy, childbirth, dental |
MOHRE also says chronic and pre-existing conditions are covered with no waiting period. Workers with valid work permits issued before 1 January 2025 were exempt until their residence permit renewal. For questions about this scheme, MOHRE lists the number 800382467.
My work permit is stuck. What should I check?
- Ask HR one direct question. “Has my health insurance been issued, and can you send me the policy number and insurance card?” Ask by email or WhatsApp so you have it in writing.
- Check the dates. The policy start and end dates should cover your permit period. If your permit is being renewed, the old policy may have expired.
- Check your name and Emirates ID or passport number on the card. A small typing mistake can stop the system from matching your policy.
- Call the insurer. The phone number is usually printed on the insurance card. Ask: “Is my policy active today?”
- Check your contract. On the MOHRE website, go to Services, choose “View Approved Contract” and search with your Emirates ID number. Or log in to the MOHRE app with UAE Pass and open “My Dashboard”.
If your permit is new, you may also want to read your first 30 days in a new UAE job, which explains the order of medical test, Emirates ID and contract.
What if my employer asks me to pay for insurance?
Say no politely, and keep the message. You can reply: “MOHRE’s guide says the worker does not pay any part of the health insurance cost. Please arrange it from the company side.”
If they insist, or cut the money from your salary, contact MOHRE:
- MOHRE app or mohre.gov.ae – register a labour complaint
- Labour Claims and Advisory Centre: 80084 (toll-free)
- MOHRE general call centre: 600590000
Also be careful with “agents” who say they can “fix” your insurance or permit for a fee. That is often a scam. See our guide on how to spot fake job offers in the UAE, or report a scam to us.
Quick answers
Is health insurance a new requirement for UAE work permits?
No. MOHRE says its July 2026 guide adds no new obligations. It only connects the existing rule to the permit system.
Can my company cancel my insurance before my permit ends?
Not in a way that leaves you uninsured. The guide says cover must stay active for the whole permit period.
Does it apply to housemaids and drivers?
Yes. MOHRE’s guide covers domestic workers as well as private-sector workers.
Do I pay anything at the clinic?
You may pay co-payments, depending on your policy. The policy price itself is the employer’s cost.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check with MOHRE or the official UAE government portal for your own case.
Official sources: