Lifestyle
Abu Dhabi, Dubai unify health insurance rules for expats
The new system, effective January 1, 2026, standardises minimum benefits, enrollment processes and dependent coverage for all resident visa holders.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai have merged their mandatory health insurance regulations into a single unified system for all expatriate residents, effective January 1, 2026. This guide explains the new requirements for visa holders, their dependents, and employers under the consolidated framework.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have unified their mandatory health insurance schemes for expatriate residents under a single framework, which takes full effect from January 1, 2026. The new system standardises the minimum level of coverage, enrollment procedures, and dependent requirements for all new and renewing resident visas in both emirates. The change is designed to streamline regulations for employers and ensure a consistent standard of care for all residents. Previously, Dubai and Abu Dhabi operated separate mandatory insurance schemes (DHA and DoH, respectively) with different rules for coverage, especially concerning dependents. This unified policy, overseen by a new joint federal committee, means employers and individual sponsors must now follow one set of rules when securing health coverage for their employees and families. ## What is the Unified Health Insurance System? The unified system is a mandatory health insurance framework for all expatriate residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It merges the previous systems managed by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Abu Dhabi's Department of Health (DoH) into one. The core of the policy is a standardised 'Essential Benefits Plan'…