Introduction
If you employ a maid, nanny, driver, cook, or gardener in the UAE, one thing is no longer negotiable: health insurance for your domestic worker is the law. And if you have been putting it off, you need to know that the consequences of non-compliance, blocked visas, personal liability for medical bills, and government fines, can cost you far more than the insurance itself.
This guide covers everything a sponsor needs to know about health insurance for domestic workers in UAE, what it costs, what the law requires, which plans are available, and how to get your household compliant without confusion.
The Law: Why Domestic Worker Health Insurance Is Mandatory
The legal foundation is Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on domestic workers, reinforced by the nationwide insurance mandate that took full effect on 1 January 2025. Before this date, the strict enforcement of domestic worker health insurance was largely limited to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Now it covers all seven emirates without exception.
Under UAE law, every sponsor who employs a domestic worker, whether a housemaid, nanny, private driver, cook, gardener, or caregiver, is legally required to:
- Provide valid health insurance coverage for the domestic worker at all times
- Pay the insurance premium in full (deducting premiums from the worker’s salary is illegal)
- Ensure the policy is active before applying for, stamping, or renewing the domestic worker’s residency visa
The government has wired this requirement directly into its immigration infrastructure. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), the Federal Authority for Identity (ICP), and the GDRFA all check the Unified Health-Insurance Gateway in real time. If your domestic worker’s policy is missing or expired, their residency visa application is automatically blocked across all three agencies, the system status switches to “On Hold, Insurance Required” and nothing moves until it is resolved.
In plain terms: no valid policy, no visa.
What Happens If You Don’t Comply?
Many household sponsors underestimate the risk of going without insurance for their domestic staff. The consequences are direct and escalating:
Visa and ID consequences:
- Residency visa issuance and renewal are automatically blocked
- Emirates ID cannot be issued or renewed for the domestic worker
- An expired Emirates ID means your worker cannot open a bank account, renew a driving licence, or access many essential services, all of which can create immediate problems for your household
Financial consequences:
- Without insurance, you as the sponsor are personally liable for all medical costs incurred by the domestic worker. A single hospital admission can run AED 10,000–50,000 or more
- Fines of up to AED 10,000 per case for failure to provide legally required benefits
- A first offence can attract an additional lump-sum penalty of up to AED 150,000
- Repeated violations within twelve months can result in fines of up to AED 500,000 and potential court-ordered action
Labour consequences:
- Domestic workers can file complaints with MOHRE if their employer fails to provide legally required benefits including health insurance
- MOHRE labour complaints are on record and can affect future sponsorship applications
The cost of a basic domestic worker insurance plan starts at AED 320 per year. The cost of non-compliance starts at AED 10,000 and can multiply rapidly. The calculation is straightforward.
How Much Does Health Insurance for Domestic Workers in the UAE Cost?
This is the question most sponsors ask first, and the answer is: it is significantly more affordable than most people expect.
The Basic National Health Insurance Package, AED 320/year
The most affordable legally compliant option is the Basic Health Insurance Package introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) in December 2024, effective from January 2025.
- Annual premium: AED 320
- Policy validity: Two years (aligned with the residency visa cycle)
- Coverage for: Ages 1–64 (workers aged 65+ must submit a medical disclosure form)
- Access to: 7 hospitals, 46 clinics, and 45 pharmacies across the UAE
- Telehealth: Included, with no co-payment required
- Pre-existing conditions: Covered immediately, no waiting period
This plan is issued through the DubaiCare Network or other approved suppliers and satisfies the legal minimum requirement for visa issuance and renewal across all seven emirates.
Essential Benefits Plan (EBP), AED 600–900/year
For domestic workers in Dubai, the most commonly purchased plan is the Essential Benefits Plan (EBP), the DHA-mandated baseline. Providers like GIG Gulf offer this plan from AED 630/year (excluding VAT and levies).
Co-payment structure:
- Inpatient hospitalisation: 20% co-pay (capped at AED 500 per visit, AED 1,000 annually)
- Outpatient clinic visits: 25% co-pay (capped at AED 100 per visit)
- Pharmacy: 30% co-pay (capped at AED 1,500 annually)
- Follow-up visits within 7 days: No co-payment
Annual coverage limit: Approximately AED 150,000
Pre-existing conditions: Covered after a 6-month waiting period (waived if the worker was previously insured in the UAE)
Enhanced / Comprehensive Plans, AED 1,200–2,500/year
For sponsors who want better real-world coverage for their domestic staff, enhanced plans offer:
- Wider hospital and clinic networks
- Lower co-payment rates
- Higher annual coverage limits (AED 500,000+)
- Optional dental and optical add-ons
- Repatriation of mortal remains, excluded from EBP but included in many enhanced plans, which is important for sponsors’ peace of mind
- Maternity benefits (subject to waiting periods, typically 12 months)
Who should consider this tier: Sponsors whose domestic workers have ongoing health conditions, those who want access to a larger hospital network, or employers who want to avoid the administrative burden of out-of-pocket emergency costs.
Cost Summary by Plan Tier
| Plan Type | Annual Cost | Coverage Limit | Best For |
| Basic National Package | AED 320 | AED 150,000 | Minimum legal compliance, all emirates |
| EBP (Dubai, DHA-compliant) | AED 630–900 | AED 150,000 | Dubai visa holders, basic compliance |
| Standard Enhanced Plan | AED 1,200–1,800 | AED 500,000+ | Better network, lower co-pays |
| Comprehensive Plan | AED 2,000–2,500 | AED 1,000,000+ | Full coverage, repatriation included |
Note: Premiums vary by the worker’s age, health profile, and the insurer’s network size. Prices as of 2025–2026. Medical inflation of 8–12% in 2026 means premiums are trending upward at renewal.
Who Is Covered? Which Domestic Workers Need Insurance?
The insurance requirement applies to all household staff under your sponsorship, including:
- Housemaids (live-in and part-time)
- Nannies and babysitters
- Private drivers
- Cooks and chefs
- Gardeners and groundskeepers
- Caregivers for elderly or disabled family members
- Cleaners and housekeepers
Essentially, if you are sponsoring someone’s UAE residency visa and they work in your household, you are responsible for their health insurance. This applies whether they are full-time or part-time, live-in or live-out.
What the Basic Plan Covers, and What It Doesn’t
Understanding the scope of coverage helps sponsors make the right plan decision and helps workers know what to expect at the clinic.
What Is Typically Covered:
- Inpatient hospitalisation and surgery
- Emergency treatment (including accidents)
- Outpatient consultations at network clinics
- Diagnostic tests and laboratory services
- Prescribed medications
- Maternity care (with waiting periods on most plans)
- Chronic disease management (covered immediately under the Basic National Package)
- Telehealth consultations (no co-pay on the Basic National Package)
What Is Typically NOT Covered at the Basic Level:
- Dental care (unless an add-on rider is purchased)
- Optical care (glasses, contact lenses, eye procedures)
- Cosmetic procedures
- Experimental or non-DHA-approved treatments
- Treatment outside the UAE (except emergency care on some enhanced plans)
- Repatriation of mortal remains (excluded from EBP; available on enhanced plans)
Emirates-by-Emirates: How Rules Differ
While the January 2025 mandate unified the basic requirement across all seven emirates, the regulatory framework still differs by location.
Dubai (Regulated by DHA)
- All domestic worker plans must be DHA-approved
- EBP is the mandatory minimum for workers earning below AED 4,000/month
- Plans must be integrated with the Nabidh digital health records system
- GIG Gulf, Sukoon, Orient Insurance, and others offer DHA-compliant EBP plans from AED 630/year
Abu Dhabi (Regulated by DoH)
- Abu Dhabi has had mandatory domestic worker coverage since well before the national expansion
- Plans must be approved by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH)
- Daman is the principal insurer for domestic workers in Abu Dhabi; basic plans start from AED 600–750/year
- Plans must integrate with the Malaffi health information exchange
- Abu Dhabi uniquely extends the employer obligation to cover dependents of domestic workers in certain circumstances
Northern Emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, UAQ, Fujairah)
- Now subject to the same federal mandate from January 2025
- The AED 320 Basic National Package satisfies the legal minimum
- Regulated by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP)
- Same visa-blocking mechanism applies, no insurance, no visa processing
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Domestic Worker Insured
The process is straightforward and fully digital through most providers.
Step 1, Gather Required Documents
- Sponsor’s Emirates ID, passport, and visa
- Domestic worker’s passport, visa, and Emirates ID (or application receipt)
- Labour contract showing the worker’s monthly salary (required for EBP eligibility confirmation)
- If the sponsor is a company: Trade License and Establishment Card
Step 2, Choose Your Plan Decide between:
- Basic National Package (AED 320), minimum compliance
- EBP from an approved insurer (AED 630+), Dubai-standard compliance
- Enhanced plan (AED 1,200+), better coverage and wider network
Check that the insurer’s network includes hospitals and clinics near your home, this is the most practical factor for day-to-day use.
Step 3, Purchase the Policy You can buy online directly through insurer websites (GIG Gulf, Shory, Liva Insurance, Orient Insurance) or through licensed brokers. Most providers issue a digital policy certificate and e-card within 24–48 hours. The policy is filed automatically through the MOHRE-ICP Unified Health-Insurance Gateway.
Step 4, Upload to MOHRE / ICP Portal Use the policy certificate during visa stamping or renewal. Confirm the policy is linked to the worker’s visa file, ask the insurer or broker for confirmation that the ICP status shows “Insurance Active.”
Step 5, Share the E-Card with Your Worker Give your domestic worker a copy of their digital insurance card and explain:
- How to check in-network hospitals and clinics near your home
- What the co-payment amounts are at each type of visit
- The insurer’s 24/7 helpline number for emergencies
Step 6, Set a Renewal Reminder Set a calendar reminder 30 days before the policy expiry date. Renewal must be completed before expiry, even a single day’s gap can trigger an “On Hold” status in the ICP system and block any government transaction for your worker.
Can You Deduct the Insurance Cost from the Worker’s Salary?
No. This is explicitly prohibited under UAE law.
Under Federal Law No. 10 of 2017 and its reinforcing regulations, the financial burden of health insurance must be borne entirely by the sponsor. Deducting the premium from a domestic worker’s wages is illegal and can result in fines of up to AED 10,000 per case, plus a mandatory refund of all amounts deducted from affected workers.
The insurance cost is an employer obligation, treat it as a fixed operational cost of employing household staff, not a recoverable expense.
Can You Include a Domestic Worker on a Family Health Plan?
Generally, no. Domestic worker health insurance is typically a separate policy from your family health plan. Most family plans are not structured to include domestic employees, and mixing them can create compliance complications, particularly for visa purposes, which require a standalone policy linked to the worker’s visa file.
Purchase a dedicated domestic worker plan from a DHA or DoH-approved insurer. This keeps compliance clean and makes visa renewals straightforward.
Tips for Sponsors: Getting the Most from Domestic Worker Insurance
Buy before the visa deadline, not during it. Insurance must be active before visa stamping or renewal. Processing takes 24–48 hours online; leave yourself adequate time, especially around peak renewal seasons when processing can slow.
Check the network near your home. A plan is only as useful as the clinics within reach. Before buying, search the insurer’s network directory for facilities near your neighbourhood. Basic EBP plans are typically restricted to Level 1 DHA-approved clinics, confirm these are accessible from where you live.
Consider repatriation cover. The EBP does not include repatriation of mortal remains. Enhanced plans typically do. This is worth considering, particularly for sponsors of workers from Southeast Asia or South Asia, where repatriation is a cultural and practical priority for the worker’s family.
Align the policy start date with the visa cycle. The Basic National Package is issued for two years to match the standard residency visa duration. Aligning start dates avoids confusing renewal sequences.
Update the policy if the worker’s details change. If your domestic worker renews their passport, changes their visa details, or transfers sponsorship, update the insurance record immediately. Mismatched data can cause ICP verification failures.
Budget for the 2026 renewal increase. Medical inflation in the UAE is running at 8–12% in 2026. Sponsors renewing policies this year should expect premiums to be slightly higher than their previous cycle. This applies even to basic plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is domestic worker health insurance mandatory in all seven emirates?
Yes, from January 1, 2025, the mandate covers all seven emirates. Previously, it was strictly enforced only in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Now all emirates are subject to the same federal requirement.
- What if my domestic worker already has insurance from a previous employer?
If the previous policy is still active and compliant, you may be able to transfer or build on it. However, most sponsors purchase a fresh policy under their own sponsorship. Confirm with the insurer that the policy is linked to your sponsorship file.
- Does the insurance cover the worker if they are injured in my home?
Medical treatment for injuries is covered under the health insurance plan (inpatient and emergency). Separate workplace injury or personal accident cover may be included in enhanced domestic worker packages; check the policy schedule.
- What happens to the insurance if I terminate the domestic worker’s contract?
The policy typically lapses or can be cancelled from the date of contract termination. Notify your insurer promptly to stop premium charges and file the residency visa cancellation with MOHRE and ICP accordingly.
- Can I upgrade from a basic plan to an enhanced plan mid-contract?
Yes. Mid-contract upgrades are permitted. You will need to contact your current insurer or purchase a new plan, ensuring there is no gap in coverage during the transition.
- Does the basic plan cover pre-existing conditions?
The AED 320 Basic National Package covers pre-existing conditions and chronic diseases from day one with no waiting period. Standard EBP plans from private insurers typically apply a 6-month waiting period unless the worker was previously insured in the UAE.
Summary: Health Insurance for Domestic Workers in UAE, Cost at a Glance
Health insurance for domestic workers in the UAE is one of the most affordable legal obligations you face as a household sponsor, and one of the most consequential to ignore.
The key facts to remember:
- Mandatory nationwide from January 1, 2025, under Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022
- Covers maids, nannies, drivers, cooks, gardeners, and all household staff
- Basic National Package starts at AED 320/year, the most affordable compliance option
- EBP from approved insurers like GIG Gulf starts from AED 630/year for Dubai
- Enhanced plans with repatriation and wider networks run AED 1,200–2,500/year
- You cannot deduct the cost from the worker’s salary; it is entirely your responsibility
- No valid policy = visa blocked, personal medical liability, and fines up to AED 10,000+
- Purchase before the visa deadline, check the network near your home, and set a renewal reminder 30 days early
For most households, the basic EBP plan is sufficient for compliance. If your worker has ongoing health needs or you want the added reassurance of repatriation cover and a wider hospital network, an enhanced plan in the AED 1,200–1,500 range delivers meaningful additional protection for a modest additional cost.
Either way, the investment is small compared to the legal and financial exposure of going without.