The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) recently published a comprehensive guide to clarify health insurance protocols for employees across the UAE. While this update does not introduce new mandates, it reinforces the existing requirement that employers must provide valid health insurance to secure or renew work permits. The process is now fully digitized, allowing the ministry’s systems to automatically verify insurance status during applications, which helps streamline approvals and ensures consistent compliance for both private-sector and domestic staff.

The guidance serves as a firm reminder of the protections afforded to workers, emphasizing that the financial burden of insurance premiums falls entirely on the employer. Companies are prohibited from asking employees to contribute to these costs or allowing coverage gaps during the duration of a work permit. With the nationwide rollout finalized in early 2025, which extended mandatory coverage to the northern emirates, authorities have also introduced basic packages starting at Dh320 per year. These measures are designed to provide a transparent, sustainable framework that guarantees healthcare access while safeguarding the rights of all parties involved in the employment relationship.