Free guide
Healthcare and insurance
Healthcare here runs on insurance, not the NHS. Care is private and usually quick; what you pay depends on your plan. Pick your situation.
Who needs cover?
5 situationsHow it works
InsuranceMandatoryDubai, Abu Dhabi and, since 2025, the other emirates
Emergency998Ambulance
NHSEndsWhen you move abroad
GP visitCo-pay20% on the basic plan
Covered by your employer
| Who pays | Your employer must insure you, including in free zones. They can’t charge you for it |
| Plan level | Most professional roles get an enhanced plan. The Essential Benefits Plan is the legal minimum for lower earners |
| Check | The network of clinics and hospitals, co-pays, and whether you can see a specialist without a GP referral |
Sources: Dubai.ae: health insurance; u.ae: getting health insurance; Sukoon: DHA Essential Benefits Plan table.
The minimum plan in Dubai
| Benefit | Essential Benefits Plan |
|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Lower earners, around AED 4,000 a month or less |
| Annual limit | AED 150,000 |
| GP or specialist visit | 20% co-pay; specialists need a referral |
| Medicines | 30% co-pay, capped at AED 2,500 a year |
| Hospital stay | 20% co-pay, capped at AED 500 a visit and AED 1,000 a year |
| Not included | Eye tests and glasses; dental is limited |
From one insurer’s published benefit table under DHA rules. Enhanced plans usually cost more and cover more.
In an emergency
- Call 998 for an ambulance
- Dubai hospitals must treat emergencies until you are out of danger, even outside your insurer’s network
- Unpaid medical bills can stop you leaving the country, the FCDO warns: keep your insurance card with you
Leaving the NHS
- You’re no longer automatically entitled to NHS care once you move abroad
- Tell your GP so you’re removed from the list
- The UK has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UAE
- Bring copies of medical records and prescriptions
Before you commit: the regional situation. Conflict involving Iran has disrupted flights across the Gulf in 2026. The FCDO does not advise against travel to the UAE but asks people to be ready for disruption. Read the FCDO travel advice (last updated 24 July 2026).
Questions people ask
Sources: NHS: moving abroad; NHS: reciprocal agreements; Khaleej Times: emergency treatment; FCDO: health.
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