Is health insurance mandatory for domestic workers in 2026?

Yes. Sponsors must buy cover before ICP issues or renews any residence visa for a domestic worker.

What is the minimum annual cover required?

Policies must provide at least 150,000 AED for inpatient and outpatient care plus maternity benefits where applicable.

How long does registration take?

Once payment clears, the digital card is issued within 24 hours and can be uploaded to ICP the same day.

UAE Health Insurance for Domestic Workers: Mandatory Rules

Who must buy insurance and when

Any sponsor who employs a domestic worker, whether a maid, driver, or cook, must provide health insurance. This rule applies from the moment the worker receives a UAE residence visa. ICP will not issue or renew the visa without proof of cover.

The requirement covers all seven emirates. Dubai uses DHA rules, Abu Dhabi uses DOH rules, and the remaining emirates follow MOH guidelines. The sponsor pays the full premium; the worker cannot be asked to contribute.

Minimum cover required in 2026

Every policy must include inpatient and outpatient treatment up to 150,000 AED per year. Maternity cover is compulsory for female workers aged 18 to 45. Mental-health and chronic-condition treatment must be included at the same limit. Pre-existing conditions receive cover after a 6-month waiting period.

Co-payments are capped: 20 percent on outpatient visits and 10 percent on inpatient stays. No policy may exclude accidents at the workplace or during daily errands.

How much it costs sponsors

Basic annual premiums range from 1,800 AED to 2,600 AED per worker in 2026. Dubai and Abu Dhabi sit at the higher end; Sharjah and Ajman are usually 300 to 400 AED cheaper. Adding maternity or dental raises the price by 400 to 700 AED. Group policies for three or more workers can cut the per-person cost by up to 25 percent.

Step-by-step registration process

First, choose an insurer licensed by the relevant health authority. Second, submit the worker’s Emirates ID copy, passport, and visa page through the insurer’s portal. Third, pay the premium and receive the digital insurance card within 24 hours. Fourth, upload the card to the ICP portal when applying for or renewing the residence visa. Failure to upload blocks visa issuance.

Renewal must happen at least 30 days before the policy expires. Late renewal triggers daily fines of 50 AED through ICP until cover is restored.

Penalties for non-compliance

Sponsors who skip insurance face a 5,000 AED fine from ICP plus a temporary ban on new visa applications. DHA and DOH also impose separate fines of 2,000 AED for each uninsured worker found during random checks. The worker’s medical bills become the sponsor’s direct responsibility until cover is active again.

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Tovi knows current 2026 UAE rules, fees, and processes. Ask anything — visas, banking, housing, schools. Ask Tovi free →