The Health Insurance Law of Dubai No 11 of 2013 requires that all Residents must have a level of health insurance that meets or exceeds minimum benefits stipulated by DHA. These benefits form what is known as the Essential Benefits Plan. In order not to be a burden on employers, the price of providing these benefits needs to be kept low. In addition, DHA wants to ensure that the most vulnerable workers are protected. Because of this insurers will only be able to make reasonably small profits from the Essential Benefits Plan. Accordingly, only those insurance companies who can provide cover on a cost effective basis, who can handle volume business and can demonstrate operational effectiveness and high levels of customer service will be able to sell the Essential Benefits Plan to the segment of the Resident population earning 4,000 AED or less per month.

Over time, employers will have to cover these workers with a policy provided only by a “Participating Insurer”. The standards required to qualify as a “PI” were set at a much higher level than those required to obtain the DHA Health Insurance Permit.

The list of Participating Insurers is shown below. In November of each year, all insurers will have an opportunity to submit an Expression of Interest to become a PI and existing ones will need to reapply.