Is an employer required to provide insurance for an employee's dependents?

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for your inquiry!

In the UAE, there is no federal law that mandates employers to provide health insurance for employees’ dependents. However, local laws may vary by emirate:

- Dubai:

Under the Dubai Health Insurance Law No. 11 of 2013, it is the employer’s obligation to provide health insurance coverage for the employee only. It is the employee’s responsibility to provide insurance for their dependents (e.g., spouse, children).

- Abu Dhabi:

Employers are required to provide health insurance for employees and their dependents (spouse and up to three children under 18), as per the Abu Dhabi Health Insurance Law.

- Other Emirates:

Currently, there is no legal obligation for employers to provide health insurance for either employees or their dependents unless specified in the employment contract or company policy.

If you need help reviewing your employment contract or assessing your rights based on your emirate, feel free to reach out for a consultation.

Kind regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant

In the UAE, the labor law stipulates that employers must provide health insurance for their employees, but there is no mandatory law requiring insurance to cover the employees' family members.

In larger companies or some free zones, employers may be required to provide health insurance for the employee and their family members (such as spouse and children), but this depends on the company's internal policy or agreements between the employer and employee.

If the company the employee works for provides health insurance, it may cover the employee's family members in some cases, but this is not considered a general legal right.

Depending on the agreement with the employer or the company's internal policies, the terms of health insurance coverage for the employee's family members may vary.

If the company promises to provide insurance for the employee's family members but fails to do so, the employee may be able to file a complaint against the company.

Greetings,

In the UAE, employers are legally required to provide health insurance for their employees, but not for their dependents, unless local regulations (such as in Abu Dhabi) specifically mandate it.

In Dubai, for example, it is the responsibility of the sponsor (not the employer) to provide insurance for dependents.

However, requirements can vary depending on the emirate and the free zone authority involved.

To understand your specific obligations or rights based on your situation, we recommend booking a consultation with us for accurate legal guidance or to assign us as your legal representative.

Under UAE federal law, employers are not legally obligated to provide health insurance for an employee’s dependents (such as spouse or children). However, requirements differ by emirate:

In Abu Dhabi, the employer is required to provide health insurance for the employee and their dependents (spouse and up to three children under 18).

In Dubai, the employer is only responsible for the employee’s insurance. The employee (as sponsor) is responsible for arranging insurance for their dependents.

For more personalized legal advice and support, feel free to contact us on WhatsApp. Our legal center specializes in these types of disputes and matters.