Group Medical Insurance in Abu Dhabi: A Guide for Employers
What the law requires, what a group plan covers, how premiums are set and how to run your renewal without surprises.
✓ Since 1995 · ✓ Central Bank of the UAE Reg. No. 081 · ✓ DOH & DHA authorized · ✓ Groups from 6 employees
If you sponsor employees in Abu Dhabi, you must provide their health insurance, and their family's too. This guide explains what the law requires, what a group plan covers, how insurers price it, and how to run a renewal without surprises. It's written by Al Berwaz Insurance Brokers, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE (Registration No. 081) and authorized to arrange health insurance by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (Certificate No. B013).
Is group medical insurance mandatory in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Under Abu Dhabi Law No. 23 of 2005, employers and sponsors must provide health insurance for their employees and their families: one spouse and up to three children under 18. Valid cover is needed to issue or renew residency visas, so a lapse in cover can hold up your team's paperwork.
The rest of the UAE has caught up. Since 1 January 2025, private-sector employers across the country must hold health insurance for their employees as a condition of issuing or renewing residency permits. In the northern emirates, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation offers a basic package from AED 320 a year.
Who you must cover, and who you can add
| Person | Abu Dhabi rule |
|---|---|
| Every employee you sponsor | Must be covered by the employer |
| One spouse | Must be covered by the employer |
| Up to three children under 18 | Must be covered by the employer |
| Additional children, parents, other dependants | Not required of the employer; can usually be added to the company plan, with the cost set by company policy |
What a group plan covers
Every plan in Abu Dhabi must meet the Department of Health (DOH) minimum benefits. A typical plan covers inpatient treatment (hospital stays and surgery), outpatient visits, diagnostics, prescribed medicines, emergency care and maternity.
From there, you choose how far to go: a wider hospital network, lower co-payments, dental, optical or cover outside the UAE. Many companies set two or three plan levels by staff grade, such as an enhanced plan for management and a compliant core plan for general staff. That puts the budget where it matters most.
How many employees do you need?
It depends on the insurer. In our experience placing group medical cover in Abu Dhabi, most SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) plans start from 11 employees, while Daman offers SME group plans from 6. Smaller groups may be offered micro-group products, which usually need each member to complete a medical questionnaire and can cost more per person.
How premiums are calculated
Insurers price a group plan on:
- the number of members and their ages and gender mix
- the number of dependants
- the plan level and hospital network you choose
- co-payments and deductibles
- for an existing group, its claims history
At renewal, claims history usually matters most. If your group's claims over the past year already exceed your budget, no insurer can quote within it. A good broker shows you that with the claims data, then works on plan design rather than cutting essential cover.
Run your renewal 30 to 45 days before expiry
We recommend starting 30 to 45 days before your policy expires. That leaves enough time to:
- Request the claims report from your current insurer.
- Update your member list for joiners, leavers and new dependants.
- Ask several insurers to quote on the same terms.
- Compare benefits, networks and co-payments side by side, not just the price.
- Finalize changes without a gap in cover that could delay visa renewals.
What to prepare for a quote
- Member list: each member's date of birth, gender, nationality, salary band and dependants (no medical details needed at this stage).
- Current policy: your table of benefits.
- Claims report: the last 12 months of claims from your current insurer, if you have an existing plan.
- Company documents: a copy of your trade license.
Why use a broker?
An insurer can only offer its own plans. A broker compares several insurers, negotiates on your behalf and stays with you through the year: adding and removing staff, sorting out claims issues and preparing your renewal. Broker commission is built into the insurer's premium, so using a broker doesn't add to your cost.
Got questions? We've got answers
Quick answers to other questions employers ask us about group medical cover in Abu Dhabi.
Ask Us a QuestionCan we insure only some of our employees?
No. In Abu Dhabi, every employee you sponsor must be covered. You can, however, give different staff grades different plan levels.
Do we have to insure our employees' parents?
No. Parents are the responsibility of whoever sponsors their visa, usually the employee. They can often be added to a company plan at the employee's cost, subject to the insurer's terms.
Can employees choose their own insurer?
Usually not for the core plan, because group cover is one company policy. Employees can buy extra cover individually.
What happens if our policy lapses?
Residency visas can't be issued or renewed without valid cover, and the employer remains responsible under the law. Start your renewal early so there's no gap.
✓ Serving Abu Dhabi businesses since 1995
✓ Licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE (Reg. No. 081)
✓ Authorized health insurance broker: DOH Abu Dhabi (B013) & DHA Dubai (BRK-00146)
Sources:UAE Government portal: Getting health insurance · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation: Basic Health Insurance Scheme · Department of Health: Law No. 23 of 2005. Checked October 2026.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions of the issuing insurer.