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Health insurance that is approved by the Dubai Health Authority is mandatory for all UK citizens living in Dubai. Because domestic UK health insurance does not offer UAE coverage, international plans are the top choice. Travel insurance is not required for short-term travelers but is recommended.
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Are you headed on a vacation or medical tourist trip to the UAE, or maybe you’re planning a permanent move to Dubai? Are you unsure what coverage you need to meet government requirements? This article will answer these questions and more.
In this Pacific Prime guide, we’ll walk you through Dubai’s health insurance mandates for travelers and expats from the UK as well as outline benefits you should look for in top plans. We’ll even lay out the best travel insurance plans for those taking short getaways to Dubai.
Keep reading to see the top plans for your lifestyle and budget as a UK expat or traveler in Dubai. If you’re ready to begin comparing quotes, go ahead and use our free quote tool.
Health Insurance Requirements for United Kingdom Citizens in Dubai
Health insurance mandates for UK citizens in Dubai are determined by the length of their stay and any visa they may use for their time abroad. Dubai’s DHA (Dubai Health Authority) determines the insurance benefits and limits required for foreigners entering the country.
Requirements for Short-Term United Kingdom Visitors
UK citizens who visit Dubai briefly are not required to purchase health insurance. UK passport holders qualify for Dubai’s free 30-day visa on arrival, which can be extended once for another 30 days with reapplication.
Requirements for Long-Term United Kingdom Visitors
The DHA requires that all Dubai residents, including UK expats, have health insurance. Those who are employed in Dubai will likely receive public insurance coverage, but public coverage comes with limits, including often not covering dependents.
The minimum health coverage required in Dubai, including for long-term UK visitors, is:
- Outpatient Care: This includes insurance coverage for services like doctor consultations, medically necessary testing, and medications prescribed by a doctor.
- Inpatient Care: Inpatient benefits should cover hospitalization and basic surgeries and procedures.
- Routine Care: Routine visits may include trips to see a general practitioner, wellness check-ups, and more.
- Emergency Services: Emergency services may include ambulatory services and medical intervention and diagnostic testing in the emergency room.
- Maternity Care: Maternity care should cover costs related to prenatal care, like ultrasounds, medical testing, and OBGYN visits; labor and delivery; and emergencies such as unplanned C-section.
- Annual Coverage Minimum of AED 150,000: This equates to about £29971.20, or USD $40,838.55.
Beyond the specifications above, all insurance must be DHA approved. Vision and dental coverage are not mandatory in Dubai.
Dubai’s Essential Benefits Plan (EBP) requires that private Dubai employers offer coverage for at least the basic benefits listed above if an employee’s salary is below AED 4,000 a month. Employer-provided insurance comes with a 20% copayment.
International Health Insurance for United Kingdom Expats and Long-Term Travelers in Dubai
Expats in Dubai usually prefer international health insurance because they not only fulfill Dubai’s minimum insurance requirements but they also offer expats flexible, portable benefits that are tailored to expats’ needs and budget.
International health insurance plans generally offer the following benefits:
- Inpatient care, such as hospitalization, surgery fees, and inpatient expenses
- Outpatient care, such as general practitioner visits, specialist visits, and outpatient diagnostics
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
- Preventive care, such as routine checkups and vaccinations
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitation
- Direct billing
- Worldwide coverage
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Lifetime renewable policies
- Flexibility in choosing providers
- Options for maternity care, mental health, dental care, vision care, chronic condition management
Expats often choose international health insurance for coverage across borders, including inside Dubai and the United Kingdom. It also offers access to a broader network of top hospitals and specialists, gives higher annual and lifetime medical limits, and allows dependents to be added to plans.
How to Pick an International Insurance Plan for Dubai
When picking an international insurance plan for Dubai, consider your lifestyle and budget, DHA requirements, exclusions, waiting periods, plan limits and benefits, and provider reputation. Let’s outline these considerations a bit more:
- Lifestyle: Consider your health history, such as pre-existing conditions. Do you anticipate needing coverage for adventure sports? Do you plan on expanding your family? Do you need translation services? How widely do you plan to travel?
- Budget: The amount you budget for your insurance plan should be broken into your premium, deductible, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.
- Exclusions: Some insurers do not cover medical bills related to pre-existing conditions. Some may also utilize coverage with loading, meaning pre-existing conditions are only covered at higher premiums.
- Waiting Periods: A waiting period, or moratorium, may be applied to conditions that are riskier for insurance companies to cover. This means the provider won’t cover costs for those conditions until after a set amount of time. Waiting periods may range from nine to 24 months.
- Maximums and Benefits: Plan maximums refer to the total maximum amount the insurer will pay for certain benefits within a coverage period, generally a year. Benefits are the specific types of care and procedures the insurer will cover.
- Provider Reputation: Look for a provider, such as those partnered with Pacific Prime, with extensive networks, years in the industry, benefit flexibility, and good customer reviews.
Travel Insurance for Short-Term United Kingdom Visitors in Dubai
Dubai does not require travel insurance from UK visitors, but it is still highly recommended to protect your budget, your peace of mind, and your health. Many travel insurance plans offer coverage for emergency medical needs as well as for trip-related mishaps.
Some of the common benefits travel insurance providers offer are:
- Emergency Medical Expenses: If you require emergency medical services while on vacation, travel insurance may help with the expenses.
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: In a serious medical emergency, travel insurance will often cover the cost of transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility or even back home.
- Trip Cancellation: Most travel insurance plans offer options for trip cancellation, with options varying from emergency cancellation only to cancellation for any reason.
- Delayed Departure: This benefit covers delays, whether for flights, ferries, or cruise ships.
- Travel Documents: Many travel insurance plans will cover the cost of replacing your lost or damaged travel documents, like passports and ID cards.
- Personal Liability: This benefit covers third-party insurance claims that have been filed against you.
- Luggage Delay: If your checked baggage gets stalled, a travel insurance provider can offer reimbursement for items like clothing and toiletries.
- Lost or Stolen Luggage: If your luggage is lost or stolen, this benefit offers reimbursement to help replace your belongings.
Top Insurance Providers for United Kingdom Citizens in Dubai
Pacific Prime partners with top-tier insurance providers, whether you’re looking for international health insurance or travel insurance for a jaunt to the UAE. We will outline the best options for UK travelers below.
The Best International Insurance for Dubai
Some of the best providers of international plans for UK expats in Dubai include Cigna Global, Bupa, and Allianz Care. These providers all offer plans that meet DHA requirements and cater to the unique needs of expats. Find other top providers here.
Cigna Global
Cigna Global offers three tiers under their Healthguard plan that suit UK expats in Dubai wonderfully: the Regional, International, and International Plus plans.
- Regional Plan: Offers coverage within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, other Middle East countries, and Asia (excluding Singapore, Hong Kong, and China). It offers an annual benefit maximum of AED 2,750,000 (£549,472, or USD $748,808.77).
- International Plan: Offers worldwide coverage with optional coverage in the United States. The annual benefit maximum for this plan is AED 7,350,000 (£1,468,588.80, or USD $2,001,361.63).
- International Plus Plan: The International Plus plan is the most comprehensive plan offered by Cigna in Dubai, with an unlimited annual benefit maximum. This plan also offers worldwide coverage with the choice to include coverage in the USA.
Bupa Global
Bupa Global partners with Sukoon Insurance (formerly Oman Insurance Company) to offer four international health insurance plans tailored for expats in Dubai. These plans—Select, Premier, Elite, and Ultimate—meet different coverage needs and budgets and all comply with DHA requirements.
- Select: This plan features lowest maximum benefits for budget-conscious expats who will stay primarily within the UAE. The default option for this plan only includes regional coverage.
- Premier: This plan offers a higher benefit cap than the Select plan as well as worldwide coverage, excluding the USA.
- Elite: This plan has a higher benefit limit than the Premier tier and includes coverage for in-home nursing and complementary therapies.
- Ultimate: Bupa’s most comprehensive coverage comes with no annual limit. It includes all benefits of Bupa’s other plans plus genetic cancer screenings.
Allianz Care
With Allianz Insurance Dubai, UK expats can pick either the Dubai Select, Prime, or Elite plans. These plans provide comprehensive benefits such as oncology, private room coverage, mental health coverage, and inpatient and outpatient services.
Annual maximums for each tier are:
- £1,290,603.30, or USD $1,750,000 for the Select tier
- £2,949,950.40, or USD $4,000,000 for the Prime tier
- £7,743,619.81, or USD $10,500,000 for the Elite tier
For outpatient services, benefits are broken down into their Pearl, Silver, and Gold individual Dubai plans. Some of benefits included in these plans are outlined below:
| Dubai Pearl | Dubai Silver | Dubai Gold | |
| Maximum Plan Limit | £37,611.87, or USD $51,000 | £45,502.98, or USD $61,700 | No limit |
| General Practitioner and Specialist Fees | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Prescriptions | £1,032.48, or USD $1,400 | Covered | Covered |
| Diagnostic Tests | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Psychiatry and Psychotherapy | 15 visits; maximum cost of £2,009.65, or USD $2,725 | 30 visits | 30 visits |
Allianz’s Dubai plans also come with add-on riders for dental, enhanced maternity, and global assistance programs.
The Best Travel Insurance for Dubai
Three of the best travel insurance providers for UK vacationers heading to Dubai are IMG, VUMI, and GIG Gulf. For more information on travel insurance for Dubai, check out our comprehensive guide or our article outlining other exceptional providers.
IMG
IMG Global offers two travel insurance plans for Dubai: their Patriot Lite and Patriot Platinum plans. Both plans offer coverage for hospitalization, emergency medical evacuation, and lost luggage coverage.
VUMI
VUMI offers options to cover either a single trip or multiple trips within a year, with options for full medical coverage as well as non-medical travel benefits. Just choose between VUMI’s Single Trip Insurance and their Annual Travel Insurance.
GIG Gulf
GIG Gulf’s Travel Smart insurance plan is their best offering for UK vacationers in Dubai. It offers flexible benefits like up to £737,487.60, or USD $1,000,000, for emergency medical expenses and trip cancellation up to £3,687.44, or USD $5,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my UK health insurance work in Dubai?
Most UK health insurance does not cover medical expenses abroad, including in Dubai. For coverage in Dubai, choose either an international health insurance plan or a local private plan in the UAE.
Can tourists get healthcare in Dubai?
Medical tourism is common in Dubai, but without international insurance, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for those services. Other travelers heading to Dubai are highly encouraged to at least purchase travel insurance with emergency medical coverage.
What if I don’t get health insurance for Dubai?
Dubai mandates that all residents have health insurance, and those who do not comply with the rule could be fined about 500 AED (£100.41, or USD $136.15 per month). They may also be denied residency status altogether.
Conclusion
United Kingdom travelers should now have a good idea of the best insurance options available for Dubai. Dubai’s internationally acclaimed healthcare system, bustling business scene, and vibrant culture make it a popular destination for travelers and expats alike.
Whether you would like a bit more help comparing plans or you’re ready to pay for the perfect plan, look to a trusted broker like Pacific Prime. With over 25 years of experience providing quality insurance options for travelers and expats, Pacific Prime is there to provide the assistance you need.
Pacific Prime offers travel insurance policies and health insurance plans as well as benefit packages for inpatient, outpatient, maternity, and dental care, so world travelers are sure to find specialized plans for their needs.
Contact our expert advisors to get a free, no-obligation quote or impartial advice, and experience the best insurance can offer. For more information on Dubai, check out our other articles:
- Health Insurance for Americans in Dubai
- Health Insurance in Dubai for Canadians
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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