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Expats who want to sponsor their dependents’ visas in Dubai will be required to purchase adequate health insurance for them. If this mandatory requirement is not followed and no proof of insurance is given, a visa will not be issued, and the application will be denied.
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Are you an expat in Dubai wanting to sponsor your family members’ visas? Are you unsure what the rules are for dependent health insurance coverage? The insurance experts at Pacific Prime wrote this guide to help expats in Dubai answer these questions.
We will explain more about family visa sponsorship, the health insurance requirements, and approved health insurance providers in Dubai for families. Keep reading to learn more, or click here for free health insurance quotes for Dubai!
Family Visa Sponsorship in Dubai
Foreigners who are already in Dubai on a valid residency visa can sponsor their family members if they make a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000 (USD $1,089) or AED 3,000 (USD $817) plus accommodation.
Women can sponsor their children in special cases approved by the ICP (Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security). Dependents who are to be sponsored and are under the age of 18 will be required to pass medical fitness tests at approved UAE health centers.
The eligibility requirements and necessary documents will vary depending on whether you are sponsoring your children, your spouse, or your parents, and so on. The general necessary documents for sponsorship are:
- Online application through a registered typing office
- Passport copies of the dependents
- Photos of the dependents
- Medical clearance certificate for dependents
- Copy of the sponsor’s employment contract or company contract
- Certificate from the employer stating the employee’s monthly salary
- Legal marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Registered tenancy contract
- Latest utility bill
Health Insurance Requirements for Family Visa Sponsorship
There are strict health insurance requirements for those wanting to sponsor their families in Dubai. Dubai and UAE law dictate that all residents, both foreign and citizens, must have adequate health insurance. This includes children and all dependents.
To stay compliant, family health insurance plans will need to meet the minimum standards set by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), which include the following:
- An annual overall limit of at least AED 150,000 (around USD $40,800)
- Emergency medical treatment coverage
- Inpatient and outpatient care coverage
- Maternity and newborn care coverage
- Maternity services, including inpatient, outpatient, and newborn care
- Pre-existing conditions coverage
Any local health insurance provider in Dubai will offer at least a basic health insurance plan that includes these benefits. Some top international health insurance providers offer DHA-compliant plans, such as Cigna Global, Sukoon, and Bupa Global, and others.
Approved Health Insurance Providers in Dubai for Families
Approved health insurance providers for families in Dubai are Cigna Global, GIG Gulf, and Sukoon and Bupa. We will share more about their DHA-compliant family health insurance plans in the following sections.
Cigna Global Plans for Families in Dubai
Cigna Global provides expat families in Dubai specialized coverage through its Cigna Healthguard℠ plans. These come in varying levels of annual benefit limits and were designed to comply with the Dubai Health Authority’s minimum requirements for healthcare coverage.
Families can choose between three Cigna Healthguard℠ plans: Regional, International, and International Plus. The Regional plan only covers expats within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, other Middle East countries, and Asia (excluding Singapore, Hong Kong, and China).
The International and International Plus plans provide worldwide coverage (excluding the USA unless you pay for a premium increase). The International Plus plan offers the most comprehensive coverage to families in Dubai with an unlimited annual benefit maximum.
GIG Gulf Plans for Families in Dubai
Gulf Insurance Group (GIG) is a leading insurer in the Middle East that provides health insurance plans designed to comply with the Dubai Health Authority standards. They provide both local and regional geographical coverage for families across the Emirates.
Their local expertise and knowledge can make them a valuable insurance provider to those sponsoring their families in Dubai. Their network of providers includes top-quality Dubai hospitals and clinics.
Sukoon and Bupa Plans for Families in Dubai
Bupa Global partners with Sukoon Insurance to provide Dubai Health Authority-compliant plans to expats and their dependents in Dubai and the UAE. They provide four health insurance plans: Select, Premier, Elite, and Ultimate.
- Select Plan: Provides geographical coverage in Dubai and surrounding Middle Eastern countries with an option to upgrade to worldwide coverage (excludes the US). This plan has an overall annual limit of AED 4,670,000 (around USD $1,271,440).
- Premier Plan: Provides worldwide geographical coverage, excluding the US. It also has the same annual limit as the Select plan, of AED 4,670,000 (around USD $1,271,440).
- Elite Plan: Provides more comprehensive benefits than the Select and Premier plans. It offers worldwide coverage that includes the US and an annual limit of AED 14,019,000 (around USD $3,816,770).
- Ultimate Plan: Provides the most comprehensive benefits of the health insurance plans offered by Bupa and Sukoon Insurance, with an unlimited annual limit. This plan also comes with worldwide coverage that includes the US.
Costs of Family Visa Sponsorship Health Insurance in Dubai
The average family premium in Dubai is USD $17,670 annually. Dubai and the rest of the UAE have seen health insurance premiums rise due to a variety of factors, such as general inflation and improved medical technology.
To learn more about the cost of family and individual health insurance premiums across the globe, download the Pacific Prime Cost of International Health Insurance Report here!
Four Tips to Help Keep Family Premiums Affordable in Dubai
Expats in Dubai can help keep their family health insurance premiums affordable by comparing a variety of plans from different providers, customizing their coverage, choosing a high-deductible plan, and consulting with an insurance broker. We’ll explain more about these tips below.
1. Compare a Variety of Plans from Different Providers
Compare a variety of plans from different health insurance providers before you choose a plan. You may find a health insurance plan for your family that fits you better than one from a different health insurance provider. You can use free quote tools to help you compare plans easily and quickly.
When comparing separate plans, make sure you analyze the annual limits, benefits covered, geographical coverage, and the exclusions. Take your time with this step so you don’t miss any key points. Comparing plans can help you find the most affordable fit for your family.
2. Customize Your Coverage
Don’t pay for coverage you don’t need: customize your coverage in your health insurance plan. While DHA rules mean you will have to buy a standardized basic coverage, you can still customize any additional benefits to ensure that you are only paying for what you need.
Are you unsure if you’ll need vision coverage? Don’t choose a plan with vision riders. Many insurance providers offer a variety of different insurance solutions. Choose the plan that best fits your coverage needs.
3. Choose a High-Deductible Plan
Choosing a high-deductible plan can lower your annual or monthly premium. With a high-deductible plan, the insurance company will pay less up front and shift more of the financial risk to the policyholder. This can help keep your family premiums more affordable.
4. Consult With an Insurance Broker for Family Health Insurance
Consulting with an insurance broker can help Dubai expats make the best choice for their family health insurance plans by expediting the process and adding valuable support. Insurance brokers can help you find the most affordable option for your family in Dubai.
Insurance brokers are partnered with a variety of health insurance providers and understand which may be more flexible with their underwriting. Insurance brokers can help explain complex insurance jargon so you understand your policy completely.
Brokers can also help expats in Dubai compare plans across a variety of insurance providers, which will save expats time as they will not have to contact insurers directly themselves. If you’re unsure where to start with securing health insurance for your dependents, reach out to a professional.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is health insurance required for a family visa in Dubai?
Health insurance is a mandatory requirement for expats on residency visas looking to sponsor their family members in Dubai. They must be able to prove that they have adequate health insurance coverage for their dependents. Without this proof, their visa application will not be approved.
Is it expensive to sponsor a family in Dubai?
To sponsor a family in Dubai, expats must make at least a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000 (USD $1,089) or AED 3,000 (USD $817) plus accommodation. The expense of bringing your family to Dubai will also vary depending on the size of your family and where you choose to live.
What must a health insurance plan cover to be legally compliant in Dubai?
To be legally compliant with DHA standards, a health insurance plan must have the following: an overall limit of at least AED 150,000 (around USD $40,800) and coverage for emergency medical treatment, inpatient and outpatient care, maternity services, and pre-existing conditions.
Can you sponsor your parents in Dubai?
Expats can sponsor their parents in Dubai. An expat can sponsor his parents for a year by paying a deposit as a guarantee for each parent. They will also need to provide proof that they are their parents sole support with no one to care for them back home.
Conclusion:
Health insurance is a mandatory requirement for sponsoring your family in Dubai. Expats can choose to purchase local or international health insurance for their dependents. They will need to purchase a DHA-approved medical insurance plan in order to stay compliant with the law.
Are you ready to begin shopping for health insurance for your family in Dubai? Let the insurance experts at Pacific Prime help. Pacific Prime is partnered with a wide variety of global health insurance providers who provide plans in Dubai, and can help you find the best fit for your needs.
We are a global health insurance broker who specializes in expat health insurance and can offer a wealth of professional expertise and services. Our tailor-made policies suit every budget and health care need for expats and travellers across the world.
Contact Pacific Prime to discuss, free of charge, a range of health insurance plans available for you and your loved ones in Dubai. To get a no-obligation, free price comparison quote, visit our website today!
Interested in reading more articles for expats in Dubai? Check out our following blog posts:
- Freelancer Visa in Dubai: Do You Need Health Insurance?
- Health Insurance in Dubai for Indian Expats
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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