Launch of compulsory health insurance in Dubai
Type
E-journal
Date
17 Dec 2013
Jurisdiction
Dubai
Taxonomy
General Health Law, Private Health Insurance, Types of Insurance
Copyright
LexisNexis
Relevant company
Clyde & Co
Legal reference
Dubai Law No. 11/2013
Analysis
Following in the footsteps of Abu Dhabi, KSA and very recently Qatar, Dubai has announced the introduction of its compulsory health insurance regime. The Dubai Health Authority announced that the "Health Insurance Law for the Emirate of Dubai (No. 11 of 2013)" (the Law) was signed on 24 November 2013. In this update, we consider the implications of the new regime, which is intended to be rolled out in phases between 2014 and 2016, on employers and on the insurance market in Dubai.
Under the new Law, health insurance will be compulsory for all residents of, and visitors to, the Emirate of Dubai including all the free zones within the Emirate. The obligation to provide health insurance cover for UAE expatriate residents will fall to employers and sponsors. In addition to its general impact on employers, residents and visitors to the Emirate, the Health Insurance Law will have wide ranging implications for the health insurance market (principally insurers, third party administrators (TPAs) and brokers) and healthcare providers.