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Health insurance that is approved by the Dubai Health Authority is mandatory for all Americans living in Dubai long term. Most U.S. health insurance does not offer coverage abroad, so international plans are preferred. 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 planning a long-term move to Dubai? Are you unsure what level of coverage you need to meet government requirements? Have you been looking for the best plans for your budget in Dubai? This article will answer these questions and more.
In this Pacific Prime guide, we’ll walk you through Dubai’s health insurance mandates for Americans making the move abroad as well as outline benefits expats should look for in top plans. We’ll even offer suggestions for those planning quick excursions to Dubai.
Keep reading to see the top plans for your lifestyle and budget as an expat or traveler in Dubai and much more. And if you’re ready to begin comparing quotes, head to our free quote tool to make the process simple and stress-free.
Health Insurance Requirements for Americans in Dubai
Health insurance requirements for Americans in Dubai are determined by the length of their stay and the visa type, if necessary, they plan to 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 American Visitors
Americans visiting Dubai for 90 days or fewer are not required to purchase health insurance. Because Americans qualify for the UAE’s visa on arrival, they can stay for 30 days (and up to 60 with visa renewal) without needing travel medical insurance either.
Requirements for Long-Term American Visitors
The DHA requires all Dubai residents, including expats, to have health insurance. Those who are employed by a company in Dubai will likely receive public insurance coverage, but that coverage comes with limits: you may need to buy separate policies for dependents or for comprehensive benefits.
The minimum health coverage required in Dubai, including for long-term 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 USD $40,838.55.
In addition to the specifications above, all insurance must come from a provider that is approved by the DHA. 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 these basic benefits if an employee’s salary is below AED 4,000 a month. Employer-provided insurance comes with a 20% copayment and likely won’t cover your family members.
International Health Insurance for American Expats and Long-Term Travelers in Dubai
Expats in Dubai usually prefer international health insurance to cover themselves and their dependents. Most international plans fulfill Dubai’s minimum insurance requirements, and they offer expats flexible, portable options that are tailored to their 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
Some of the reasons Americans living in Dubai choose international health insurance are for portable coverage across borders, including inside and outside of Dubai and in the United States. It also offers access to a larger network of private hospitals and specialists than those offered under local private plans.
Beyond these pros, international insurance gives higher annual and lifetime medical limits than other plans and allows dependents and family members to be added to plans.
How to Pick an International Insurance Plan for Dubai
When looking for an international insurance plan for Dubai, American expats should not only consider their lifestyle and budget but also DHA requirements, exclusions, waiting periods, plan limits and benefits, and provider reputation. Let’s outline these considerations in a bit more depth:
- Lifestyle: Consider your health history, such as pre-existing conditions or common diseases in your family. Do you anticipate needing coverage for adventure sports, such as surfing, rock climbing, or scuba diving? Do you plan on expanding your family? Do you need translation services?
- 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 American Visitors in Dubai
Travel insurance is not required for quick visits to Dubai, but it is highly recommended. Travel medical insurance can cover emergency medical needs while traditional travel insurance offers help for trip-related mishaps. A plan that combines both medical and travel coverage is advisable for Dubai.
Some of the benefits available from travel insurance include:
- Emergency Medical Expenses: If you have an issue that requires emergency medical services, travel insurance that includes medical coverage can help with the expenses, from hospital stays to doctor’s fees.
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation: In case of a serious medical emergency, travel insurance will generally cover the cost of transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility or even back home, if necessary.
- Trip Cancellation: Most travel insurance plans offer options for trip cancellation, with options varying from emergency cancellation to high-tier benefits that allow cancellation for any reason.
- Delayed Departure: The benefit covers delays, whether they’re flight, ferry, cruise ship delays.
- Travel Documents: Many travel insurance plans offer benefits to cover the cost of replacing your lost or damaged travel documents, like passports and ID cards.
- Personal Liability: The benefit covers third-party insurance claims that have been filed against you.
- Luggage Delay: If your checked baggage gets delayed, 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.
Short-Term Insurance for U.S. Dubai Visitors
Short-term health insurance and travel insurance are not the same thing, though they both offer temporary insurance options for travelers to Dubai. Short-term health insurance plans generally offer much higher levels of medical coverage than travel insurance while excluding travel-related expenses from benefits.
A short-term health insurance plan can cover expenses for preventative care, doctor visits, emergency care, and prescribed medications.
Top Insurance Providers for Americans in Dubai
Pacific Prime partners with top-tier insurance providers, whether you’re choosing international health insurance for you and your family as you settle into a new life in Dubai or whether you’re taking a quick solo jaunt to the UAE. We will outline the best options for American travelers below.
The Best International Insurance for Americans Living in Dubai
Some of the best providers of international plans for U.S. expats in Dubai include Cigna Global, GeoBlue, 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 U.S. 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 (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 (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.
GeoBlue
GeoBlue is a favorite among U.S. expats for offering access to the Blue Cross Blue Shield network in the U.S. The Xplorer Essential and Xplorer Premier plans are ideal for Americans in Dubai. Some of the top benefits included in GeoBlue plans include:
- 24/7 medical support
- Cashless appointments
- Paperless claims resolutions
- Appointment scheduling support
- Destination health intelligence.
- GeoBlue Member Services App
- Members get free access to the Global TeleMD™ smartphone app
- Extensive direct billing network
Below outlines the benefits across the Xplorer Essential plan with U.S. coverage and the Xplorer Premier plan.
| Xplorer Plans USA Coverage Comparison |
| Xplorer Essential w/ Add-on | Xplorer Premier | |
| Medical Maximum Benefit Amount (USD) | $1,000,000 | Unlimited |
| Coverage Duration within the United States (for US Citizens) | Maximum of three trips per calendar year, 21 days per trip | Capped at 9 months |
| Preventative Care within USA | Not Covered | Yes |
| Ability to Travel to USA for Treatment | No | Yes |
| Outpatient Prescription Drug Coverage (USD) | $1,000 for prescriptions only related to emergency medical care, illness, and accidental injury | $2,500 for Basic Benefit Package, $25,000 with Enhanced Prescription Upgrade |
| Birth Control Coverage in USA | Not Covered | See plan outpatient drug limit |
| Inpatient Mental Health Benefits within the USA | Not Covered | In-network: 80%, Out-of-network: 60% |
| Outpatient Mental Health Benefits within the USA | Not Covered | In-network: 100% after $30 copay; Out-of-network: 60% |
| USA Benefits for Covered Pre-existing Condition (USD) | $500 | Unlimited |
| Co-pay for each USA In-Network Physician Office Visit (USD) | $50 | $30 |
| USA Physician Network | Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Network | Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Network |
Allianz Care
With Allianz Insurance Dubai, U.S. 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:
- USD $1,750,000 for the Select tier
- USD $4,000,000 for the Prime tier
- 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 | USD $51,000 | USD $61,700 | No limit |
| General Practitioner and Specialist Fees | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Prescriptions | USD $1,400 | Covered | Covered |
| Diagnostic Tests | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Psychiatry and Psychotherapy | 15 visits; maximum cost of 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 Americans Visiting Dubai
Three of the best travel insurance providers for Americans visiting Dubai are IMG, VUMI, and GIG Gulf. For more information on travel insurance for Dubai, read our comprehensive guide, or our article outlining even more 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
With 35 years of experience, VUMI offers options to cover either a single trip or multiple trips within a year. Clients can seek out options with 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 boasts several travel insurance plans, such as their Travel Smart insurance plan, which is the best choice for Americans in Dubai. It offers flexible benefits like up to USD $1,000,000 for emergency medical expenses and trip cancellation up to USD $5,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my U.S. health insurance work in Dubai?
Most United States 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.
How much is health insurance in Dubai?
Dubai health insurance costs will depend on the level of coverage you seek and any copays and deductibles you select with your plan. Premiums are also affected by your age, gender, and health history.
Can tourists get healthcare in Dubai?
Tourists can get healthcare in Dubai, but without insurance, they will have to pay out of pocket for those services. For this reason 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 (USD $136.15 per month). They may also be denied residency status altogether.
Is travel insurance required for U.S. citizens visiting Dubai?
Travel insurance is not required for those staying in Dubai short term, but it is recommended. Those who are staying in the country long enough to require a visa (generally those staying 90 days or longer) must show proof of health insurance.
Conclusion
United States travelers should now have a good idea of the best insurance options available for Dubai, whether they’re making a permanent move or taking a quick trip. Dubai’s excellent healthcare system, thriving business scene, and rich culture make it popular among vacationers 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 Filipinos in Dubai
- Health Insurance for UK Citizens in Dubai
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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