Guide to Mandatory Health Insurance in the GCC
Health insurance in the Gulf is not a unified system; each country has its own rules on who pays, what is covered as a minimum, and what happens if you don't comply. This guide explains the two most established systems (Saudi Arabia and the UAE) with a quick look at the rest of the GCC.
Guide steps
Saudi Arabia: mandatory Cooperative Health Insurance
The system is based on Royal Decree M/10 and is supervised by the Council of Health Insurance (formerly known as CCHI, now at chi.gov.sa after its merger into the Insurance Authority). Insurance is mandatory for every resident and their family members, and a right for every Saudi working in the private sector — it is an actual condition for issuing and renewing residency, and the employer is obligated to insure their employee and dependents.
The Standard Policy vs. the Enhanced Policy
The "Standard Policy" is the mandatory minimum coverage set by the Council of Health Insurance, which the insurance company or employer may not go below — it includes basic consultations and medical tests, emergencies, and specific coverage such as maternity for married women of childbearing age. The "Enhanced Policy" goes beyond this minimum with broader coverage, higher limits, and a larger provider network, and is chosen by the employer according to the company's policy and budget.
How the premium is determined in Saudi Arabia
The Council of Health Insurance does not set a uniform "price" for the premium; only the minimum coverage. The actual premium is set by the insurance company based on the medical network tier (A/B/C), the insured person's age, chronic conditions, and maternity coverage if included — with 15% VAT added on top. Prices also vary significantly between insurance for commercial employees and other categories such as domestic workers (who have a cheaper policy focused on basic needs).
UAE: a different system in each emirate
Dubai and Abu Dhabi were the pioneers in mandating health insurance, and as of January 1, 2025 it also became mandatory in Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. The fundamental difference between the two largest emirates: in Dubai, the employer is only obligated to insure the employee, not their family (and the premium may not be deducted from the employee's salary); the employee needs to buy separate coverage for family members. In Abu Dhabi, the employer must cover the employee and their dependents together. In Abu Dhabi specifically, not having suitable health insurance can lead to fines of up to 300 AED per week, in addition to being unable to renew the residency visa.
Qatar and Kuwait: newer systems still expanding
Qatar: implemented Phase 1 (mandatory visitor insurance) in February 2023 at a premium of 50 QAR per 30 days, covering emergencies up to 150,000 QAR. The gradual rollout of resident insurance continues in phases from 2024 through 2027, with companies phased in progressively by size. Kuwait: the "Afya" system became mandatory for expatriates as of 2024, and a condition for residency renewal as of 2025 — before that, expatriates paid directly for each service or relied on optional private insurance.
Bahrain and Oman
Bahrain and Oman have their own health insurance systems that differ from the Saudi and UAE models, and are still evolving. As of this guide's last review, we did not find sufficiently complete and updated official details at the same level of accuracy available for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait — we recommend checking directly with the Ministry of Health or the regulating body in each country for the latest rules before making any decision.
Quick tips
- Don't assume your family's coverage is automatically guaranteed with your work insurance — check specifically (as in the Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi case).
- Review your policy's medical network tier before you actually need treatment, not after — network tiers determine which hospitals are covered.
- Check whether insurance is tied to residency or visa renewal in your country, since this differs and changes (as recently happened in Kuwait).
- If you're a freelancer or self-employed with no employer providing insurance, check your personal insurance obligation under your country's system.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance mandatory for every resident in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, under the Cooperative Health Insurance system (Royal Decree M/10), it is a condition for issuing and renewing residency for every resident and their family members, and a right for every Saudi working in the private sector. The employer is obligated to insure their employee at least at the "Standard Policy" level as a minimum.
Who pays for health insurance in the UAE, the employer or the employee?
The employer is legally responsible for providing and paying for the insurance, but details differ between emirates: in Dubai the employer covers only the employee, not their family (and the premium may not be deducted from the employee's salary), while in Abu Dhabi the employer must cover the employee and their dependents together.
What's the difference between the Standard and Enhanced policies in Saudi insurance?
The Standard Policy is the mandatory minimum coverage set by the Council of Health Insurance, which the employer or insurance company may not go below. The Enhanced Policy goes beyond this minimum with broader coverage, higher limits, and a larger provider network, chosen by the employer according to their policy and budget.
Do all GCC countries apply mandatory health insurance?
Not uniformly. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have applied it firmly for years. Kuwait made the mandatory "Afya" system apply to expatriates as of 2024, tying it to residency renewal since 2025. Qatar is applying insurance gradually in phases from 2023 through 2027 (starting with visitor insurance, then expanding to residents). Bahrain and Oman have different, still-evolving systems; it's advisable to check directly with the official bodies in each country for the latest details.