Asan Tata— October 28, 2026Indian missions in the UAE have issued a fresh warning to Indian nationals. The message is simple: do not travel to the UAE without proper medical insurance, and do not assume your current policy is enough. The advisory was issued on 27 October 2026, and it applies to both visitors and residents.
The warning follows several cases in which Indian nationals faced sudden illness or a medical emergency in the UAE with too little cover. The hospital bills were far beyond what the patients or their families could pay.
Quick Answer
The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Northern Emirates issued a joint advisory on 27 October 2026. Visitors travelling to the UAE for tourism or family visits should buy adequate medical insurance before they start their journey. The policy should include cashless treatment and the cost of medical repatriation to India. Indians living in the UAE on employment or dependant visas should check that their existing policy covers all medical costs in the UAE, plus repatriation. This is an advisory, not a new visa rule. But it is a strong warning based on real cases.
What the Advisory Says
The advisory has two parts: one for visitors, and one for residents. Both parts stress the same word: adequate. A cheap policy with a low limit may not help when a real emergency strikes.
Advice for visitors
All Indian nationals travelling to the UAE for visit or tourism purposes should take adequate and appropriate medical insurance before their journey begins. The missions say the policy should also cover cashless facilities. Cashless treatment means the insurer settles the bill directly with a network hospital, so the patient does not have to pay a large sum upfront. The policy should also cover the cost of medical repatriation to India if an unforeseen emergency makes that necessary.
Advice for residents
Indians residing in the UAE on an employment visa, or as dependants, should verify that their medical insurance is adequate. The check has two parts. First, does the policy cover all medical expenses in the UAE? Second, does it cover medical repatriation to India? Many residents never read their policy after their employer issues it. The missions want that to change.
The Consulate posted the advisory on social media on 27 October 2026. It was shared in four languages: English, Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu. Gulf News reports that the UAE is home to around 4.5 million Indian expats.
Why the Missions Issued This Warning Now
The missions say they have been receiving several instances of Indian nationals meeting with unforeseen illnesses or medical emergencies. In these cases, the patients had inadequate insurance cover. The result was huge medical bills beyond the capacity of the patient or their family members to bear.
This is not the first time the missions have raised the issue. They have repeatedly urged Indian nationals visiting the country to obtain adequate medical insurance before travelling. The new advisory repeats the warning because the problem has not gone away.
The timing also matters. The UAE is entering its busiest visitor season, with cooler weather ahead. More family visits mean more people who may need care far from home.
Who Must Have Health Insurance in the UAE
Health insurance is not optional for most people living in the UAE. Since 1 January 2025, it has been mandatory for private-sector employees and domestic workers in all seven emirates. The employer pays the premium. The cost cannot be deducted from the employee’s salary. Valid cover is a condition for issuing or renewing a residence permit.
The rules grew emirate by emirate. Abu Dhabi was first, under Law No. 23 of 2005. Dubai followed with Health Insurance Law No. 11 of 2013. The five Northern Emirates — Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah — joined on 1 January 2025, when the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) launched a basic health insurance package for private-sector staff and domestic workers there.
| Emirate group | Who must be insured | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Employees, plus spouse and up to three children under 18 | Employer |
| Dubai | All employees, including free zone staff | Employer |
| Northern Emirates | Private-sector employees and domestic workers | Employer or sponsor |
| Dependants elsewhere | Spouse and children on family visas | The sponsoring family member |
Visitors are not part of this employer mandate. That is exactly why the advisory matters for them. A tourist has no employer policy to fall back on. If they arrive without cover, every dirham of treatment comes from their own pocket.
What “Adequate” Cover Actually Means
Having any policy is not the same as having enough cover. The advisory uses the words “adequate and appropriate” for a reason. Here is what to check before you rely on a policy.
Annual limit
The annual limit is the maximum the insurer will pay in one policy year. The federal basic package and Dubai’s Essential Benefits Plan both set this at AED 150,000. A single hospital admission can use a large part of that sum. If your limit is low, ask whether a higher-limit plan fits your budget.
Cashless network
Cashless cover only works at network hospitals and clinics. Check that the network includes hospitals near where you will stay, not only in another emirate. In an emergency, distance matters. Keep the insurer’s helpline number and your policy card on your phone.
Co-payments
Most basic plans ask the patient to share part of each bill. Under the Northern Emirates basic package, inpatient care carries a 20 per cent co-payment, capped at AED 500 per visit, with an annual cap of AED 1,000 including medicines. Outpatient visits carry a 25 per cent co-payment, capped at AED 100 per visit, and follow-up visits for the same condition within seven days carry no co-payment. Medicines carry a 30 per cent co-payment, capped at AED 1,500 a year. These caps limit your share, but they still add up across several visits.
Repatriation cover
Medical repatriation means transporting a patient back to India for treatment, by air ambulance or on a commercial flight with medical support. It is expensive, and it is often excluded from the cheapest plans. The advisory names it directly. If your policy does not mention repatriation, it does not cover it.
Exclusions
Read the exclusions page of your policy. Basic plans commonly exclude dental care and maternity cover. Pre-existing and chronic conditions are covered without a waiting period under the Northern Emirates basic package, which is a real benefit. But every plan has limits, so check the table of benefits rather than the marketing summary.
Visitors: How to Pick a Policy Before You Fly
Follow these steps before you book your flight, or at least before you depart.
- Buy before departure. The advisory is clear: cover must be in place before the journey begins. A policy bought after arrival may exclude treatment for conditions that started earlier.
- Match the trip length. Make sure the policy covers every day of your stay, including any extra days if your plans change.
- Check the medical limit. Compare the maximum payout for emergency treatment. A higher limit costs more, but it is the point of the policy.
- Confirm cashless hospitals. Ask the insurer for its UAE network list, and check for hospitals near your stay.
- Confirm repatriation. The policy should state medical evacuation and repatriation to India in writing.
- Carry proof. Keep a digital and printed copy of the policy, plus the insurer’s UAE helpline number.
Residents: How to Check Your Existing Policy
If you live in the UAE, your employer probably bought your policy. That does not mean it covers everything. Take ten minutes to check these points.
- Find your card and table of benefits. Ask your HR team or insurer for the full benefits table, not just the card.
- Check the annual limit. Compare it with the AED 150,000 minimum of the basic plans. A higher limit means more room in a serious case.
- Check dependants. In Abu Dhabi, the employer must also cover a spouse and up to three children under 18. In other emirates, dependant cover is usually the sponsor’s job. If your family is on your visa, make sure each member has a live policy.
- Check repatriation. Many employer plans do not include it. The advisory asks residents to verify this directly.
- Check renewal dates. Cover must be continuous. A gap between policies can leave you exposed, and it can block visa renewal.
Basic Plan or Better Plan?
The Northern Emirates basic package starts from around AED 320 a year for people aged 1 to 64. Dubai’s Essential Benefits Plan premiums typically range from AED 550 to AED 650 a year, according to Gulf News. Both meet the legal minimum. Neither is designed to cover everything.
A more comprehensive plan costs more, but it usually adds a wider hospital network, higher limits, and extras such as dental or maternity cover. For a family with children or elderly parents, the wider network alone can be worth the difference. The right choice depends on your health needs and budget, not on the lowest premium.
One extra scheme is worth knowing about. Gulf News notes that the Consulate has encouraged employers to enrol workers in the Life Protection Plan. The expanded plan, launched in 2025, covers workers aged 18 to 69 for a sum assured of AED 35,000, at a premium of AED 32 for 12 months. It is a life cover scheme, not a substitute for health insurance, but it adds financial protection for families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance now mandatory for visiting the UAE?
The 27 October 2026 advisory urges visitors to buy adequate medical insurance before travelling. It is a strong recommendation from the Indian missions, not a new UAE visa rule. Travellers should still follow the visa rules of the emirate they visit, and carry insurance regardless.
Does my employer’s health insurance cover my family?
It depends on the emirate. In Abu Dhabi, the employer must cover the employee, their spouse and up to three children under 18. In Dubai and the Northern Emirates, dependant cover is normally the sponsor’s responsibility. Check each family member’s policy separately.
What is medical repatriation, and why does the advisory mention it?
Medical repatriation is transport back to India for treatment after an emergency, often by air ambulance. It can cost far more than local treatment. The advisory mentions it because several reported cases involved bills that families could not pay, and repatriation is often missing from cheap policies.
What does the basic AED 320 health plan cover?
The Northern Emirates basic package covers inpatient and outpatient care, emergency treatment, diagnostics and medicines, with an annual limit of AED 150,000. It has no waiting period for chronic conditions. Co-payments apply: 20 per cent for inpatient care, 25 per cent for outpatient visits, and 30 per cent for medicines, each with caps. Dental and maternity cover are commonly excluded.
What should I do if I am already in the UAE without insurance?
Do not wait. Residents should ask their employer or sponsor to confirm cover at once, and buy a policy for any uninsured dependant. Visitors already in the country should contact an insurer about a policy that covers the rest of their stay, and read the exclusions carefully before paying.
Where can I read the advisory itself?
The Consulate General of India in Dubai posted the advisory on its official social media account on 27 October 2026, in English, Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu. The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi issued it jointly with the Consulate.
Disclaimer
This article explains a public advisory and the general rules on health insurance in the UAE. It is not legal, medical or insurance advice. Policy terms differ by insurer and emirate, so always read your own policy document and confirm details with your insurer or employer before you rely on it.
Last Updated: 28 October 2026
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