If you’re living in Abu Dhabi or holidaying in Dubai, you might be wondering about healthcare in the UAE. What is it like, and how do you get treatment if necessary? In this post, we’ll answer all of your questions!
The UAE has excellent healthcare facilities
The UAE is known for its world-class healthcare facilities. There are a huge amount of trained doctors in the country – around 181 for every 100,000 residents! It is also known for its excellent hygiene standards at its medical facilities and pleasant hospitals.
Only Emarati citizens get free healthcare
You do, however, get what you pay for. Emarati citizens get to enjoy the UAE’s excellent healthcare for free, but non-citizens have to pay. Health insurance is crucial, as it will cover nearly all health ailments, so you don’t have to worry!
Dubai is a medical tourism destination
The entire UAE is famous for medical tourism, although especially Dubai. Dubai gets hundreds of thousands of medical tourists every year. This is due to the high standard of healthcare and the marginally lower costs than other destinations (particularly the USA).
Dubai is famous for being a provider of dental, cosmetic, dermatological, orthopaedic, and fertility treatments.
There are more private clinics than public clinics
Yes, that’s right – because of the huge migrant population of the UAE, far more people use private clinics than public ones. This means that there are many more private clinics than public options throughout the country (especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
Health insurance must be paid for by the employer in some cases
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, employers must cover healthcare costs. In Abu Dhabi, employers must also pay for healthcare for their employees’ spouses and up to three children aged under 18. In the other Emirates, employers don’t have to pay for health insurance – although many still do.
It is the law to have health insurance
All residents of Dubai and Abu Dhabi must have health insurance, or risk a monthly fine of 500 AED. If you are employed, your employer will cover it – but anyone unemployed (including spouses and children in Abu Dhabi), must sort out their own health insurance.
To find out more about medical insurance quotes in the UAE, contact Compare Insurance today.