United Arab Emirates
Remote Work Visa (Dubai Virtual Working Programme): health insurance requirements
Yes: health insurance is required
Yes. The UAE's one-year remote-work visa requires valid health insurance with cover inside the UAE for the whole stay; travel insurance alone is not enough, and dependants must each be covered. The visa lets you live in the UAE while working remotely for an employer or clients abroad. Separately, health insurance is mandatory for any UAE residence visa.
The requirements at a glance
| Local-licensed insurer required | No: compliant international IPMI is accepted |
|---|---|
| Accepted proof | Health insurance with valid coverage inside the UAE for the full stay. International policies are accepted if they cover treatment in the UAE; travel insurance alone is not sufficient, and each dependant needs their own cover. |
Requires proof of remote employment or company ownership, a minimum monthly income, and recent bank statements. Reporting in 2026 indicates the income floor and the required insurance coverage amount were raised; confirm the current figures on the official ICP/GDRFA portal before applying. Since January 2025, health insurance is a nationwide condition for issuing or renewing a UAE residence visa.
Our take
The UAE makes insurance unavoidable, both for the remote-work visa and for residence visas generally, so the question is not whether but what.
The catch for nomads is that the policy has to pay inside the UAE, where private care is excellent but expensive, so a thin international plan that excludes the Gulf will not do. Confirm UAE treatment is covered and the certificate is in a form the authorities accept.
What happens if you get it wrong
Without compliant UAE-valid cover the visa is not issued or renewed; insurance status is checked against immigration records. A policy that does not cover treatment in the UAE, or that lapses, puts the residence permit itself at risk.
Interactive
Verified pricesWhat would it cost in the UAE without insurance?
You pay, out of pocket
$3,000–$20,000
A serious private admission. Estimate, UAE care is costly.
Bars to scale. A flight home is in another league.
That is the bill you carry alone. Insurance exists for exactly this.
See what cover costsTypical private-care estimates for illustration, not a quote. Actual bills vary by hospital, city and severity.
FAQ
Yes. You must hold health insurance that covers treatment in the UAE for the full stay; travel insurance alone is not accepted, and dependants need their own cover.
Yes. Since January 2025 health insurance is a nationwide condition for issuing or renewing a UAE residence visa.
Yes, if it provides valid cover inside the UAE. A plan that excludes the UAE or the Gulf will not satisfy the requirement.
A minimum monthly income shown with recent bank statements. The threshold was reportedly raised in 2026, so confirm the current figure on the official portal before applying.
No. Private care is high quality but expensive, which is exactly why valid UAE cover matters.
Reviewed by Lukas Schönberg, Founder & researcher, Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ
Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ (Estonia) is an information and matching platform, not currently registered as a regulated insurance intermediary in any jurisdiction. See /how-it-works for the full disclosure.
Source: mohre.gov.aeLast verified
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