MoHRE Enacts Ministerial Resolution on Mandatory Health Insurance Requirements for UAE Work Permit Issuance and Renewal

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has formally issued Ministerial Resolution No. 504 of 2026, creating an automated integration between health insurance compliance and the electronic system for issuing and renewing work permits.

This update reflects the ongoing implementation of the nationwide mandatory health insurance scheme, which extends coverage requirements across private sector establishments and domestic worker sponsorships nationwide.

1. Scope of Application

The resolution explicitly applies to all work permit applications, both initial issuances and renewals submitted to MoHRE for:

• Employees registered with private sector establishments.
• Domestic service workers.

2. Core Operational Mandate: Automated Permit Linking

Under Article 2, MoHRE will no longer issue or renew a covered work permit unless system verification confirms that the worker possesses a valid, compliant health insurance policy. Rather than introducing new substantive burdens, the guide streamlines administrative workflow by embedding compliance checks directly into MoHRE’s electronic licensing platform.

3. Mandatory Health Insurance Policy Controls

Under Article 3, a health insurance policy will only satisfy work permit issuance or renewal criteria if it meets all of the following conditions:

• Minimum Coverage Compliance: The policy must meet or exceed the basic insurance coverage requirements approved by MoHRE.
• Two-Year Duration: The insurance coverage must remain valid for the full validity period of the work permit (two years) and cannot fall below the minimum prescribed basic policy duration.
• Zero Cost to Worker: Employers are strictly prohibited from charging the worker any portion of the subscription or renewal fees for the policy (without prejudice to standard medical service co-payments).
• Uninterrupted Coverage: Policies cannot be canceled during the work permit’s validity period in any manner that creates a lapse or interruption in the worker’s healthcare coverage.

4. Schedule of Violations and Administrative Fines

Schedule (1) attached to Ministerial Resolution No. 504 of 2026 specifies six distinct categories of non-compliance subject to administrative fines under Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020:

Violation No.	Defined Non-Compliance Event
1	Failure of the employer to enroll the worker in a health insurance policy or to renew an existing policy.
2	Failure of the employer to cover the cost of healthcare services or emergency medical intervention for a covered worker.
3	Deducting from or charging the worker any part of the health insurance subscription or renewal costs.
4	Submitting a health insurance policy that falls below the minimum coverage requirements set by MoHRE.
5	Canceling a health insurance policy mid-term in a manner that interrupts continuous coverage.
6	Failing to maintain continuous health insurance for the worker throughout the entire two-year work permit validity.

5. Administrative Enforcement Protocols

Beyond financial penalties, Article 4 authorizes MoHRE to institute administrative measures against non-compliant establishments. These measures include:

• Immediate suspension of establishment files.
• Rejection or blocking of new work permit applications.
• Refusal to process pending work permit renewals.

Strategic Guidance for Employers

To prevent operational disruption, corporate entities and individual sponsors should conduct an immediate audit of their workforce insurance pipelines:

1. Synchronize Validity Dates: Ensure that employee health insurance policies align with the standard two-year cycle of MoHRE work permits to avoid automatic system rejections at renewal.
2. Review Payroll Deductions: Verify that internal payroll and accounting practices do not charge or deduct health insurance premium costs from worker compensation.
3. Audit Vendor Standards: Ensure that chosen insurance providers offer policies that fully satisfy MoHRE’s minimum basic coverage framework