The 10 Best Dubai Insurance Providers for Expats
Looking for the best health insurance providers in Dubai for expats? The top 10 insurance companies for expats in Dubai are Cigna, Bupa Global (via Sukoon), Allianz (via Orient), GIG Gulf, April International (via Salama), Now Health International (via Arabia Insurance), Dubai Insurance (via William Russell), Daman, SAICO, and Emirates Insurance Company. These companies offer comprehensive health plans that meet Dubai Health Authority (DHA) requirements—many with regional or worldwide coverage.
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Dubai mandates health insurance for all residents and expats, so finding the right provider is essential. Whether you’re looking for basic inpatient coverage or a premium global plan with maternity and dental benefits, this guide breaks down what each of these top insurers offers so you can choose the plan that fits your lifestyle, visa, and budget.
We will share the top 10 insurance companies in Dubai, and share a comprehensive overview of their products and benefits. Keep reading to learn all about the best insurance providers in Dubai!
Top 10 Health Insurance Providers for Dubai Expats
The best ten insurance companies in Dubai are Cigna, Bupa, Allianz, GIG Gulf, April International, and more. Each of these insurance companies offers various insurance products to help protect their members while abroad.
Many of the international insurance companies listed below have partnered with local insurance companies in the UAE to tailor their products to Dubai Health Authority standards. These standards were put into place to ensure all citizens and residents of Dubai have adequate healthcare coverage.
The full list of the ten best insurance companies in Dubai are:
- Cigna
- Sukoon and Bupa
- Orient and Allianz
- GIG Gulf
- Salama and April International
- Arabia Insurance and Now Health International
- Dubai Insurance and William Russell
- Daman
- SAICO
- Emirate Insurance Company
We will share more about these insurance companies in the sections below.
1. Cigna Health Insurance: Tailored Plans for Dubai Expats
One of the largest international health insurance companies on the market today, Cigna offers specialized plans for their members in the UAE and Dubai that are designed to fit the Dubai Health Authority requirements. These plans are called Cigna Healthguard℠.
Cigna Healthguard℠ plans come in three categories: Regional, International, and International Plus. Each of these plans offers different benefits and coverage limits, though they all carry similar benefits like inpatient, outpatient, and cancer care coverage.
- Cigna Healthguard℠ Regional Plan: The Regional plan offers coverage only within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, other Middle East countries, and Asia (excluding Singapore, Hong Kong, and China). It offers an annual benefit maximum of AED 2,750,000.
- Cigna Healthguard℠ International Plan: The International plan offers worldwide coverage with the option to add coverage in the USA with an increase in your premiums. The annual benefit maximum for this plan is AED 7,350,000.
- Cigna Healthguard℠ International Plus Plan: The International Plus plan is the most comprehensive plan offered by Cigna Insurance in Dubai, with an unlimited annual benefit maximum. This plan also offers worldwide coverage with the choice to include coverage in the USA.
2. Sukoon Insurance & Bupa Global: Integrated Healthcare Solutions
Bupa Global is an international insurance provider that works with Sukoon Insurance to provide plans to its members in Dubai and the UAE. Through working together, they sell health insurance for individuals and families and also offer insurance plans for businesses.
Sukoon and Bupa Global offer four health insurance plans, Select, Premier, Elite, and Ultimate. These plans differ in annual limits, benefits, and geographical limits, but share similarities like inpatient and outpatient coverage.
- Sukoon and Bupa Select Plan: The Select plan offers geographical coverage in Dubai and surrounding Middle Eastern countries, with an option to upgrade to worldwide coverage (excludes the US). This plan has an overall annual limit of AED 4,670,000.
- Sukoon and Bupa Premier Plan: The Premier plan offers worldwide geographical coverage, excluding the US. It also has the same annual limit as the Select plan, of AED 4,670,000.
- Sukoon and Bupa Elite Plan: The Elite plan offers a more comprehensive plan than the two before it, with worldwide coverage that includes the US and an annual limit of AED 14,019,000.
- Sukoon and Bupa Ultimate Plan: The Ultimate plan is the most comprehensive of the health insurance plans offered by Bupa and Sukoon Insurance, with an unlimited annual limit. This plan also comes with worldwide coverage that includes the US.
3. Orient Insurance & Allianz: Premium Plans for International Residents
Allianz Insurance offers its comprehensive health insurance plans to expat individuals and families in Duba by partnering with Orient Insurance PJSC. They work together to provide plans to those in Dubai that fully satisfy the requirements set by the Dubai Health Authority.
Orient and Allianz offers three plan options for expats in Dubai: Dubai Elite Individual, Dubai Prime Individual, and Dubai Select Individual. Each plan offers different benefits and limits, but they all share inpatient and outpatient coverage, cancer coverage, and other core benefits.
- Dubai Select Individual: The most affordable of Allianz’s plans, the Select plan offers an annual limit of AED 6,427,750. It is also the only plan that does not allow any additional maternity benefits.
- Dubai Prime Individual: A more comprehensive option than Select, Dubai Prime offers an annual limit of AED 14,692,000 and the option to add maternity benefits if needed (a 12-month waiting period applies).
- Dubai Elite Individual: The most extensive of Allianz’s plans, the Elite plan offers an annual limit of AED 38,566,500. This plan also offers the most comprehensive dental benefits of all three plans.
4. GIG Gulf: Robust Local and Regional Coverage
Gulf Insurance Group (GIG) is one of the largest insurers in the Middle East and recently acquired AXA Gulf. They offer health insurance plans and other insurance products like car, home, yacht, and travel insurance.
GIG Gulf offers health insurance plans that comply with Dubai Health Authority standards, with local and regional geographical coverage options to choose from. Their plans cover core benefits like inpatient and outpatient coverage and even pre-existing and chronic conditions.
In addition to health insurance, GIG Gulf also offers these other insurance solutions:
- Car Insurance
- Travel Insurance
- Yacht Insurance
- Home Insurance
- Personal Accident Insurance
- And More
5. Salama & April International: Comprehensive Coverage Options
April International partnered with Salama, a prominent insurance company in the UAE, to provide DHA-compliant health insurance to expats in Dubai. Through their partnership, they offer four health insurance plan options: Core, Essential, Extensive, and Elite.
We will share more about their health insurance plans below:
- Core Plan: The Core Plan offers the most basic coverage, with an annual limit of USD $200,000. This plan offers hospitalization benefits, emergency evacuation benefits, and up to $41,000 in outpatient benefits.
- Essential Plan: This plan offers a more standard level of coverage, with fully covered outpatient charges. This plan has an annual limit of USD $1,000,000.
- Extensive Plan: The Extensive Plan has an annual limit of USD $2,500,000 and also allows up to $6,000 in maternity coverage per pregnancy.
- Elite Plan: The Elite plan offers the most comprehensive level of coverage with an annual limit of USD $5,000,000. This plan offers up to $8,000 in maternity coverage per pregnancy.
6. Arabia Insurance & Now Health: Innovative Expat Health Solutions
Now Health International joined together with Arabia Insurance in 2020 to expand their business into the Middle East markets. Under this partnership, Now Health International still offers its high-quality insurance products such as their WorldCare plans.
Now Health offers three different plans to expats in Dubai: WorldCare Advance, WorldCare Excel, and WorldCare Apex. These plans vary in annual benefit limits and coverage, but they share similar core benefits like inpatient coverage, emergency treatment, and cancer care.
- WorldCare Advance: The most affordable of Now Health’s international plans, Advance offers an annual limit of AED 11,019,000. Inpatient and outpatient services are covered in this plan, up to the limit amount. Routine maternity care is not included in this plan.
- WorldCare Excel: This plan is similar to WorldCare Advance in coverage, but offers higher benefit levels. The annual benefit maximum of WorldCare Excel is AED 14,692,000, with an option to add dental coverage to your plan.
- WorldCare Apex: The most comprehensive of Now Health’s plans, Apex offers an annual limit of AED 16,528,500. The Apex plan covers dental care and routine maternity care (maternity care requires a 12-month waiting period).
7. Dubai Insurance & William Russell: Reliable Coverage for Individuals and Groups
Dubai Insurance Company works together with the international insurance provider, William Russell, to provide comprehensive insurance plans to expats and locals alike in Dubai. Each of the health insurance plans were carefully designed to fit the health insurance standards set by the DHA.
William Russell and Dubai Insurance Company (DIC) offer insurance plans to individuals, families, groups, and corporations. In addition to medical insurance, William Russell and DIC also offer property insurance, professional indemnity insurance, marine insurance, and group life insurance.
8. Daman Insurance: Trusted by Millions for Complete Health Protection
Daman Insurance is a leading insurance company in Dubai due to its strong reputation and comprehensive and locally-compliant health insurance solutions. They cover over 2.4 million people in the Emirates and are part-owned by the Abu Dhabi government.
Daman Insurance takes pride in its innovation in the medical insurance market and offers many attractive benefits to its members. Some of these key features include coverage at over two thousand hospitals and clinics and consistent high ratings with customers.
In addition to medical insurance, Daman Insurance also offers domestic help insurance, travel health insurance, retirement insurance, and more. They cover individuals, families, groups, and businesses.
Daman health insurance plans vary in coverage and benefits, with options for more basic coverage and plans with more extensive benefits. We will list some of the benefits they offer below:
- Inpatient Services
- Outpatient Services
- Maternity Care
- Emergency Services
They offer 24/7 customer support to their members, with options for worldwide coverage with their plans. Some plans can start as low as 800 AED per year.
9. SAICO Insurance: Versatile Plans for Expats and Businesses
SAICO is a leading insurance company in Dubai and the UAE that offers a wide variety of insurance solutions. Established in Riyadh in 2006, the company aims to provide its members with comprehensive and flexible insurance plans.
SAICO offers individual, small and medium enterprises (SME), and corporate insurance plans. Some of their products include:
- Motor Insurance
- Travel Insurance
- Home Insurance
- Personal Accident Insurance
- SME Medical Insurance
- Group Life Insurance
- And more
To learn more about SAICO and the products they could offer expats in Dubai, reach out and ask an insurance expert from Pacific Prime.
10. Emirates Insurance Company: Popular and Comprehensive Insurance Provider
Emirates Insurance Company (EIC) is a popular choice with expats in Dubai due to its outstanding service and comprehensive insurance products. EIC is also rated as one of the best insurance companies in not only the UAE but the whole Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region.
Emirates Insurance Company offers a wide variety of insurance solutions for both individuals and corporations. We will list some of their offerings below:
- Domestic Health Insurance
- Motor Insurance
- Home Insurance
- Yacht and Pleasure Craft Insurance
- Liability Insurance
- Marine and Aviation Insurance
- Corporate Financial Insurance
- And More
For their domestic health insurance, they offer a Basic, Standard, and Enhanced Plan. These plans can offer expats in Dubai the health insurance coverage they need to stay locally compliant with the DHA regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is health insurance mandatory for expats in Dubai?
Health insurance is mandatory for expats and residents in Dubai. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) requires at least a basic level of health insurance with inpatient and outpatient coverage. If you do not insure yourself adequately, you will be fined.
Can I choose any health insurance provider in Dubai?
Expats in Dubai have their choice of health insurance providers and can choose to purchase health insurance from a local provider or an international company. Local insurance companies will only be able to cover you while you are in Dubai, while international companies can cover you worldwide.
Conclusion
Expats in Dubai looking for health insurance should compare these top 10 insurance companies to decide which plan is the right option for them. With international health insurance, you can be protected in Dubai, and anywhere else you go across the globe.
Ready to begin shopping for an international insurance policy? Reach out to the insurance experts at Pacific Prime to begin! We can help you get started on your insurance journey, and we won’t cost you a cent. Our advice is free, unbiased, and comprehensive.
You can visit us online at our website or call us at 1-800-868-1451. If you’re interested in comparing quotes on your own, use our free quote tool.
If you enjoyed this article, check out our others on the top 10 insurance companies for India and Singapore!
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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