On Monday, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) advised individuals, sponsors and businesses in the emirate to get covered by 31 March to avoid any fines, reports local newspaper Gulf News.
From 1 April, fines are applicable to everyone and all visa types, the DHA said.
The Dubai Health Insurance Law was phased in from January 2014 and imposes a legal requirement for every sponsor to provide an Essential Benefits Plan insurance package.
It stipulates that all residents must have a level of health insurance that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements, as outlined by the DHA.
Coverage for visitors must also be provided by 31 December 2017, as per the new resolution issued by the Dubai Executive Council.
In addition to the fines, the government will not grant new visas or renew existing visas if the employer or sponsor does not offer health insurance.
Haidar Al Yousuf, director of health funding at DHA, said that fines will be given to violating individuals and businesses starting from 1 April: “The fine will be imposed on the sponsors and the employers and not the employees.
“It will be added to the visa renewal and cancelation fees of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.”
While 99% of the targeted population are already covered, the DHA revealed that there are still sponsors and business owners who have not yet covered their employees and dependents.
