Health insurance in Sharjah comes from three sources: the federal basic scheme for private-sector employees and domestic workers, which the government portal says will extend to Sharjah, the Sharjah Health Authority programme for UAE nationals, and plans from accredited insurers.
The health insurance requirement in Sharjah
The UAE government portal says the federal health insurance scheme that the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) announced in December 2024 is mandatory in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and will extend to Sharjah.
The portal's wording is that the scheme is "mandatory basis in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and will extend to private sector workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah" (UAE government portal, updated 8 September 2026).
Learn About Health Insurance Understand your mandatory health insurance requirements in the UAE.
Under the federal scheme, the employer buys the policy as a prerequisite for issuing or renewing the residency permit of private-sector employees and domestic workers. Permits issued before 1 January 2024 that remain valid stay exempt until renewal. The UAE health insurance law guide sets out the full legal framework.
Who is covered by what in Sharjah
Three systems cover people in Sharjah: the federal basic scheme that the government portal says will extend to Sharjah, the Sharjah Health Authority programme for UAE nationals, and plans from accredited insurers.
Group | Who arranges cover | What applies |
|---|---|---|
Private-sector employees | The employer | The employer buys the basic package under the federal scheme (UAE government portal, updated 8 September 2026). |
Domestic workers | The employer | The same arrangement applies under the federal scheme (UAE government portal, updated 8 September 2026). |
Dependants of a covered worker | As the policy specifies | The same benefits and pricing, as specified in the insurance policy (UAE government portal, September 2026). |
UAE nationals in Sharjah | The Sharjah Health Authority | The Department of Health Insurance oversees cover. Since January 2020, it extends to all Sharjah citizens, after starting with government employees, their dependants and Emiratis aged 60 and over (Sharjah Health Authority). |
Each row names the party that arranges cover, so a reader finds the row that matches their own position.
What the basic package includes
The federal basic package costs AED 320 per year, runs as a two-year policy and covers people aged 1 to 64, according to the UAE government portal (September 2026).
Term | What the package sets |
|---|---|
Premium and term | AED 320 a year, a two-year policy, and the second-year premium is refundable if the visa is cancelled |
Age | 1 to 64. Over 64 needs a medical disclosure form with recent reports. |
Inpatient co-payment | 20%, up to AED 500 a visit and AED 1,000 a year including medication |
Outpatient co-payment | 25%, up to AED 100 a visit, and none for a same-condition follow-up within 7 days |
Medication co-payment | Capped at 30%, with an annual cap of AED 1,500 |
Network | 7 hospitals, 46 clinics and medical centres, 45 pharmacies |
The package sets a co-payment on every type of care, and chronic conditions have no waiting period. Confirm which facilities are near you in the policy schedule. The guide to health insurance for a UAE residence visa covers the visa side.
How to choose a plan in Sharjah
Compare any plan against the basic package on five points: the network, the annual limit, the co-payment, the pre-authorisation rules and the waiting periods. The basic package is the yardstick, and a comprehensive plan is measured against it. The guide to health insurance in the UAE covers comprehensive plans and the whole topic.
Network: which hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are included.
Annual limit: the most the insurer pays in a year.
Co-payment: the share of each bill you pay, where the basic package's 20%, 25% and 30% are the yardstick.
Pre-authorisation: which treatments need approval first.
Waiting periods: which benefits start after a delay, and declaring existing conditions accurately.
You should read the policy schedule for these five points before you buy.
Compare Individual Plans MyHEALTH and Health Protect: flexible options for individuals and families.
The federal price floor
The federal basic package costs AED 320 per year, and a comprehensive plan costs more because the premium rises with the member's age, the plan tier and the hospital network.
The AED 320 figure comes from the UAE government portal (September 2026), and the package is a minimum. A comprehensive plan varies with the age of each insured member, the tier chosen and the network behind it. For market ranges, read the guide to UAE medical insurance prices.
How to get health insurance in Sharjah
Under the federal scheme, the employer buys the basic package for employees and domestic workers from an accredited insurer or through the Insurance Pool website, two of the channels the portal lists.
Confirm who arranges cover: the employer for employees and domestic workers.
Decide between the basic package and a comprehensive plan, using the five points above.
Buy from an accredited insurer or through the Insurance Pool website, two of the channels the portal lists.
Show proof of the policy when the residency permit is issued or renewed.
Employers arranging cover for a team can read the guide to group health insurance.
Get a Quote Start a Health Protect quote online.
Hospital demand in the Northern Emirates
Hospitals in the Northern Emirates reported up to 25% more patients in the year to August 2025, according to The National (22 August 2025).
A Sharjah hospital reported a 25% rise and attributed it to the insurance changes and to population growth. Sharjah's population was estimated at 1.9 million in 2025 (The National, 22 August 2025). Khaleej Times (3 October 2024) reported that the scheme, due from 1 January 2025, would be the first of its kind in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.
Health insurance in Sharjah with HAYAH
HAYAH, a UAE-licensed life and health insurance provider regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE, offers two individual health plans: Health Protect and MyHEALTH.
Health Protect is a comprehensive health plan. MyHEALTH is a flexible health plan for individuals and families. A HAYAH advisor confirms which plan and hospital network apply where you live.
Contact Us Speak with a HAYAH advisor about your coverage needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance mandatory in Sharjah?
The government portal says it will extend to Sharjah. The system is mandatory in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and under the federal scheme the employer buys the policy as a prerequisite for issuing or renewing the residency permit of private-sector employees and domestic workers.
Who buys the health insurance policy for employees and domestic workers?
The employer buys it. The UAE government portal states that employers must purchase the policy as a prerequisite for applying for the issuance or renewal of the residency permit of private-sector employees and domestic workers.
How much does the basic health insurance package cost?
The basic package costs AED 320 per year, according to the UAE government portal (September 2026). The policy runs for two years, and the premium for the second year is refundable if the visa is cancelled.
Does the basic package cover family members?
Dependants of the worker can access the same benefits and pricing, as specified in the insurance policy (UAE government portal, September 2026). Read the policy schedule to see what applies to each family member.
Does the Sharjah government provide health insurance?
The Sharjah Health Authority's Department of Health Insurance oversees cover for UAE nationals in Sharjah. Since January 2020, the cover extends to all Sharjah citizens, after starting with government employees, their dependants and Emiratis aged 60 and over.
Sources and regulatory references
This guide draws on the UAE government portal, MoHRE, the Sharjah Health Authority and named press reports, each dated below.
UAE government portal, "Getting a health insurance" (updated 8 September 2026), citing MoHRE's announcement of 16 December 2024: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/health-and-fitness/Healthcare-access-and-insurance/getting-a-health-insurance
Sharjah Health Authority: https://sha.shj.ae/
The National, 22 August 2025: https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2025/08/22/uae-mandatory-health-insurance-cover-2025-northern-emirates/
Khaleej Times, 3 October 2024: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-northern-emirates-residents-to-pay-lower-health-insurance-premiums-compared-to-dubai-abu-dhabi
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or insurance advice. Health insurance regulations, costs, and plan terms change regularly. Always verify current requirements with the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) or a licensed insurance advisor before making coverage decisions. HAYAH Insurance is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).