Dubai's public healthcare services are available for free (or at a very low cost) to Emirati nationals. Expats in Dubai can access public healthcare services, but they must pay for a health card, and then pay a fee each time they use the services.
As stated earlier, the UAE has free public healthcare for Emirati nationals. Non-residents will have to pay significantly higher fees for treatment at a hospital or clinic. However, these costs are subsidized and the standard of care is high at both a public and private facility.
Which are the free government hospitals in Dubai? All government hospitals including Al Kuwait Hospital and Rashid Hospital offer free emergency treatment in Dubai.
Dubai has one of the best public health care systems in the world, offering a high standard of medical care in state-of-the-art facilities. The Dubai health service is run by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), which oversees both public and private health care.
Cost of Best Medical Insurance in Dubai
An average medical plan for an individual can cost around AED 10,000 per annum. For basic medical covers, Family medical insurance in Dubai costs anywhere between AED 17000 to 18000. Comprehensive medical insurance premiums for ex-pats can cost around AED 5,500 annually.
Cost of medical procedures
A comprehensive plan with a local provider is likely to cost you on average from 5,500 AED ($1500) per annum to 10,000 AED per year ($2,720). A basic coverage plan for a family of four will be around 17,000 AED ($4,630 USD) but can go up to 33,500 AED ($9,120) on a comprehensive plan.
The Australian public accesses care within the public health system for free or at a lower cost through Medicare (funded by tax). The private system includes health service providers that are owned and managed privately, such as private hospitals, specialist medical and allied health, and pharmacies.
What is the average salary in Dubai? According to Salary Explorer, the average salary in Dubai is 258,000 AED per year (70,256 USD as per exchange rates in 2023). This figure can help you get an overview of Dubai's economy and its standard of living.
The majority of services delivered by Dubai's public healthcare system are free for Emirati nationals (or at a very low cost). However, expats do have to pay to use Dubai's public healthcare services – and fees are higher for non-nationals.
Do I have to share my apartment/house? Physicians and most senior administrative positions are entitled to non-shared housing. All other contracts typically receive shared accommodations, with a maximum of one other housemate. A person with a housing allowance may also choose to share, since it is more economical.
The UAE provides standard medical care and visitors can easily obtain medical treatment from either private or government hospitals. In case of emergency, treatment to stabilise the case is free. Other treatment must be paid for by cash, credit card or insurance.
You can contact the hotel's reception desk, and they will arrange for a hotel doctor to visit you. Alternatively, you can contact a company that provides hotel doctor services, such as Angels of Medical Care, and they will arrange for a doctor to visit your hotel room.
In Dubai, like many other countries, unpaid hospital bills can have serious consequences. If you leave Dubai without paying your hospital bills, you may face legal action, which can include fines, travel restrictions, and even imprisonment.
Dubai isn't actually much more expensive than London, New York, and other big cities. However, Dubai's not a very walkable city. Jaywalking is illegal, and crossings are few and far between. Taxi prices aren't too expensive but taking them often can add up.
Generally, the legal age for drinking alcohol is 18 in Abu Dhabi, but a Ministry of Tourism by-law prevents hotels from serving alcohol to those under the age of 21. In Dubai and all other emirates besides Sharjah, the drinking age is 21. Drinking alcohol in Sharjah is illegal.
Dubai is an expensive city compared to other UAE locales. Numbeo's cost of living index estimates that a single person in Dubai needs about 3,700 United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED), or $1,000 USD per month, excluding rent.
1. Sydney, NSW. Taking first place in this year's healthiest city rankings is Sydney, coming number one in the majority of the different categories. They also place the highest priority on their wellness compared to the rest of Australia, with 70% of Sydneysiders stated that wellness is a high priority for them.
A big factor of the Australian health care system is that it doesn't just cater to only those who are sick. Australia puts a big emphasis on disease prevention and health management so that emergency departments and public hospitals don't get overrun, believing that prevention is more cost-effective in the long term.
The costs of healthcare in Australia are covered through taxes. Residents pay 2% of their income to the Medicare Levy, which funds the public system. As a result, most patients never pay medical fees at their appointments and they can claim reimbursements if they do.
Education is free for UAE citizens at government institutes up to the university level. Non-UAE nationals may attend government schools as fee-paying students.
The cost of plastic surgery in Dubai depends on various factors such as the type of procedure, the surgeon's expertise, and the facility's location. Generally, plastic and cosmetic surgery in Dubai is more affordable compared to Western countries.
Best Dubai Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates
The two leading providers for foreigners in Dubai are William Russell and Now Health International. William Russel has 4 tiers to their international health insurance plan, Bronze, Silver, SilverLite, and Gold.