Changes We’re Making To Our Health Insurance Policies In The UAE Starting Or Renewing On 01 June 2025

The information in this post refers to the changes we’re making to health insurance policies in the UAE that start or renew between 01 June 2025 and 31 May 2026 (inclusive). See last year’s post for information on our previous product review.

Introduction

We’re pleased to share with you the changes we’re making to health insurance policies in the UAE starting or renewing on 01 June 2025.

We continually monitor and update our products to ensure they both comply with regulations and continue to offer fair value to our members.

Key changes include:

• Changes to the optional dental benefit
• New excess options for individuals and businesses
• Increase of maximum age for dependent children in line with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) mandate
• Continuation of the 16% lifetime discount for new individual policies

These changes take effect for all existing members with a renewal date of 01 June 2025 or later, and all new members purchasing a health insurance policy with a start date of 01 June 2025 or later. Please note these changes do not apply to members residing outside the UAE.

What’s changed?

1. General changes
2. Benefit changes
3. Pricing
4. Changes to terms & conditions

General changes

Maximum age increase for eligible dependents

The age for eligible child dependents has been increased from 18 to 24 years old; provided the child is unmarried (as per updated guidance from the DHA).

Once a child turns 25, they need to set up their own policy. We cannot continue their cover under their parent’s policy.

If children on the policy are in full-time education, cheaper premiums may apply (we will require proof of the child being in full-time education).

We’re continuing the 16% lifetime discount for new individual and family policies

We’re continuing the 16% lifetime discount for all individuals and families purchasing a new health insurance policy. All quotes we issue automatically include this discount.

Benefit changes

New dental benefit

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) recently mandated all health insurance plans offer a minimum level of dental benefit.

From 01 June 2025, all our health plans will provide DHA-mandated dental benefits as standard. Increased levels of cover are available with our Dental Basic and Dental Plus options:

DHA-mandated dental benefit

• Dental consultations
• Extractions
• Fillings
• Root canal treatment
• Scaling
• X-rays
• Antibiotics
• Prophylaxis

Dental Basic

• Dental consultations
• Extractions
• Fillings
• Root canal treatment
• Scaling
• X-rays
• Antibiotics
• Prophylaxis
• Wisdom tooth extraction

Dental Plus

• Dental consultations
• Extractions
• Fillings
• Root canal treatment
• Scaling
• X-rays
• Antibiotics
• Prophylaxis
• Wisdom tooth extraction
• Dental repair*
• Full/partial dentures*
• Dental bridges*
• Crowns, inlays and onlays*
• Dental implants*

*A 12-month waiting period applies to these benefits.

Dental benefit for individuals

From 01 June 2025, the below, the below dental benefits apply to individual health plans:

Silver

Gold

DHA-mandated dental benefit

Up to AED500 (subject to 30% co-insurance per visit)

Included as standard –
see benefit for Dental Basic

Emergency restorative treatment (outpatient)

Up to AED150,000

Up to AED150,000

Dental Basic

Option to add-on
Up to AED3,670 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Up to AED5,505

Dental Plus

Option to add-on
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option to add-on
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Cover stated is per policy year.

Notes on dental cover for individuals

• All dental treatment must be carried out by a dentist in a hospital emergency room or dental surgery.
• Emergency restorative outpatient treatment required to treat or replace sound and natural teeth which are lost or damaged following an accident must be received within 72 hours of the accident.
• A 12-month waiting period applies to dental repair, full/partial dentures, dental bridges, crowns/inlays/onlays and dental implants on Dental Plus.
• Dental Basic is an optional benefit on the Silver plan. It is included as standard on the Gold plan.
• Dental Plus is an optional benefit on Silver and Gold plans.

Dental benefit for businesses

From 01 June 2025, the below, the below dental benefits apply to all flex plans:

Flex 1

Flex 2

Flex 3

DHA mandated dental benefit

Up to AED500 (subject to 30% co-insurance per visit)

Up to AED500 (subject to 30% co-insurance per visit)

Up to AED500 (subject to 30% co-insurance, per visit)

Emergency restorative treatment (outpatient)

Up to AED550,500

Up to AED917,500

Up to AED1,835,000

Dental Basic

Option A
Up to AED3,670 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED5,505 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option A
Up to AED3,670 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED5,505 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option A
Up to AED3,670 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED5,505 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Dental Plus

Option A
Up to AED5,505 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option C
Up to AED11,101 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option A
Up to AED5,505 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option C
Up to AED11,101 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option A
Up to AED5,505 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option C
Up to AED11,101 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Dental Plus – including Orthodontics for children

Option A
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED11,010 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option A
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED11,010 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option A
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED11,010 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Cover stated is per policy year.

From 01 June 2025, the below, the below dental benefits apply to business health plans:

Silver

Gold

DHA mandated dental benefit

Up to AED500 (subject to 30% co-insurance, per visit)

Included as standard –
see benefit for Dental Basic

Emergency restorative treatment (outpatient)

Up to AED150,000

Up to AED150,000

Dental Basic

Option A
Up to AED3,670 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED5,505 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Up to AED5,505

Dental Plus

Option A
Up to AED5,505 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option C
Up to AED11,101 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option A
Up to AED5,505 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option C
Up to AED11,101 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Dental Plus – including Orthodontics for children

Option A
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED11,010 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option A
Up to AED7,340 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Option B
Up to AED11,010 (subject to nil or 20% co-insurance per visit)

Cover stated is per policy year.

Notes on dental cover for businesses

• All dental treatment must be carried out by a dentist in a hospital emergency room or dental surgery.
• Treatment for damaged crowns, dentures, bridge work or false teeth is only covered under the Dental Plus benefit.
• We only cover orthodontic consultations for children under 18 if your employer has selected Dental Plus including orthodontics.
• A 12-month waiting period applies to dental repair, full/partial dentures, dental bridges, crowns/inlays/onlays and dental implants on Dental Plus.
• A 50% co-insurance and 12-month waiting period applies to orthodontic treatment for children under the age of 18.

We will give current individual and group members the option to choose the level of cover available most similar to their current cover or amend to what best suits their needs.

 

Excesses and deductibles

We’ve listened to member feedback and we are simplifying the excess options available on our health plans. The excesses we now offer are:

Excess options for individuals

• Nil
• 20% co-pay on all outpatient services (including pharmacy)
• 20% consultation co-pay with a maximum of AED100 per visit

Excess options on businesses

• Nil*
• 10% co-pay on all outpatient services (including pharmacy)*
• 20% co-pay on all outpatient services (including pharmacy)
• 10% consultation co-pay with a maximum of AED50 per visit*
• 20% consultation co-pay with a maximum of AED100 per visit*

*Not available on Flex 1 plan.

Some members may see the name of the excess on their policy change. Please speak to us if you’d like more information.

Pricing

Overview

We’re investing in a long-term pricing model for our health insurance premiums. We aim to create simpler pricing levers and offer fairer, more accurate premiums for our members in Dubai.

Although medical inflation in Dubai stands at 11.5%, we’ve only raised our premiums by 6%. Combined with our 16% lifetime discount for individuals—which we’ve extended for another year—this lower average premium increase makes our pricing highly competitive.

We’re also increasing discounts on larger FMU group policies.

A reminder: the average premium inflation is an average. It doesn’t take into account age-related increases and, while some members will experience premium inflation, others will experience negative premium inflation.

Changes to terms & conditions

There have been no changes to the terms & conditions on health plans in the UAE.

For full details please refer to the relevant plan agreement.

Exchange rate

AED1 = US$0.27

Life insurance in the UAE

We’re exploring the launch of a new protection product in the UAE as part of our ongoing product development. We’re doing this to better meet the evolving needs of our members and provide even more tailored options for international living.

In the meantime, there are no changes to our life product in the UAE — but if you’d like to learn more about what we offer, speak to our Business Development Team today.

We’ve been working with our partner Dubai Insurance Company, since 2006 to design and offer DHA-compliant expat insurance for people and companies living and working in Dubai, throughout the UAE and the Middle East. We also offer a range of international protection products.

Want to learn more about our changes? Book a call with a member of our business development team

Book a Call

William Russell is a trading name of William Russell Ltd, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, and William Russell Europe SRL, which is registered in Belgium with the Financial Services & Markets Authority. We provide insurance plans on behalf of AWP Health & Life SA, an Allianz group company registered in France, and AWP P&C SA UK, an Allianz group company registered in the UK. We’re here to help our customers, but we don’t offer insurance advice. In the UAE, the William Russell plans are issued and underwritten by Dubai Insurance Company psc, which is licensed by the UAE Central Bank, registration number 4, with its registered office at Dubai Insurance Company, PO Box 3027, Dubai, UAE.