Health insurance for low-income expats in UAE

DUBAI: The Emirate of Abu Dhabi will start a health insurance policy next month, which will help low-income expats.

"From July 1, all companies that fall under the Phase 1 category will be obliged to take part in the health insurance scheme which will make the lowest paid the first to benefit from the law," said Dr Ahmad Al Mazroui, Director General of the General Authority for Health Services (GAHS) in Abu Dhabi.

Implementation of the Abu Dhabi health insurance regulation will take place in two separate phases, with Phase 1 set to begin in July.

All governmental and semi-governmental companies are required to adhere to it, as well as private companies with over 1,000 employees.

Phase 2 of the health insurance scheme will begin in January 2007, and will apply to companies that employ less than 1,000 people.

More than half a million expatriates are expected to benefit from the scheme.