Masdar City Free Zone insurance requirements

Who runs Masdar City?

Fact	Detail	As of
Emirate	Abu Dhabi
Authority	Masdar City Free Zone2
Legal basis	Abu Dhabi Law No. 6 of 2023, which replaces Law No. 22 of 20072
Established	2009
Companies	2,500+ companies	Masdar City website, November 2026
Main sectors	Biotech, smart mobility, regional headquarters, trading and holding companies, business and data centres
Website	masdarcityfreezone.com

What insurance and guarantees do companies in Masdar City need?

Third party liability

• If you are licensed in Masdar City Free Zone, you must take out and maintain third party liability or public liability insurance and workmen's compensation insurance.³

Workmen's compensation

• Your workmen's compensation insurance must cover every employment injury, disability or both, and the related medical expenses, in line with the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree Law 33 of 2021).³

Visa deposit

• Masdar City Free Zone charges an employment visa deposit of 2,500 dirhams per employee, released after the visa is cancelled.⁵

Lease deposit

• Masdar City Free Zone requires a refundable security deposit equal to two months' rent for Flexi Desk leases.⁵

Do you need health insurance for your staff in Masdar City?

• You must obtain a government health card from the Department of Health Abu Dhabi for every employee the zone sponsors, in order to obtain a medical fitness certificate for each employee from a government hospital or clinic.³

The rule for employers across Abu Dhabi is on the Abu Dhabi page.

The Employment Regulations carry the duty, and the licensing text has no insurance term

The zone’s regulatory framework page links both 2026 texts.¹ The Business Licensing Regulations 2026 have 0 mentions of insurance.² Reg 11 of the Employment Regulations carries the policy terms, under a Section heading on third party liability and worker’s compensation.³

A licensee lodges a copy of both policies with the Government Services Entity if the zone asks (Reg 11.3). Definition 2.1.16 ties third party liability insurance to these regulations and the personnel sponsorship agreement. Definition 2.1.19 gives the UAE Labour Law as Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021.

Health card and residence permit are linked

Reg 9.1 says medical cover for employees the zone sponsors may be arranged through the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, for a fee. Under Reg 9.2 the zone does not procure a residence permit until a medical fitness certificate has been issued, and the health card is the route to that certificate.³

The zone’s blog and regulations use different terms

The blog speaks of employer liability insurance as a standard part of running a business, and refers to “IOLE insurance”.⁴ The regulation says worker’s compensation insurance. The regulation is the heavier instrument, and this page follows its wording. The blog does not cite a Masdar rule for employer liability cover.

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