Business insurance in Abu Dhabi
Employers in Abu Dhabi must provide health insurance under Law 23 of 2005. Event organisers meet insurance terms in the Department of Culture and Tourism manual. Abu Dhabi wrote 29.8% of the premium written inside the UAE in 2025.
What must an employer in Abu Dhabi arrange?
Abu Dhabi Law No. 23 of 2005 requires an employer to provide health insurance for its employees and their family members. There is no residence permit, renewal or employment without enrolment.5
Not enrolling is fined at least AED 300 for each month. The schedule gives AED 10,000 per insured person for passing part of the cost to the employee.
- Every emirate. If your establishment is subject to the federal Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), you must provide either a bank guarantee of AED 3,000 for each worker or insurance for each worker, under the mechanisms approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
- Every emirate. If you employ staff in the private sector or the federal government, each worker must subscribe to the Unemployment Insurance Scheme by buying a policy that insures them if their service ends in the cases where they are eligible. The duty is on the worker, not on you as the employer, and investors who own and work at the establishment, domestic workers, temporary contract workers, workers under 18 and specified retirees are excluded.
How much insurance is written in Abu Dhabi?
| Class of insurance | Premium written, AED million | Policies | Claims paid, AED million |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | 1,563 | 32,736 | 972 |
| Marine and aviation | 621 | 23,099 | 193 |
| Motor and transportation | 2,177 | 1,470,037 | 1,909 |
| Engineering, construction and energy | 1,554 | 15,909 | 444 |
| Other property and liability | 1,470 | 1,822,082 | 134 |
| All property and liability | 7,390 | 3,364,586 | 3,654 |
| Health | 11,925 | 636,678 | 8,929 |
| Life and savings | 1,122 | 34,880 | 577 |
| All insurance | 20,437 | 4,036,144 | 13,160 |
Premiums are as booked by insurers to the emirate. Claims paid in a year are not matched to the premium of that year.
How many businesses are licensed in Abu Dhabi?
| Kind of business | Licences |
|---|---|
| Fit-out, electrical and plumbing contractors | 39,938 |
| Building and civil contractors | 24,745 |
| General trading companies | 19,634 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 16,851 |
| Oil and gas support services | 16,820 |
| Typing centres and business support | 15,788 |
| Grocery shops and supermarkets | 15,005 |
| Online shops | 13,919 |
| Specialist retail shops | 11,643 |
| Pharmacies and cosmetics shops | 10,645 |
| Trucking and passenger transport | 9,854 |
| Catering businesses | 9,716 |
Which free zones are in Abu Dhabi?
- Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone
- Abu Dhabi Global Market
- Industrial City of Abu Dhabi
- Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi
- Masdar City Free Zone
- twofour54
All free zones are in the free zones table.
Who sets the insurance rules in Abu Dhabi?
The Department of Health sets the health insurance rule for employers. The Department of Culture and Tourism sets insurance terms for event permits, in a manual that applies to rides and games events and consumer exhibitions.1 ADRA registers businesses on the mainland and in the non-financial free zones.2
How fast are Abu Dhabi licences growing?
The Abu Dhabi Media Office reports percentages for 2025 against 2024. New economic licences rose 29%, renewed licences 20% and active licences 13.5%.3 Freelancer licences rose from 2,065 to 3,502. In the first half of 2026, new licences were up 5% on the first half of 2025.4
What other fines does Law 23 of 2005 set?
Breaches other than not enrolling staff carry fines of AED 5,000 to AED 20,000.5 The compilation read covers amendments to 2010 only, so check with the Department of Health for later changes.
Which events need insurance?
Only rides and games events and consumer exhibitions state an insurance term in the Department of Culture and Tourism manual. The other event types in its table state none, and the manual gives no limit. The manual tells users to check for a later version before applying for a permit.1
The rules in full
Rules set in Abu Dhabi
| Rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| If you apply to the Department of Culture and Tourism for an event permit in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Al Dhafra for an event with rides and games, you need an insurance company covering the event and the area, and for a consumer exhibition you must attach insurance for the exhibition. Events on Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island go through Abu Dhabi Global Market instead. | DCT Abu Dhabi Event Licensing Manual, User Guidelines, Version 1, 2024, Consumer Exhibition Permits list1 |
| If you develop an off-plan project in Abu Dhabi, the escrow account trustee keeps at least 5% of the overall project value as a performance bond to repair defects for one year after completion, and it can be released early only against a bank guarantee from you. | Law No. (3) of 2015 Concerning the Regulation of the Real Estate Sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Art 24(1), 24(3) |
| If you are the management company of jointly owned property in Abu Dhabi, you must insure the common parts and joint property for a sum sufficient to repair or rebuild them if they are destroyed or collapse for any reason, and insure against damage and bodily injury to owners, occupants of the units or third parties while in the joint property. | Administrative Decision No. (25) of 2025 Regarding the Regulation of Ownership and Controls of Use and Management of Real Estate Properties, Common Parts, and Facilities, Art 37(1), 37(2) |
| If your company applies for a real estate broker licence in Abu Dhabi, it must be registered under Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 on Commercial Companies and have professional risks insurance accepted by the Department that issues the licence. | Administrative Decision No. 251/2015 Issuing the Implementing Regulation of Licensing Pursuant to Abu Dhabi Law No 3/2015, Art 5, juridical person conditions, item (e) |
| If your company applies for a licence in Abu Dhabi as an owners' association manager, appraiser or surveyor, it must be registered under Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 on Commercial Companies and have professional risks insurance accepted by the Department that issues the licence. | Administrative Decision No. 251/2015 Issuing the Implementing Regulation of Licensing Pursuant to Abu Dhabi Law No 3/2015, Art 4, juridical person conditions, item (e) |
What the evidence supports
- Employee health insurance5Law 23 of 2005, Art 5. Covers employees and family members. Residence permit and employment depend on enrolment.Last checked 4 Nov 2026
- Insurance for rides and games events and consumer exhibitions1Applying for an event permit of that type. No limit stated.Last checked 4 Nov 2026
Nothing recorded here yet. That does not settle the question.
Nothing recorded here yet. That does not settle the question.
Nothing recorded here yet. That does not settle the question.
Sources
8
1Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, Event Licensing Manual, User Guidelines, Version 1, 2024. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Event Licensing Manual, User Guidelines
2ADRA, ADDED launches Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority to develop and regulate business sector. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: ADDED launches Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority to develop and regulate business sector
3Abu Dhabi Media Office, Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) records 29% increase in new economic licences in 2025. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) records 29% increase in new economic licences in 2025
4Abu Dhabi Media Office, Abu Dhabi Registration Authority reports continued growth in Abu Dhabi economy across entrepreneurship and industry. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Abu Dhabi Registration Authority reports continued growth in Abu Dhabi economy across entrepreneurship and industry
5Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, Law No. (23) of 2005 Concerning Health Insurance in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Art 3, Art 4, Art 5, Art 24, Implementing Regulation Schedule 4. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Law No. (23) of 2005 Concerning Health Insurance in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
6Central Bank of the UAE, Annual Statistical Report for the Insurance Sector of the U.A.E. 2025, 2025. Tables 24A, 25, 27A, 29A. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Annual Statistical Report for the Insurance Sector of the U.A.E. 2025
7Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, Lists and Tools. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Lists and Tools
8Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Economic Activities Dataset with Licensing Information (DL00-Activities.xlsx). Last checked 6 Oct 2026. Source document: Economic Activities Dataset with Licensing Information (DL00-Activities.xlsx)
- Owner
- Quotes.ae research team
- Last review
- Next review due
- 10 Feb 2027
- Status
- Published