Business insurance in Sharjah
Who sets the insurance rules in Sharjah, what an employer there must arrange for staff, and how much insurance was written in the emirate in 2025.
What must an employer in Sharjah arrange?
From 1 January 2025 an employer buys a health insurance policy as a condition of the residence permit for private sector employees and domestic workers. The UAE Government portal names the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation as the source and describes the rule as extending to Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.3
The UAE Government portal lists a basic package at AED 320 a year. A broker network page says that excludes VAT and a fee of AED 25.20.
The authority is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
- 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 Sharjah?
| Class of insurance | Premium written, AED million | Policies | Claims paid, AED million |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | 105 | 6,998 | 64 |
| Marine and aviation | 74 | 12,497 | 22 |
| Motor and transportation | 370 | 175,430 | 341 |
| Engineering, construction and energy | 85 | 2,315 | 20 |
| Other property and liability | 209 | 532,892 | 7 |
| All property and liability | 843 | 730,165 | 455 |
| Health | 1,810 | 358,715 | 1,325 |
| Life and savings | 189 | 9,801 | 136 |
| All insurance | 2,843 | 1,098,681 | 1,916 |
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 Sharjah?
| Sector | Licences |
|---|---|
| Trade in products and services | 61,206 |
| Construction and building | 7,985 |
| Industry | 3,952 |
| Health | 2,419 |
| Education | 538 |
Which free zones are in Sharjah?
- Hamriyah Free Zone
- Sharjah Airport International Free Zone
- Sharjah Media City Free Zone
- Sharjah Healthcare City
- Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone
- Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park
All free zones are in the free zones table.
Sources
3
1Central Bank of the UAE, Annual Statistical Report for the Insurance Sector 2025. Last checked 31 Dec 2025. Source document: Annual Statistical Report for the Insurance Sector 2025
2Sharjah Economic Development Department, total commercial, professional and industrial licences by sector. Last checked 16 Dec 2025. Source document: total commercial, professional and industrial licences by sector
3u.ae, UAE Government portal page on getting health insurance, updated 8 September 2026. Ministerial Resolution 504 of 2026 is listed on the Ministry site.. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: UAE Government portal page on getting health insurance, updated 8 September 2026. Ministerial Resolution 504 of 2026 is listed on the Ministry site.
- Owner
- Quotes.ae research team
- Last review
- Next review due
- 10 Feb 2027
- Status
- Published