Residents in Dubai often assume that a comprehensive health insurance policy guarantees full coverage once a medical condition is diagnosed. However, disputes frequently arise when insurers decline to approve certain procedures, investigations or treatment plans — particularly when the illness has developed recently.

Under UAE law, health insurers are not permitted to arbitrarily deny medically necessary treatment that falls within the scope of the policy. The legal framework governing health insurance in Dubai places clear obligations on insurance providers to honour coverage and ensure beneficiaries can fully exercise their rights.

The Dubai Health Insurance Law requires insurance companies to provide health benefits strictly in accordance with the terms of the issued policy. This includes enabling insured members to access treatment through all available means, without unjustified obstruction or delay. The law makes it clear that coverage providers must bear the cost of medical services covered under the policy, even where another party may ultimately be responsible for payment.

In practical terms, this means that once a condition is diagnosed and a licensed medical practitioner prescribes a treatment plan, the insurer cannot refuse coverage unless there is a lawful and policy-based reason — such as an explicit exclusion, a waiting period clearly stated in the policy, or treatment that falls outside approved benefits.