United Arab Emirates: health and care

What is the life expectancy in the UAE?

Life expectancy at birth in the UAE was 83.1 years in 2024, according to the World Bank: 82.2 years for men and 84.3 for women.

The World Bank figures are UN population estimates. The UAE Government fact sheet gives an older national figure of 80 years for women and 77.2 for men as of 2021. The resident population is young and mostly foreign, and many workers leave before old age, which affects how life expectancy is estimated. Treat differences between sources as differences in method and year.

Official sources: World Bank: life expectancy at birth, UAE · u.ae: Fact sheet

What is the fertility rate in the UAE?

The total fertility rate in the UAE was 1.21 births per woman in 2024, according to the World Bank. The crude birth rate was 9.8 births per 1,000 people.

The fertility rate is the number of children a woman would have at current age-specific birth rates. A rate of about 2.1 keeps a population stable without migration. The UAE figure covers all residents, Emirati and foreign; national fertility among Emiratis is higher than the overall rate but is not published in this series. The World Bank figures are UN estimates.

Official sources: World Bank: fertility rate, UAE · World Bank: birth rate, UAE

What is the infant mortality rate in the UAE?

The infant mortality rate in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi was 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, according to SCAD death statistics, using Department of Health data. The neonatal rate (first month) was 3.2 and the under-5 rate 6.6. Abu Dhabi recorded 4,750 deaths in 2025.

For the UAE as a whole, the World Bank gives a UN estimate of 3.8 per 1,000 in 2024. The two figures use different sources and coverage, so they should not be compared directly. SCAD breaks its figures down by citizenship and sex.

Official sources: SCAD: Death statistics 2025 · World Bank: infant mortality rate, UAE

How many doctors does the UAE have?

The UAE had 3.0 physicians per 1,000 people in 2023, according to the World Bank, which uses WHO data. There were 1.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people in 2022.

Health care is regulated at federal level by the Ministry of Health and Prevention and at emirate level by the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Health Authority, each of which licenses its own doctors. The density figure counts practising physicians in all sectors. The bed ratio is low partly because the population is young.

Official sources: World Bank: physicians per 1,000 people, UAE · World Bank: hospital beds per 1,000 people, UAE

How much does the UAE spend on health?

Current health spending in the UAE was 5.0% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank, using WHO Global Health Expenditure data. Out-of-pocket payments by households made up 9.7% of that spending.

The share of GDP is lower than in many high-income countries partly because oil output inflates GDP and the population is young. Most private-sector residents are covered by employer-paid health insurance, which keeps out-of-pocket costs down. WHO updates the series about two years after the reference year.

Official sources: World Bank: current health expenditure (% of GDP), UAE · World Bank: out-of-pocket expenditure, UAE

Is health insurance mandatory in the UAE?

Yes. From 1 January 2025, employers must buy a health insurance policy before applying for or renewing the residency permit of a private-sector employee or domestic worker, according to the UAE Government portal. The basic package costs AED 320 a year.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai already required cover; the portal says the rule extends it to private-sector workers in the other five emirates. The basic package has a 20% co-payment for inpatient care (capped at AED 500 a visit and AED 1,000 a year) and 25% for outpatient care (capped at AED 100 a visit). Workers with permits issued before 1 January 2024 come under the rule when their permit is renewed.

Official sources: u.ae: Getting health insurance

How long do people live in the United Arab Emirates?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in the United Arab Emirates was 83.1 years in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 3rd highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 77.3 years. World rank, highest first: 16th of 193.

What is the infant mortality rate in the United Arab Emirates?

The latest figure from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, for 2024, is 3.8 per 1,000. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 11.2 per 1,000; the United Arab Emirates is 21st highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 157th of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in the United Arab Emirates?

In 2023, the maternal mortality ratio in the United Arab Emirates was 3.0 per 100,000, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 2.0 per 100,000 (2022) to 6.0 per 100,000 (2020). It is 21st highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 18.5 per 100,000. World rank, highest first: 180th of 192.

What share of GDP does the United Arab Emirates spend on health care?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 5.0% of GDP. The peak was 5.8% of GDP in 2020 and the low 2.3% of GDP in 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 5.6% of GDP, and the United Arab Emirates placed 13th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 125th of 191.

How much of health care in the United Arab Emirates do patients pay for?

According to the WHO, out-of-pocket health spending in the United Arab Emirates was 9.7% in 2023. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 32.7%, and the United Arab Emirates placed 20th highest of 22. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 169th highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in the United Arab Emirates?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in the United Arab Emirates was 3.0 per 1,000 in 2023. No year since 2005 has been higher. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 3.0 per 1,000; the United Arab Emirates is 4th highest of 7. Of 58 countries with 2023 data, 19th highest.

What is hospital capacity in the United Arab Emirates?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2022, is 1.9 per 1,000. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 1.9 per 1,000; its low point was 2013, at 1.2 per 1,000. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 1.6 per 1,000, and the United Arab Emirates placed 5th highest of 12. World rank, highest first: 80th of 110.

What is the measles vaccination rate in the United Arab Emirates?

In 2024, measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in the United Arab Emirates was 98.0%, according to WHO and UNICEF. Since 2005 it has ranged from 92.0% (2005) to 99.0% (2014). Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 96.0%, and the United Arab Emirates placed 6th highest of 22. Worldwide: 20th of 191.