What are the statutory health benefits in the United Arab Emirates?

In the United Arab Emirates, statutory health benefits are mandated under labor law as follows:

• Every employer is required to provide employees with medical coverage that meets the standards set by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in consultation with the Ministry of Health.
• Employers have the discretion to include optical benefits as part of the mandatory health insurance plan offered to employees.
• In Abu Dhabi, employers must provide health insurance coverage for both employees and their dependents.
• In Dubai, it is mandatory for employers to provide health insurance coverage to employees, but not necessarily to their dependents. Nevertheless, it is quite common in practice for employers in Dubai to extend coverage to dependents as well.