Annual Health Checks in Dubai: What Packages Include and What Insurance Covers

Private hospitals in Dubai sell health checks as fixed packages, and the contents vary widely: a basic package can be a doctor's consultation plus a handful of blood and urine tests, while executive packages add scans and a treadmill (exercise ECG) test. Most standard health insurance plans in the UAE do not pay for a routine full-body check-up, according to an August 2026 guide from the insurance broker Policybazaar.ae.

This guide sets out what published packages contain and where insurance does and doesn't help. It does not recommend any provider. Whether you need a check, and which tests, is a question for your doctor.

What packages typically contain

We compared the published package lists of two large private hospital groups in Dubai, Mediclinic Middle East and Aster, in October 2026. They illustrate how packages are put together; they are not endorsements.

TierTypical contents in the published lists Basic / essentialDoctor's consultation; blood count; blood sugar; cholesterol (lipid profile); liver and kidney function; urine test. Mediclinic's Essential also lists vitamin D; Aster's Basic adds an ECG. ComprehensiveThe basic tests plus some of: ECG, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, thyroid test, stool test, and sex-specific screening such as a PSA test for men or a Pap smear for women. ExecutiveComprehensive tests plus a treadmill (exercise ECG) test; Mediclinic's Executive Plus adds uric acid, ferritin and a dietitian consultation. By age and sexAster lists separate packages for men and women under and over 40. Its over-40 women's package includes hormone tests, a Pap smear and breast ultrasound; the over-40 men's package includes PSA, a treadmill test and abdominal ultrasound. TargetedAster also lists a diabetes screening package (including HbA1c) and a cardiac package that adds an echocardiogram and a cardiologist consultation. ChildrenMediclinic lists a paediatric check-up for ages 3 to 18 at AED 1,310 in Dubai, with paediatrician and dietitian consultations, vision screening and blood tests.

Neither group published prices for its main adult tiers on these pages. Mediclinic listed a mammogram add-on for women aged 40 and over at AED 375, and said its promotional package prices applied to self-pay purchases only, not to services covered by insurance. Package names are not standard, so compare the list of tests rather than the label.

What insurance covers

Health insurance in the UAE is built mainly around treatment once you are ill or injured. Policybazaar.ae's guide says annual check-ups, full-body screenings and wellness diagnostics are not generally included in basic or comprehensive plans, including plans that meet only the mandatory DHA or Department of Health requirements. Some plans add a check-up as an extra benefit, on terms that vary by plan, so read your own table of benefits.

Screening for specific cancers is different. In December 2017 the Dubai Health Authority announced that the basic benefit plan of Dubai's mandatory insurance scheme would cover screening as well as treatment of breast, colorectal and cervical cancer, under its Basmah initiative. Gulf News reported in August 2019 that the scheme began in January 2019: a family doctor who suspects cancer refers the patient for screening at Dubai Hospital's Cancer Centre of Excellence, and the standard 20% co-insurance applies. Hepatitis C screening was added through the same referral route. These details date from 2019, so confirm the current process with your insurer.

Tests your doctor orders because of symptoms are handled under your plan's normal outpatient rules, which are different from a package you choose yourself. Our Essential Benefits Plan explainer covers how co-pays work on Dubai's basic plan.

What to check before you book

• Who pays: ask your insurer whether any part of the package is covered, or whether it is self-pay only.
• The test list: ask for the full list in writing and whether a doctor reviews the results with you.
• Preparation: published lists include fasting tests, such as a fasting lipid profile; ask the clinic how to prepare.
• Licensing: you can check a practitioner's licence before booking.
• Your records: our NABIDH explainer covers how Dubai health records are shared between providers.
• Free options: some screening is offered free in time-limited campaigns; check Dubai Health and DHA announcements for current programmes and who qualifies.
• Personal advice: a doctor can tell you which tests are relevant to your age and history.

For general information, not medical advice. Details can change; check with the provider and your insurer before relying on them, and see a doctor for advice about your own health.