If your UAE health card has expired, or is about to, you do not need to start from scratch. Health card renewal in the UAE usually takes just a few minutes online. The catch is that it depends entirely on which emirate issued your card and which type of health card you actually hold. Get those two things right and the rest is quick.
This guide walks residents, UAE nationals and GCC nationals through health card renewal in the UAE: the fees, documents and steps on the EHS system, what applies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the common problems that slow people down.
Quick answer: To renew your health card in the UAE, log in to the Emirates Health Services (EHS) portal at ehs.gov.ae with UAE Pass, open “Renewing a health card”, confirm your Emirates ID details and pay AED 20 (UAE and GCC nationals) or AED 100 (expat residents), plus the AED 15 smart-services fee. A typing centre can also do it for you. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, cover works through mandatory health insurance instead.
Which Health Card Are You Renewing?
“Health card” means different things in the UAE. Before you renew anything, match your card to the right one below. This is where most people waste time.
Card type
Who it is for
Issued by
What it does
Resident health card
Residents, nationals, GCC nationals
Emirates Health Services (EHS)
Subsidised care at EHS hospitals and clinics
Occupational health card (OHC)
Food handlers, salon staff, healthcare and public-facing workers
DHA / Dubai Municipality
Proves you are fit to work in a public-health role
Medical fitness card
Anyone getting or renewing a residence visa
Government medical fitness centres
Clears the visa medical test
Health insurance card
All residents (mandatory)
Private insurers / Daman
Covers treatment at network hospitals
This article covers the resident health card. If you’re applying for one of these for the first time rather than renewing, applying for an EHS Health Card works a little differently, with its own eligibility rules and fees to check first.
What Is a UAE Health Card and Why Renew It?
A UAE health card is a government-issued card from Emirates Health Services (EHS) that registers you in the federal public health system, so you can get treatment at EHS hospitals and clinics at subsidised rates. UAE nationals, GCC nationals and expat residents can hold one.
Renewing it on time keeps these benefits active:
Lower-cost treatment at EHS hospitals and clinics.
Free EHS medical services for People of Determination who are approved by the medical committee.
Smooth registration when you visit an EHS facility.
A health card is not the same as health insurance. Insurance is mandatory across the UAE and covers treatment in your insurer’s network. The health card is optional for most expats, but it gives subsidised access to government facilities.
Your Health Card Validity Is Separate From Your Emirates ID
This trips up many residents. Your health card links to your Emirates ID, but its expiry is its own. Your Emirates ID can be valid while your health card has already expired. Track both dates on their own.
Who Issues Your Health Card, By Emirate
The renewal portal depends on where you live.
Emirate
Authority
Where to renew
Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain
Abu Dhabi works differently. It does not issue a subsidised health card the way EHS does. In Abu Dhabi, “health card renewal” usually means renewing your health insurance policy (Thiqa for nationals, or a private or Daman plan) through TAMM.
Health Card Validity and When to Renew
Validity depends on your nationality:
UAE and GCC nationals: 5 years.
Expatriate residents: 1 year.
Renew inside the one month before your card expires. On the EHS system you cannot renew early. If your card still has more than a month left, the system will not let you renew yet.
One rule to remember: your Emirates ID must be valid when you submit. Renew your Emirates ID first if it has expired.
How to Renew Your EHS Health Card Online (Northern Emirates)
Residents of Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain use the EHS smart service. According to Emirates Health Services, the smart-service renewal takes about five minutes.
Follow these steps:
Open ehs.gov.ae, go to Services, and under Health Certificate and Records Services, click Renewing a health card.
2. Click Renew Health Card, then Start Now.
3. Choose whether you are applying for yourself or on behalf of someone, and select the renewal option.
4. Enter your Emirates ID number and check that your details are correct.
5. Pay the fee online by card.
6. You get an SMS confirmation. Your renewed card links to your Emirates ID automatically.
Renew Through the EHS App
The EHS app offers the same renewal service. Log in with UAE Pass, open the health card renewal service, enter your Emirates ID and pay.
Renew at a Typing Centre
No time for the portal? Visit any typing centre with your Emirates ID. Staff complete the renewal for you. A small service charge applies.
How to Renew Your DHA Health Card in Dubai
Dubai no longer runs a resident health card like the EHS one. The Dubai Health Insurance Law (No. 11 of 2013) made health insurance mandatory. Under it, UAE nationals received insurance cards that replaced the old DHA cards, and expat residents are covered through employer- or sponsor-provided insurance.
What this means in Dubai:
Expat residents: your “renewal” is your health insurance policy, usually renewed through your employer or sponsor. It must be active before your residence visa can be renewed. Our guide on UAE residence visa renewal covers that process.
Food, salon, healthcare and other public-facing workers: you need an occupational health card. It is a separate, job-linked certificate, not the resident health card.
Subsidised care at federal hospitals: EHS runs health card registration across six emirates, including Dubai, so you apply for or renew the EHS card using the steps above.
Ajman also runs its own medical card service through the Department of Digital Ajman, separate from the federal EHS card.
Renewing a Medical Card in Ajman (Local Route)
Steps:
Fill and print the smart medical card application, then pay the fee.
Visit a customer service centre to submit it.
An officer checks your original documents.
Collect your new medical card.
Ajman document set:
Copy of the expired medical card
Valid Emirates ID
Valid passport
Personal photo with a white background
Proof of residence in the emirate
Marriage certificate, if your spouse is not Emirati
Valid residency or entry visa (for expats arriving for the first time)
Ajman centres: Al Madina Health Center, Mushairef Health Center, and the Preventive Medicine Center in Ajman.
Documents Required to Renew Your Health Card
Your document list depends on who you are. Here is the EHS breakdown.
Applicant
Documents needed
Expat resident
Valid Emirates ID
UAE national
Valid Emirates ID and Family Book (Khulasat Al Qaid)
GCC national
Valid Emirates ID
Spouse of a UAE citizen
Valid Emirates ID and passport for both spouses, valid residence permit (non-GCC), marriage certificate
Children of an Emirati mother
Birth certificate, child’s Emirates ID and passport, mother’s Emirates ID and passport, Family Book
Parents of a citizen
Valid Emirates ID, passport and residence permit for the parent, plus the citizen’s documents
Newborns
Birth certificate, both parents’ passports, Emirates IDs and residence permits
People of Determination
Emirates ID, passport, residence copy, and a government medical report less than 3 months old
Health Card Renewal Fees in the UAE
How much does health card renewal cost? On the EHS system, UAE and GCC nationals pay about AED 35 in total and expat residents pay about AED 115, including the AED 15 smart-services fee. In Dubai, the cost is your health insurance premium rather than a card fee.
Here are the official EHS fees for the Northern Emirates, as published by Emirates Health Services.
Category
Renewal fee
UAE citizens
AED 20
GCC nationals (resident)
AED 20
GCC nationals (visitor, 1 year)
AED 50
Expat residents (1 year)
AED 100
Expat visitors (3 months)
AED 100
People of Determination
AED 50
Extra charges to expect:
AED 15 EHS smart-services share on every online application.
A small bank service charge.
An added fee if you use a typing centre.
So an expat usually pays around AED 115 in total on EHS, while UAE and GCC nationals pay about AED 35.
Dubai does not have a DHA resident health card fee. There, the cost is your health insurance premium, which depends on your insurer and plan.
Processing times, according to Emirates Health Services: about 5 minutes for the smart service with a valid Emirates ID, about 3 working days for a manual application with documents, and up to 8 working days for People of Determination.
Health Card Renewal by Emirate at a Glance
This table gives you the full picture in one look.
An expired health card does not fine you like a visa does. But it does cost you access.
You lose subsidised rates at government hospitals until you renew.
You may face delays at registration when you need care.
You simply reapply through the same portal once your Emirates ID is valid.
The fix is quick, so renew as soon as you notice the lapse.
Common Health Card Renewal Problems (and Fixes)
Most delays come from small, avoidable issues.
Application rejected or returned: Read the note, correct the detail, and resubmit through the same service.
Emirates ID expired: You cannot renew the health card first. Renew your Emirates ID, then come back.
No SMS or failed payment: Check your bank message, then retry the payment step. The card links only after payment clears.
Wrong category picked: Choose the healthcare category that matches your nationality, or the fee and result will be wrong.
Name or data mismatch: Your details must match your Emirates ID exactly.
Health Card vs Insurance vs Medical Fitness: Cleared Up
People mix these three all the time. Here is the clean split.
Document
Purpose
Mandatory?
Health card
Subsidised care at government facilities
Optional for most expats
Health insurance
Covers private network treatment, and is required for your visa
Yes
Medical fitness card
Passes the residence-visa medical test
Yes, for the visa
Read the full guides on health insurance in the UAE and the medical fitness test if either applies to you.
A health card is separate from the residence visa medical. To see what the visa screening covers, costs and how results work, read our guide to the UAE visa medical fitness test.
What Is New for Health Card Renewal in the UAE? 2026
The system keeps moving toward digital.
UAE Pass is now the default login on both EHS and DHA portals.
Dubai is shifting to digital card verification through Nabidh, so a plastic card is often not needed.
Health insurance records are cross-checked automatically at visa renewal across the UAE, which makes keeping your cover active more important than ever.
Always confirm live fees and steps on the official portal, since figures change.
Tips to Renew Without Delays
A short checklist that saves you a second trip:
Renew about one month before expiry.
Keep your Emirates ID valid first.
Have UAE Pass set up on your phone.
Pick the correct nationality category.
Bring a white-background photo if you renew in Ajman.
Conclusion
Health card renewal in the UAE is quick once you know which card you hold. The EHS health card is renewed online at ehs.gov.ae with UAE Pass, a valid Emirates ID and a small fee: AED 35 in total for UAE and GCC nationals, and AED 115 for expat residents. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, what most residents need to keep active is their mandatory health insurance, not a separate card.
Renew within the last month before expiry and keep your Emirates ID valid, so you don’t lose subsidised access to EHS care. Then line up your other renewals, starting with your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew a health card in the UAE?
Log in to ehs.gov.ae with UAE Pass, open “Renewing a health card” under Health Certificate and Records Services, enter your Emirates ID, confirm your details and pay. You will receive an SMS confirmation. A typing centre can also submit the renewal for you.
How much is a health card in the UAE?
On EHS, renewal costs AED 20 for UAE and GCC nationals and AED 100 for expat residents, plus an AED 15 smart-services fee and a small bank charge. That makes the total about AED 35 for nationals and AED 115 for expats. People of Determination pay AED 50.
What is the validity of a UAE health card?
The EHS health card is valid for five years for UAE and GCC nationals and one year for expat residents. Its validity is separate from your Emirates ID, so you should track both expiry dates.
When can I renew my EHS health card?
You can renew your EHS health card within one month before it expires. If your card has more than one month remaining, the renewal may not go through yet.
Can I renew my health card if my Emirates ID has expired?
The online smart service requires a valid Emirates ID. If your Emirates ID has expired, renew it first and then apply to renew your health card.
Is a health card the same as health insurance?
No. An EHS health card provides access to subsidised healthcare services at EHS facilities, while health insurance covers treatment according to your insurer’s policy and network. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, residents generally deal with mandatory health insurance rather than relying on a health card.
How do I renew a health card in Dubai?
Dubai no longer uses the old DHA health card system for residents in the same way; mandatory health insurance is the main system for healthcare coverage. If you want subsidised care at federal EHS facilities, you can still apply for or renew an EHS health card online.
Which emirates does the EHS health card cover?
EHS provides health card services across six emirates: Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain. Abu Dhabi has its own healthcare system under the Department of Health.
How do People of Determination renew an EHS health card?
People of Determination can apply using a valid Emirates ID, passport, residence copy and a government medical report issued within the previous three months. The request is reviewed by a medical committee and can take up to 8 working days. The fee is AED 50, and approved holders receive free EHS medical services.
Can someone else renew my health card for me?
Yes. The online service allows you to apply on behalf of another person, so a family member can submit the renewal for you. A typing centre can also complete the application using your Emirates ID.
Can I renew my health card without UAE Pass?
Yes. You can visit a typing centre with your Emirates ID and have the staff submit the renewal application for you. An additional service charge may apply.
How long does health card renewal take?
An online renewal through the EHS smart service can take about 5 minutes when you have a valid Emirates ID. Manual applications can take around 3 working days, while applications for People of Determination can take up to 8 working days.
What happens if my health card expires?
There is no fine for an expired EHS health card, but you may lose access to subsidised rates at EHS facilities until you renew it. You can use the same renewal service once your Emirates ID is valid.
Anees is a UAE-based content creator, writer, and SEO professional with over 12 years of experience. Since 2014, he has published research-backed guides on UAE visas, labour laws, jobs, traffic fines, and government services, all verified against official sources. He is certified in SEO by HubSpot Academy and Digital Marketing by Google Digital Garage.
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Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance only, based on publicly available UAE laws and regulations. It does not constitute legal advice. Always verify with official UAE government sources or a qualified legal professional.
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