EHS Health Card in The UAE: How to Apply, Fees and Eligibility

The EHS Health Card gives UAE citizens, GCC citizens, residents, and visitors discounted access to government hospitals and health centres run by Emirates Health Services. This sits alongside the other health insurance questions UAE residents deal with, and it’s worth knowing upfront: a health card is genuinely different from private health insurance, and the two work best together, not as substitutes.

This guide covers everything about the EHS health card in the UAE application process: real fees by category, required documents, eligibility, and where you can actually use it.

Quick Answer

You can apply for an EHS Health Card online through Emirates Health Services using UAE Pass. Fees start from AED 20 for UAE and GCC citizens and AED 100 for expatriate residents. The card provides discounted treatment at EHS government hospitals and health centres.

At a Glance

Detail	Answer
Fee	AED 20 to 100
Validity	3 months to 5 years
Apply online	Yes
UAE Pass required	Yes
Applies to	Citizens, GCC nationals, residents, visitors, People of Determination

What Is the EHS Health Card?

The EHS health card is an official card issued by Emirates Health Services that gives holders discounted access to public healthcare facilities across the UAE. It’s linked directly to your Emirates ID once issued, and cardholders avoid an additional 20% service charge that’s applied to patients without one at EHS facilities.

EHS Health Card vs Health Insurance: What’s the Difference?

	EHS Health Card	Health Insurance
Access	Government hospitals and health centres	Private hospitals within your insurer’s network
Cost	One-time or renewal fee, AED 20 to 100	Ongoing premium
Best for	Affordable government healthcare access	Broader private treatment coverage

Having both gives the widest flexibility. Neither replaces the other, and skipping private health insurance entirely still carries its own health insurance fines in the UAE, separate from anything to do with this card. If you already have private cover and want to confirm it’s active, our guide on how to check health insurance status in UAE walks through that separately.

Who Can Apply for an EHS Health Card in the UAE?

• UAE citizens
• GCC citizens, both residents and visitors
• Expatriate residents
• Visitors to the UAE
• People of Determination, a distinct application track covered separately below

EHS Health Card UAE Fees by Category

Category	Fee	Validity
UAE citizen	AED 20	5 years
GCC citizen, resident	AED 20	5 years
GCC citizen, visitor	AED 50	1 year
Expatriate, resident	AED 100	1 year
Expatriate, visitor	AED 100	3 months
People of Determination	AED 50	1 year

All categories also pay an AED 15 Smart Application Fee, plus any applicable bank service charge.

Documents Required

Standard Application

• Valid Emirates ID
• Family Book, for UAE citizens specifically

For a Newborn

• Birth certificate
• Passports of both parents
• Emirates IDs of both parents, if applicable
• Residence permits of both parents, if applicable

For People of Determination

• Copy of valid Emirates ID
• Copy of valid passport
• Valid residence copy
• A medical report from a government medical facility, no older than 3 months

How to Apply for an EHS Health Card

1. Visit the EHS website or app, and go to “Issue of a Health Card”
2. Log in using UAE Pass
3. Select whether you’re applying for yourself or on someone else’s behalf
4. Choose your category: UAE citizen, GCC citizen, expatriate, or Person of Determination
5. Confirm your details, most are pre-filled through UAE Pass
6. Review and pay the applicable fee
7. Receive confirmation by SMS once approved, your card is then linked to your Emirates ID

Other Ways to Apply

• Through a registered typing centre
• In person at any EHS-operated hospital or health centre

Processing time: standard applications are usually linked to your Emirates ID as soon as payment is confirmed. People of Determination applications generally take 7 to 30 days, since a medical committee review is required first.

Applying for the People of Determination Health Card

This has a distinct process, worth understanding separately.

• Available to expatriates specifically, UAE nationals with disabilities use the standard national health card instead
• Requires review and approval from a medical committee before issuance
• Processing typically takes 7 to 30 days for the card to link to your Emirates ID
• Allows up to 10 transactions a year, for the applicant or covered family members

Important update: reported guidance indicates PoD health card issuance has moved to the Ministry of Community Development rather than being processed directly through EHS. Confirm the current application channel before starting, since this is a recent change some guides haven’t caught up with.

Where Can You Use the EHS Health Card?

The card is valid only at EHS-operated facilities: government hospitals, primary healthcare centres, and public health centres across the UAE. Coverage spans all seven emirates. Since EHS periodically opens or updates facilities, always confirm your nearest active centre on EHS’s facility locator before visiting, the list below reflects currently listed facilities by emirate.

Dubai

Hospitals

• Al Kuwait Hospital, Dubai
• Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital

Primary healthcare centres

• Al Nahda Medical Examination Centre
• Saraya Medical Examination Centre
• Al Reffa Medical Examination Centre
• Al Awir Health Centre
• Salah Al Din Medical Examination Centre
• Al Quoz Medical Examination Centre
• Dragon Mart Medical Examination Centre
• Ibn Battuta Medical Examination Centre
• Al Baraha Smart Medical Examination Centre
• Al Ittihad Health Centre
• Al Muhaisnah Health Centre
• Dubai Public Health Centre
• Dubai Specialised Dental Centre

Abu Dhabi

• Genetic and Neonatal Screening Diagnostic Centre

Sharjah

Hospitals

• Al Qassimi Hospital
• Kuwait Hospital, Sharjah
• Khorfakkan Hospital
• Kalba Hospital
• Al Dhaid Hospital
• Al Qassimi Hospital for Women and Children

Primary healthcare centres

• Al Khibra Medical Examination Centre
• Al Taj Smart Medical Examination Centre
• Waqa Medical Examination Centre
• Al Khibra and Al Daqqah Medical Examination Centre
• Sahara Medical Examination Centre
• Alshrooq Medical Examination Centre
• Wasit Health Centre
• Khorfakkan Health Centre
• Specialised Kalba Dental Centre
• Wadi Al Helo Health Centre
• Kalba Health Centre
• Al Lulueyah Health Centre
• Dibba Al Hisn Public Health Centre
• Al Dhaid Health Centre
• Family Promotion Health Centre
• Sharjah Specialised Dental Centre
• Khorfakkan Specialised Dental Centre
• Sharjah Public Health Centre
• Khorfakkan Public Health Centre
• Kalba Public Health Centre
• Public Health Centre, Dibba Al Hisn
• Public Health Centre, Al Dhaid
• Al Khalidiyeh Health Centre
• Al Riqa Health Centre
• Shees Health Centre
• Al Thameed Health Centre
• Al Batayih Health Centre
• Al Nahwa Health Centre
• Nazwa Health Centre
• Al Maliha Health Centre
• Al Hamryeh Health Centre
• Al Qarain Health Centre
• Alriffa Health Centre
• Al Madam Health Centre
• Abu Mousa Health Centre

Ajman

• Mushairif Medical Examination Centre
• Al Nuaimiya Medical Examination Centre
• Mushairef Health Centre
• Al Manama Health Centre
• Muzeirah Health Centre
• Ajman Specialised Dental Centre
• Ajman Public Health Centre
• Al Madina Health Centre
• Al Hamidiya Health Centre

Ras Al Khaimah

Hospitals

• Saqar Hospital
• Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital
• Obaid Allah Geriatric Hospital
• Abdullah Bin Omran Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Shaam Hospital

Primary healthcare centres

• Dahan Medical Examination Centre
• RAKEZ Medical Examination Centre
• Ras Al Khaimah Health Centre
• Wadi Esfini Health Centre
• Al Rams Health Centre
• Abdullah Bin Ali Al Sharhan Health Centre
• Almeirad Health Centre
• Aljazerah Health Centre
• RAK Specialised Dental Centre
• Kadra Health Centre
• Ras Al Khaimah Public Health Centre
• Shawa Health Centre
• Saif Bin Ali Health Centre
• Al Khat Health Centre
• Alhamranih Health Centre
• Al Jeer Health Centre
• Al Nakheel Health Centre
• Digdagah Health Centre
• Julphar Health Centre
• Almanaie Health Centre
• Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine Centre

Umm Al Quwain

• Umm Al Quwain Hospital
• Almadar Medical Examination Centre for Residency
• Al Khazan Health Centre
• Al Salama Health Centre
• Al Rafa Primary Health Care Centre
• Umm Al Quwain Dental Centre
• Umm Al Quwain Public Health Centre

Fujairah

Hospitals

• Fujairah Hospital
• Dibba Al Fujairah Hospital

Primary healthcare centres

• Mina Tower Medical Examination Centre
• Al Amal Medical Examination Centre
• Al Qurayyah Health Centre
• Murishid Health Centre
• Murbeh Health Centre
• Qidfa Health Centre
• Tawain Health Centre
• Al Halah Health Centre
• Dhadna Health Centre
• Fujairah Specialised Dental Centre
• Fujairah Public Health Centre

How Long Does It Take to Get an EHS Health Card?

For standard applications, the card is typically active and linked to your Emirates ID as soon as payment is confirmed. For People of Determination applications, expect 7 to 30 days, since a medical committee review is required first.

EHS has also been actively reducing wait times and expanding appointment access across its facilities more broadly, as part of the UAE’s Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, so service speed at EHS facilities generally has been improving.

Updates Section

Last verified: July 2026. Reflects EHS’s current published fee schedule and eligibility categories, and a reported change moving People of Determination card issuance to the Ministry of Community Development.

Conclusion

Applying for an EHS Health Card in the UAE is straightforward once you know your eligibility, required documents, and fees. Whether you’re a UAE citizen, GCC national, expatriate resident, or visitor, the card provides discounted access to Emirates Health Services hospitals and health centres across the country.

If you’re applying for a Person of Determination specifically, confirm the current application channel first, since this process has reportedly moved to a different ministry. For everything else related to your private cover, our guides on health insurance for Golden Visa UAE and health insurance for a sponsored parent cover those specific categories, and the rest of our health and insurance coverage can help you build the fuller picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does the EHS Health Card cost? 

A: AED 20 for UAE and GCC citizens (5-year validity), AED 100 for expatriate residents (1-year validity), and AED 50 for People of Determination, plus an AED 15 Smart Application Fee on all categories.

Q: Is the EHS Health Card the same as health insurance? 

A: No. The health card gives discounted access to government healthcare facilities. Health insurance gives access to a private hospital network. Having both provides the most flexibility.

Q: How much do I save with an EHS Health Card? 

A: Cardholders avoid an additional 20% service charge that non-cardholders pay at EHS facilities, on top of the standard treatment costs.

Q: Who can apply for an EHS Health Card? 

A: UAE citizens, GCC citizens (residents and visitors), expatriate residents and visitors, and People of Determination, through a separate application track.

Q: How long is the EHS Health Card valid? 

A: 5 years for UAE and GCC nationals, 1 year for expatriate residents, 3 months for expatriate visitors, and 1 year for People of Determination.

Q: Can I apply for an EHS Health Card without an Emirates ID? 

A: No, a valid Emirates ID is required for all standard applications, and the card is linked directly to it once issued.

Q: Has anything changed recently for the People of Determination Health Card? 

A: Yes, reported guidance indicates this application has moved to the Ministry of Community Development. Confirm the current process before applying.

Q: Where can I use my UAE health card in Dubai? 

A: At EHS-operated facilities including Al Kuwait Hospital, Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, and Dubai Public Health Centre, among others across the emirate.

References

1. Emirates Health Services (EHS), Issue of a Health Card
2. Emirates Health Services (EHS), Issue of a Health Card for People of Determination
3. Emirates Health Services (EHS), Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme announcement