Dubai court orders delivery firm to pay Dhs172,985 hospital bill for uninsured employee

Dubai Civil Court has ordered a delivery services company to pay Dhs172,985 to a hospital in Dubai, as the cost of treating one of its employees who was admitted to the hospital in an emergency state after suffering from epileptic seizures, after it was found that they were not covered by health insurance at the time of admission, while the court cleared the insurance company, the employee, and the individual who pledged payment from the claim.

The details of the case date back to the time when a delivery employee entered the hospital emergency room in March 2025, after suffering from epileptic seizures and an altered level of consciousness, and his treatment inside the hospital lasted for 22 days, with the value of the medical services provided reaching Dhs172,985.

The hospital filed a lawsuit to claim the amount, naming the employee and another person who had signed a pledge to pay the treatment costs, in addition to the company where the employee worked.

The owner of the delivery company argued that the employee was covered by health insurance, while the court joined the insurance company to the lawsuit.

After appointing an insurance expert, it was revealed that the previous group insurance policy of the employer, which was valid at the time the employee entered the hospital, did not include the employee among the insured persons, while his name was included in the new policy which was put into effect in December 2025, after the incident.

The court emphasised that the health insurance law in Dubai obligates the employer to bear the cost of health services and medical intervention in emergency cases for their employees if they are not covered by health insurance, until the danger to the patient is removed.

Consequently, the court ordered the delivery services company to pay Dhs172,985 to the hospital, with 5% annual interest from the date of the legal claim until full payment, in addition to fees, expenses, and attorney fees.

The court also ruled the lawsuit against the insurance company inadmissible for being filed against a party with no legal standing.