Delivery Firm Ordered to Pay Dh172,985 for Uninsured Employee’s Treatment Bill

The Dubai Civil Court has ordered a delivery services company to pay Dh172,985 to a Dubai hospital for treating an employee who was admitted in an emergency after suffering epileptic seizures and an altered level of consciousness.

 

The court found that the employee was not covered by health insurance when he was admitted, making the employer responsible for the cost of his emergency treatment. It dismissed claims against the insurance company, the employee and another individual who had pledged to pay the medical expenses.

 

The case dates back to March 2025, when the delivery worker was taken to the hospital’s emergency department after suffering epileptic seizures and a reduced level of consciousness. He remained under treatment for 22 days, during which the hospital provided medical services valued at Dh172,985.

 

The hospital subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking payment of the outstanding medical bill. It named the employee, another individual who had signed a pledge to cover the treatment costs, and the company that employed the worker as defendants.

 

The owner of the delivery company argued that the employee had health insurance coverage. The court subsequently joined the insurer to the proceedings to determine whether the policy covered the treatment.

 

An insurance expert was appointed to examine the relevant policies and establish the employee’s insurance status at the time of his admission.

 

The expert found that the employer’s previous group health insurance policy, which was valid when the employee was admitted in March 2025, did not list him among the insured persons. His name appeared only under a new policy that came into effect in December 2025, several months after the hospitalisation.

 

The court held that Dubai’s health insurance regulations require employers to bear the cost of emergency healthcare and medical intervention for employees who do not have valid health insurance coverage, at least until the immediate danger to the patient has been removed.

 

On that basis, the court ordered the delivery services company to pay the hospital Dh172,985, together with annual interest of 5% from the date the legal claim was filed until the amount is paid in full. The company was also ordered to pay court fees, expenses and attorney fees.

 

The court, however, ruled that the claim against the insurance company was inadmissible because it had been brought against a party that had no legal standing in relation to the disputed medical expenses.

 

The ruling highlights the importance for employers in Dubai of ensuring that employees are properly enrolled in health insurance schemes and that coverage is active when medical treatment is required. It also underlines the potential financial consequences for employers when employees receive emergency care without valid insurance protection.