How to apply for UAE’s ILOE insurance, costs, benefits, renewal rules, and fine checks
Dubai: The UAE’s mandatory unemployment insurance scheme provides financial security to Emiratis and expatriates working in the private sector and federal government. Designed as a safety net for employees who lose their jobs due to termination, the scheme offers monthly compensation in exchange for a small insurance premium paid during employment.
Under Federal Decree Law No. 13 of 2022 on Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE), eligible employees can receive up to 60 per cent of their average basic salary from the past six months, with benefits capped at three consecutive months per claim. To qualify, workers must have paid their premiums for at least 12 consecutive months.
Introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) in 2022 and implemented in 2023, the ILOE unemployment insurance scheme is administered by the Insurance Pool, managed by Dubai Insurance, handling subscriptions and claims.
If you joined your job recently, you must subscribe to the job loss insurance scheme within four months. If you fail to enrol within the specified period you will incur a Dh400 fine.
Category A (basic Salary of AED 16,000 or Below)
Premium: Dh5 + VAT per month
Compensation: Up to Dh10,000 per month for up to three months per claim
Category B (basic salary above Dh16,000)
Premium: Dh10 + VAT per month
Compensation: Up to Dh20,000 per month for up to three months per claim
Employees can subscribe to the ILOE (unemployment insurance ) scheme through the official website www.iloe.ae or via the ILOE mobile app without incurring additional costs. Follow these steps to register:
Go to www.iloe.ae and click on the red ‘Subscribe Here’ button located in the centre of the homepage.
You will be redirected to the ILOE application portal. Under the ‘Individual’ category, choose whether you are a private sector or federal government employee.
To proceed, log in using your Emirates ID number or Unified Identification Number (UID). Enter your mobile number to receive a one-time password (OTP) for authentication.
Once logged in, the system will categorise you under either Category A or Category B based on your salary.
You can subscribe for one year or two years. If you choose a one-year subscription, you can pay:
Monthly
Quarterly
Semi-annually
Annually
The system will display details such as the start date, expiry date, insurance cost, and total premium payable based on your chosen plan.
Tick the box to accept the terms and conditions after reviewing the document.
Click ‘Pay Now’ and enter your email address (optional) to receive the insurance certificate.
You will be redirected to the secure online payment portal. Enter your credit card details and complete the transaction by verifying an OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
Once the payment is successful, you will receive a confirmation and an insurance certificate via email.
Alternatively, you can log in to your ILOE dashboard to download a PDF copy of your insurance certificate.
If you are unable to subscribe online, you can register for ILOE through the following channels:
Exchange Centres: Available at Al Ansari Exchange branches across the UAE (cash payments accepted).
MOHRE Business Centres: Registration is available through Tasheel and Tawjeeh centres.
SMS for e& (Etisalat) Customers: Send ID (Emirates ID number) to 2120 (e.g., ID 784XXXXXXXXXXXX to 2120).
Payment Kiosks: Available through Upay and MBME Pay machines located in supermarkets and malls.
It is essential to renew your ILOE insurance on time, as it must be paid every two years. If the premium remains unpaid beyond the three-month grace period, you will lose eligibility for unemployment benefits in the event of job loss. Additionally, your existing subscription will be cancelled, requiring you to register for a new policy. This impacts your eligibility for future compensation, as employees must maintain a continuous 12-month subscription to qualify for unemployment benefits.
If you have missed your renewal payment, you may need to check whether you have incurred any fines. You can do this via the ILOE Quick Pay website, established by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). To check for fines, visit the MOHRE website at www.mohre.gov.ae, navigate to ‘Services’, and select ‘ILOE Quick Pay’. Click here for a detailed guide.
This article was originally published on September 26, 2023 and has been updated since.
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