ILOE insurance explained: what it is, who must subscribe, cost and how to claim
ILOE (Involuntary Loss of Employment) insurance in the UAE: who must subscribe, the five exempt groups, Category A and B premiums and benefit caps from iloe.ae, how to subscribe and pay, the AED 400 fines published on u.ae, and the conditions for a claim.
The short answer
ILOE stands for Involuntary Loss of Employment. It is the UAE's mandatory unemployment insurance for Emiratis and residents working in the private sector and the federal government. You pay AED 5 or AED 10 a month plus VAT, and if you lose your job for a reason other than resignation or a disciplinary dismissal, the scheme pays up to 60% of your average basic salary for up to three months. Subscribe on iloe.ae or the ILOE app with your Emirates ID and a UAE mobile number.
Key facts
- Category A
- Basic salary AED 16,000 or below: AED 5 + VAT per month; benefit up to AED 10,000 per month (iloe.ae)
- Category B
- Basic salary above AED 16,000: AED 10 + VAT per month; benefit up to AED 20,000 per month (iloe.ae)
- Benefit
- 60% of average basic salary over the six months before job loss, for up to three consecutive months per claim
- Lifetime cap
- 12 monthly payments across your whole working life in the UAE (iloe.ae)
- Fines
- AED 400 for not subscribing; AED 400 for not paying premiums (u.ae)
- Claim deadline
- Within 30 days of the termination date, after 12 consecutive months of premiums
Who has to subscribe
iloe.ae and u.ae say subscription is mandatory for employees in the private sector and the federal government. Five groups are exempt:
- investors who own the company they work in
- domestic workers
- employees on temporary contracts
- anyone under 18
- retirees who receive a pension and have taken a new job
How to subscribe to ILOE
- Go to iloe.ae and press Subscribe, or open the ILOE mobile app. These two direct channels carry no extra charge.
- Choose your sector (private or federal government).
- Enter your Emirates ID or unified number and your UAE mobile number, then confirm the OTP.
- Pick your plan. Category A if your basic salary is AED 16,000 or below, Category B if it is above.
- Choose the payment frequency: monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly in full. VAT for the whole policy is added to the first payment.
- Pay and save the certificate of insurance.
You can also pay through Al Ansari Exchange, Tasheel and Tawjeeh centres, UPAY and MBME kiosks, C3Pay, Botim, or by SMS ("ID" followed by your Emirates ID number to 2120). iloe.ae says these other channels may add a service charge.
If the portal cannot find your record, iloe.ae tells private-sector employees to raise a technical support ticket with MOHRE and federal employees to contact their HR department.
What you need
- Emirates ID number or unified number
- A valid UAE mobile number
- Your basic salary figure from your contract, to pick the category
- A payment card, or cash at an exchange house or kiosk
Official fees and benefits
- Benefit: 60% of the average basic salary over the six months before job loss, for up to three consecutive months per claim (iloe.ae).
- Lifetime cap: 12 monthly payments in total across your whole working life in the UAE (iloe.ae).
- Fine for not subscribing: AED 400. Fine for not paying premiums: AED 400 (u.ae).
- Employers pay nothing toward the premium (MOHRE).
| Category | Basic salary | Premium | Benefit cap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | AED 16,000 or below | AED 5 + VAT per month | Up to AED 10,000 per month | iloe.ae |
| B | Above AED 16,000 | AED 10 + VAT per month | Up to AED 20,000 per month | iloe.ae |
How to claim
- Submit the claim within 30 days of the termination date, on the ILOE portal, the ILOE app or by calling 600 599 555.
- Show you had paid premiums for at least 12 consecutive months and that the policy was never lapsed for more than three months.
- Confirm the job loss was not a resignation or a disciplinary dismissal, that no absconding complaint is open against you, and that you are in the UAE.
- u.ae says the provider reviews the claim and pays within two weeks of submission. Payments stop if you start a new job during the benefit period.
Any "starting from" figure is an indicative price for our service and excludes government and third-party fees, which vary by activity, visa count and jurisdiction. Government fees shown are official charges from the cited pages at the review date. Your exact, itemised quote is confirmed free of charge in a consultation, with nothing hidden.
Frequently asked questions
Is ILOE the same as health insurance?
No. ILOE covers income loss after termination. Health cover is separate and comes from your employer or your own policy.
What happens if I miss payments?
If premiums are unpaid for more than three months past their due date, the policy is cancelled and a fine applies. You then need a brand-new policy, and the 12-month qualifying period restarts.
Can I claim if I resigned?
No. Resignation and dismissal for disciplinary reasons are both excluded.
How do I check that my policy is active?
Log in to iloe.ae or the app, choose your sector, enter your Emirates ID and mobile number, request the OTP and open View Policy Details.
Does my employer pay for ILOE?
MOHRE's guide says no costs or fees are required from employers. The premium is yours, though some employers pay it as a benefit.
Official sources and review
The rules on this page were checked against the official pages below. We re-check every 60 days and after any announced change.
- ILOEScheme overview, plans and channelsChecked 17 October 2026
- ILOEFAQChecked 17 October 2026
- ILOEEnglish flyer (documents and payment options)Checked 17 October 2026
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)Insurance against job loss (updated 8 Dec 2025)Checked 17 October 2026
- MOHREHow to subscribe to the Unemployment Insurance Scheme (PDF)Checked 17 October 2026
Government fees, thresholds and processing times change without notice. Where an official page does not state a figure, we say so rather than estimate. Nothing here is legal advice or a decision of any UAE authority.
Immigration UAE is a brand of Cosmos Immigration, a private immigration and business-services consultancy. It is not affiliated with the Government of the UAE, ICP, GDRFA, MOHRE or any UAE government authority.
Need help with the next step?
If your employment ended and you also need to sort out the visa, grace period or a change of status, tell us your dates and we will say which application comes first.
No private firm can guarantee the outcome of a UAE visa, residency or licensing application. Decisions rest solely with the relevant UAE authority.