A major new UAE healthcare policy direction could have significant implications for orthotic service providers, rehabilitation centres and patients requiring braces, splints, insoles, spinal orthoses, paediatric orthoses and other assistive devices.
On 19 May 2026, UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan directed the adoption of a comprehensive national health insurance system covering all emirates. The official announcement describes the move as part of a national healthcare model intended to guarantee comprehensive medical care and health services for all citizens.
The policy is underpinned by a fully integrated national health insurance scheme across the UAE. It is intended to support universal access to high-quality healthcare for citizens, strengthen preventive care, advance digital transformation, improve public health, encourage innovation and support the long-term sustainability of health services.
For the orthotic and wider rehabilitation sector, the announcement is potentially important because the UAE has historically had different healthcare access and reimbursement models across emirates. Abu Dhabi has had a more structured insurance and public-sector healthcare environment, including the Thiqa programme for UAE nationals and extensive SEHA-linked services. Other emirates have had different levels of access, referral pathways and reimbursement consistency.
If the new national model moves the country closer to Abu Dhabi-style coverage across all emirates, orthotic providers could see a major change in how services are accessed, authorised and paid for. Patients in the Northern Emirates, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah may have more consistent routes to funded orthotic care, rather than depending on local arrangements, private payment, charitable support or emirate-specific pathways.
This could be particularly important for people requiring long-term orthotic management. Orthotic care is rarely a one-off transaction. Children with cerebral palsy may need repeated AFO reviews and replacement as they grow. Adults with stroke, spinal cord injury or neurological conditions may need KAFOs, AFOs, footwear modifications or upper-limb splints. People with scoliosis may require spinal orthoses and regular follow-up. Patients with diabetic foot risk may need custom insoles, protective footwear and ongoing monitoring.
A national insurance approach could therefore help shift orthotics from a fragmented device-purchasing model toward a more structured healthcare service model. That would be a positive development if reimbursement recognises not only the product, but also assessment, casting or scanning, clinical design, fitting, review, adjustment and outcome monitoring.
One possible outcome is that Abu Dhabi reimbursement practices, including coverage through public and contracted provider networks, may become a reference point for the wider country. Abu Dhabi’s Thiqa system already includes benefits such as medical appliances and equipment, physiotherapy and rehabilitation. If similar categories are harmonised nationally, orthotic providers could have clearer routes for authorisation and payment.
Another possible implication is the expansion of SEHA-style public-sector pathways across the UAE. SEHA already operates a major Abu Dhabi public healthcare network. If national policy leads to stronger federal integration or broader public-network access, orthotic and rehabilitation services may increasingly need to align with national referral systems, digital records, approved provider networks and standardised documentation requirements.
However, providers should be cautious. The official announcement confirms the national direction, but detailed implementation rules, benefit schedules, provider contracting mechanisms, tariff structures and device coverage policies have not yet been fully published. It is not yet clear whether orthoses will be reimbursed under medical appliances, rehabilitation, durable medical equipment, outpatient care, hospital-based services or a separate assistive technology category.
For orthotic service providers, this is the moment to prepare. Clinics and suppliers should review their documentation, clinical pathways, coding systems, outcome measures and referral relationships. Stronger national insurance coverage is likely to come with stronger requirements for evidence, pre-authorisation, medical necessity and audit readiness.
Providers may need to clearly document diagnosis, functional limitation, orthotic prescription, device specification, expected clinical benefit, fitting process and follow-up plan. For complex devices, such as KAFOs, spinal braces, stance-control systems or paediatric orthoses, this documentation will be essential to justify reimbursement and demonstrate value.
There may also be pricing implications. A national system could create more consistent tariffs, reduce variation between emirates and encourage standardised procurement. This could benefit patients and payers, but may also place pressure on providers to justify custom work, imported components, specialist materials and clinical time.
For the O&P profession, one of the biggest opportunities is to advocate early for orthotic care to be recognised as a clinical service, not simply as the sale of a brace. A well-designed orthosis can prevent deformity, improve gait, reduce falls, protect the diabetic foot, support rehabilitation, delay surgery and improve independence. These outcomes have economic value for the wider health system.
The policy also fits with the UAE’s broader healthcare direction: prevention, digital transformation and long-term sustainability. Orthotic care can support all three. Preventive diabetic footwear and insoles can reduce the risk of ulceration. Digital scanning and CAD workflows can improve efficiency and traceability. Early orthotic intervention can reduce complications and support long-term function.
For patients, the most positive scenario would be a more equal system in which access to orthotic care does not depend heavily on where a citizen lives. A child in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain with cerebral palsy should have a clear pathway to assessment, orthotic fitting and follow-up, just as a child in Abu Dhabi would. The same should apply to adults recovering from stroke, people with diabetic foot risk and patients requiring spinal support.
For providers, the change could expand demand but also raise expectations. Orthotic clinics may need to invest in quality systems, electronic records, multidisciplinary communication, outcome tracking and payer-facing documentation. Suppliers may need to ensure product registration, traceability, warranty support and reliable after-sales service.
The UAE’s new national health insurance direction should therefore be viewed as a strategic turning point for the orthotic sector. If implemented with proper recognition of rehabilitation and assistive technology, it could create a more consistent, equitable and sustainable market for orthotic services across all emirates.
For IMEA CPO readers, the key issue to watch is not simply whether health insurance becomes national. It is whether the final benefit design properly includes orthoses, prostheses, rehabilitation, assistive devices and long-term follow-up. That detail will determine whether the policy becomes a true access breakthrough for patients and a professional opportunity for O&P providers.
Practical Implications for Orthotic Providers
Orthotic service providers in the UAE should begin preparing for a more standardised national reimbursement environment by focusing on:
- Clear clinical documentation and medical necessity reporting
- Strong referral relationships with physicians, physiotherapists and rehabilitation teams
- Device-specific quotations that separate clinical service, components and follow-up
- Outcome measures for mobility, pain, skin protection, function and compliance
- Audit-ready records for casting, scanning, fitting, adjustment and delivery
- Awareness of Thiqa, Daman, SEHA and future national insurance requirements
- Stronger internal quality systems and after-sales service processes
- Official UAE National Media Office announcement
- WAM report on the UAE national health insurance direction
- Thiqa Programme
- Thiqa Benefits
- SEHA Insurance Partners
- UAE Government portal – Health insurance
- World Health Organization – Rehabilitation