Hearing loss affects nearly 1 in 20 people in Dubai, yet many delay seeking treatment due to cost, stigma, or lack of awareness. Though it’s commonly associated with aging, hearing loss can affect people of all ages and significantly impact communication, daily life, and mental well-being.
In this Pacific Prime Dubai article, we explore hearing loss causes, treatments like cochlear implants, and how to cover costs. Since basic plans often exclude hearing care, private or international health insurance can offer better coverage and financial peace of mind.
Hearing Loss in Dubai
An estimated 4.7% of people in the Middle East, including the UAE, live with moderate to complete hearing loss (≥35 dB), according to WHO data. That’s nearly 1 in 20 residents—underlining the importance of early detection, treatment options, and financial coverage.
There is said to be a stigma surrounding those suffering from hearing loss in the UAE. The anticipated judgment and potential ridicule that many Dubai residents feel they would face as a result of admitting to being hearing impaired are certainly strong motivators.
Globally, people wait an average of 7–10 years before seeking help for hearing loss due to stigma, cost, or lack of awareness. This trend is reflected in the UAE as well, where many delay treatment—risking worsened outcomes and reduced quality of life.
Those with sudden hearing loss often seek help right away, while those with gradual loss are more likely to delay treatment—further worsening their condition over time, especially when paired with stigma, cost concerns, or lack of awareness.
Delaying treatment for hearing loss—often for as long as 7 to 10 years—can lead to irreversible damage. On the other hand, those who seek help early often benefit from more effective treatment and better long-term outcomes.
Hearing problems rarely go away on their own. While some cases are due to minor issues like earwax or water buildup, many stem from more serious causes. Identifying the reason early is key to preventing further damage and ensuring proper treatment can begin without delay.
Treatment Options
Recent progress in Dubai’s hearing loss care is promising. The UAE’s Ministry of Health is negotiating with insurers to cover cochlear implants for hearing-impaired children. These surgical devices can restore hearing, offering life-changing opportunities for affected youngsters nationwide.
Normally, such implants can cost over AED 150,000. If successful, this arrangement would be available to mothers who do not have insurance. This is surely welcome news to some in the UAE, but what about older people who need treatment? Where can they turn for help in Dubai?
Never fear! There is perhaps no better place to seek out medical care in the Middle East than Dubai. Excellent doctors and hearing loss treatments can be found at a number of clinics across the Emirate, including:
Contacting any one of these facilities can get you started down the right path to hearing loss treatment, but there still remains the issue of cost. Again, the costs of treating hearing loss can be substantial, and beyond the ability of some to pay out of pocket. Can insurance address these costs?
Addressing Costs
Since 2014, Dubai’s Health Insurance Law mandates coverage for all residents, including specialist diagnostics and outpatient tests related to hearing loss. However, while some hearing treatments are included, the law has specific exclusions that affect what’s covered.
Hearing tests and hearing aids are generally excluded from coverage, except in medical emergencies. In such cases, hearing aids must be covered by insurers, but patients are responsible for a 20% co-insurance payment, making emergency coverage partial rather than full.
To be clear here, these requirements only stipulate the absolute minimum level of acceptable coverage that a health insurance plan in Dubai must provide. Plans that provide this low level of coverage in Dubai are known as Essential Benefits Plans.
So while the cheapest Essential Benefits Plans in the Emirate are unlikely to cover the diagnosis of hearing loss and the cost of hearing aids, there are certainly plans on the market that will provide such coverage, though the cost will likely be higher.
Another aspect of covering the costs of hearing loss to consider is pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are a common feature of health insurance policies that state that they will not provide benefits to cover certain conditions that were present in the policyholder prior to them purchasing the policy.
In other words, if you want to guarantee that an insurance policy covers any potential hearing loss that you may develop over time, you will need to have the plan in place prior to being diagnosed with it.
Thus, securing a private health insurance plan for purposes of having hearing loss covered should be done as soon as possible. If an insurance provider finds out that a policyholder was suffering from hearing loss prior to securing their policy, any such claims may be denied.
Contact Us
Hearing loss affects many people in Dubai, but advanced treatments offer hope even in severe cases. Accessing the best care often means higher costs, so securing comprehensive international health insurance is essential to protect against these expenses.
Finding the right individual health insurance for hearing loss coverage can be complex, as it’s not always a standard comparison criterion. That’s where experienced brokers like Pacific Prime Dubai come in—helping you navigate options to find plans with the best benefits tailored to your needs.
With over 25 years as a leading international health insurance broker, Pacific Prime partners with top insurers to provide unbiased advice and free plan comparisons. Contact us now to get started, and get a free quote!
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.