What Thiqa does

Thiqa is a government-mandated comprehensive healthcare programme established by the Government of Abu Dhabi in 2008 and administered by Daman (National Health Insurance Company). It provides full medical coverage to UAE Nationals and their eligible dependents residing in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, with no annual benefit limit and including worldwide emergency treatment. Members access the program through a network of 2000+ hospitals, health centres, clinics, and pharmacies across the Emirate, with additional digital access via the Thiqa mobile app (iOS and Android), the Hayakom virtual branch, a 24/7 contact centre, and three physical branches in Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain, and Madinat Zayed. As of 2024, the program serves 1 Million+ members.

The underlying technology is a digital health insurance platform comprising a member-facing mobile app and web portal, a provider portal, and a virtual assistant chatbot ("Dana") for customer service interactions. The product portfolio centres on the Thiqa Programme as the core insurance product, extended by IFHAS (Integrated Flexible and Holistic Approach to Screening) preventive health checks delivered through approved partners including SEHA, M42, NMC, Mediclinic, and Burjeel, plus supplementary offerings such as Thiqa Top-ups, Domestic Helpers Insurance, and Musafer emergency travel insurance. Community engagement products include Daman Heroes and sponsorship of the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club under the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

The business model is government-funded for the base programme, which is provided free of charge to eligible members. Supplementary products generate incremental, likely modest, revenue through Daman Health. Distribution is omnichannel: digital self-service for individual members, the Hayakom virtual branch, three physical branches, and a dedicated provider portal for healthcare providers. Marketing is primarily digital (website, app, content marketing, news and events pages) supplemented by community and sports sponsorships. The Thiqa entity itself reports 1-10 employees, indicating that operational scale and staff reside within Daman rather than the Thiqa programme entity.

Name

Thiqa

Legal name

Daman (National Health Insurance Company)

Website

https://thiqa.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thiqa is a government-mandated healthcare programme established in 2008 by the Government of Abu Dhabi and administered by Daman, providing comprehensive medical coverage to 1M+ UAE Nationals and eligible dependents through a 2000+ provider network and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Health Insurance

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)

akta.pro primary industry

Medicaid Managed Care HMOs (HLAEAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medicare Advantage HMOs (HMO/HMO-POS) (HLAEAMAH), Group HMO Plans (FSAIAFAK)

Keywords

• Government health insurance
• UAE nationals coverage
• Healthcare provider network
• Health screening program
• Emergency travel insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Healthcare Program: Thiqa is a government healthcare program for UAE Nationals funded by the Abu Dhabi government. The program is provided free of charge to eligible members.
2. Thiqa Top-up Plans: Supplementary insurance plans for Thiqa members who wish to enhance their coverage beyond the basic Thiqa benefits. Sold through Daman Health.
3. Musafer Travel Insurance: Emergency travel insurance for UAE Nationals covering medical emergencies abroad. Offered as an extension to Thiqa coverage.
4. Domestic Helpers Insurance: Health insurance plans for domestic workers of Thiqa members, available at affordable rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Thiqa is a government-mandated comprehensive healthcare programme offered by the Government of Abu Dhabi to UAE Nationals and those of similar status. Administered by Daman (National Health Insurance Company), the programme provides full medical coverage across the broadest network of hospitals, health centres, clinics, and pharmacies in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, with 24/7 digital service access. Supplementary offerings include IFHAS health screening, Musafer emergency travel insurance, Thiqa Top-ups, and Domestic Helpers Insurance.

Product overview

Thiqa is a unified comprehensive healthcare programme administered by Daman since 2008. The offering centres on the Thiqa Programme core product, which provides medical coverage to UAE Nationals through a broad network in Abu Dhabi. Access channels include the Thiqa App (mobile), Hayakom Smart Branch (virtual), and physical branches. Supplementary offerings include IFHAS health screening, Musafer travel insurance, Thiqa Top-ups, and Domestic Helpers Insurance. Community engagement products include Daman Heroes fitness initiative and Abu Dhabi Cycling Club partnership. The portfolio functions as an integrated government-sponsored healthcare ecosystem rather than a modular platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Daman Heroes: A free online community volunteer programme dedicated to getting local communities physically active through fitness videos and workouts.
• IFHAS
• Musafer
• Hayakom

Products and services

• Thiqa Programme A comprehensive government healthcare programme offered by the Abu Dhabi government to UAE Nationals and those of similar status, providing full medical coverage across the broadest network of hospitals, health centres, clinics, and pharmacies in Abu Dhabi with 24/7 digital service access.
• IFHAS Programme An integrated comprehensive periodic screening programme for Thiqa card holders aged 18 and above, supporting early detection of non-communicable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Conducted through approved health centre partners including SEHA, M42, NMC, Mediclinic, and Burjeel.
• Musafer Emergency Travel Insurance Emergency travel insurance programme for UAE Nationals providing access to emergency medical services worldwide. Purchased as an extension to Thiqa coverage for travel outside the UAE, with international emergency assistance available via dedicated phone line.
• Thiqa Top-ups Supplementary insurance plans available to Thiqa members for enhanced coverage beyond the base Thiqa programme benefits. Sold through Daman Health on an annual subscription basis.
• Domestic Helpers Insurance Health insurance plans for domestic workers of Thiqa members, available at affordable rates to ensure low-income household members are covered. Sold through Daman Health on an annual subscription basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 Million+ members served
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Abu Dhabi Sports CouncilminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2017Abu Dhabi Cycling Club operates under the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. Thiqa/Daman sponsors cycling events and community fitness initiatives. The club organizes around 80 events per year with 791+ participants.
• Daman (National Health Insurance Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaman has managed the Thiqa Programme since 2008, providing operational management, digital services, claims processing, and customer service. Daman is the leading health insurance provider in the UAE.
• SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEHA operates approved health centres for IFHAS health screening program. Members can book appointments at SEHA facilities for comprehensive periodic health screenings.
• M42coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerM42 (formerly Mubadala Health) provides health screening services through its network of facilities for IFHAS program participants. Partners include various healthcare providers under the M42 umbrella.
• NMC HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMC Healthcare is an approved health centre partner for the IFHAS screening program, providing comprehensive health check-up services for Thiqa members.
• MedicliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMediclinic is an approved healthcare provider for IFHAS screening services, offering health screening appointments for Thiqa card holders.
• Burjeel HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurjeel Holdings provides health screening services as an approved partner for the IFHAS program, offering comprehensive health check-ups at their facilities.
• Musafer (Emergency Travel Insurance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusafer is a travel insurance program for UAE Nationals providing emergency medical coverage abroad. Offered as an extension to Thiqa coverage for members traveling outside the UAE.
• International Emergency Assistance ProvidercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational emergency assistance partner providing medical emergency services for Thiqa members abroad. Members can call +971-42781335 for emergency assistance while traveling.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Daman (National Health Insurance Company): Operating parent and administrator of Thiqa since 2008; the same entity offers commercial health plans on DamanHealth.ae. Thiqa is essentially Daman's government segment, making Daman the closest functional peer and parent.
• AXA Insurance Gulf: Major international health and general insurer operating across the UAE and GCC, offering employer-sponsored and individual health plans that directly compete with Thiqa top-ups and supplementary products.
• Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC): UAE-headquartered composite insurer with a meaningful health insurance book in Abu Dhabi; competes with Daman for group, individual, and top-up health business in the same geographic market.
• Now Health International: International health insurer with UAE operations (Now Health International - Dubai) offering individual and SME plans; competes for the UAE expatriate and top-up segment adjacent to Thiqa members.

Broad incumbents

• Bupa Arabia: Leading specialist health insurer in Saudi Arabia with comparable cooperative-style health products; regionally analogous in target customer (national/resident populations) and integrated provider network model.
• Medgulf (Tawuniya-aligned Middle East insurer): Established GCC health insurer offering group and individual medical products; comparable in network-based health insurance delivery across the Middle East.
• Oman Insurance Company (Batina Group): One of the largest UAE-listed composite insurers providing health products alongside general insurance; comparable as a regional incumbent with government and corporate health contracts.

Regional players

• Qatar Insurance Company (QIC): Large GCC-headquartered insurer with significant health and group medical books across the Gulf; relevant peer for understanding health insurance scale economics in GCC markets.
• Emirates Insurance Association / DHA (Dubai Health Authority): Dubai operates its own mandatory health insurance scheme (mandated by DHA); Thiqa's mandate in Abu Dhabi is the structural equivalent in the neighbouring emirate, making DHA a comparison point for regulated health scheme execution.

Others

• SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company): Public operator of hospitals and clinics in Abu Dhabi and a Thiqa strategic partner; comparable as the provider-side counterpart delivering care funded by Thiqa membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DamanHeroes
• Xx.com/damaninsurance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thiqa