What is a Certificate of Continuity in UAE health insurance?

A Certificate of Continuity (often abbreviated COC) is a document from your previous or current insurer confirming that you held continuous health cover for a stated period without a gap. In the UAE it matters most when you change insurers, because it can help carry over recognition of pre-existing conditions and avoid being treated as a brand-new applicant subject to fresh waiting periods. The certificate typically names the insured members, the policy start and end dates, and confirms there was no break in cover. To obtain it, contact your existing insurer or broker and request continuity documentation in writing before your old policy lapses. Health insurance in the Emirates is overseen at federal level by the Central Bank of the UAE for insurer conduct, alongside health authorities such as the Dubai Health Authority and the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi for mandatory cover rules. If an insurer refuses to issue continuity proof you are entitled to, raise a formal complaint with the insurer first, then escalate to the regulator. For a disputed claim tied to continuity, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.