Zora Health / Employer guide / Middle East and Africa
Compare menopause support for employees across 19 markets in the Middle East and Africa.
Public cover, sick pay and workplace rules for menopause differ from one market to the next. This page puts the main points from each of Zora’s country guides side by side, so you can see where employees carry the most cost and where the rules are changing. Each country guide has the full detail and sources.
Overview
| Country | Medical cost trend, 2026 | Workplace rules covered in the guide |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 11.0% (UAE figure) | Sick leave (Applies now); Non-discrimination (Applies now); Flexible and remote work (Applies now); Health insurance (Applies now); Abu Dhabi government employees (Since 2025) |
| Bahrain | 7.5% | Sick leave (Applies now); Equal pay (Since 2021); Mandatory health insurance (Coming) |
| Dubai | 11.0% (UAE figure) | Sick leave (Applies now); Non-discrimination (Applies now); Flexible and remote work (Applies now); Dubai Essential Benefits Plan (Since 1 January 2025); Dubai Government wellbeing (Since August 2026) |
| Egypt | Not in Aon’s report | Labour Law 14 of 2025 (In force since 1 September 2025); Sick leave (Applies now); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Ghana | 21.6% | Protection from dismissal (Applies now); Equal treatment (Applies now); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Israel | 10.0% | Equal opportunities (Applies now); Sick pay (Applies now); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Jordan | 15.0% | Sick leave (Applies now); Flexible work (Since 2024); Equal treatment (Since 2023) |
| Kenya | 13.5% | Sick leave (Applies now); Equal treatment (Applies now); Social Health Insurance Fund (Since 1 October 2024); Standard Chartered (Employer example) |
| Kuwait | 7.5% | Sick leave (Applies now); Expatriate health insurance fee (From 23 December 2025); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Lebanon | 35.0% | Sick leave (Applies now); Equal working conditions (Applies now); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Mauritius | 12.0% | Sick leave (Applies now); Menstrual leave (From 13 August 2026); Flexitime and equal treatment (Applies now) |
| Morocco | Not in Aon’s report | Sick leave (Applies now); Equal treatment (Applies now); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Nigeria | 43.0% | Sick leave (Applies now); National Health Insurance Authority Act (Since 2022); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Oman | Not in Aon’s report | Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023) (Since 2023); Sick leave insurance for non-Omanis (From 19 July 2026); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Qatar | 10.0% | Sick leave (Applies now); Mandatory health insurance (Since May 2022); Specialist menopause clinic (Since October 2022); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Saudi Arabia | 8.0% | Act on the 2025 labour law amendments (Meet new expectations); Sick leave (Applies now); Equal opportunity (Since 18 February 2025); Mandatory health insurance (Applies now); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| South Africa | 9.5% | Sick leave (Applies now); Employment Equity Act (Applies now); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| Turkey | 45.0% | Equal treatment (Applies now); Sickness benefit (Applies now); No menopause workplace rules (Guidance) |
| UAE | 11.0% | Sick leave (Applies now); Non-discrimination (Applies now); Flexible and remote work (Applies now); Employer health insurance (Applies now); National women’s health policy (In development) |
Public cover and costs by country
Each card shows what public cover or mandatory insurance pays for and what the employee still carries, as set out in that country’s guide.
Middle East and Africa
Abu Dhabi
- UAE nationals. Thiqa gives full coverage, subject to Weqaya screening for citizens aged 18 to 75. Employee still carries: little out-of-pocket cost for covered care.
- Expatriate employees. Employer-provided insurance for employees, one spouse and up to three children under 18. Employee still carries: cover for menopause care and hormone therapy depends on the plan.
- Dedicated menopause clinics. Seha, M42 and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City offer menopause or perimenopause services. Employee still carries: fees depend on the provider and plan.
- Time off for appointments. Up to 90 days of sick leave a year: 15 at full pay, 30 at half pay. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Bahrain
- Mandatory health insurance (Sehati). Private sector employers will be required to insure employees once an official decision sets the start date. Employee still carries: depends on the employer’s plan until then.
- Private specialist care. Through employer group insurance, where offered. Employee still carries: fees not covered by the plan.
- Time off for appointments. 55 days of sick leave a year: 15 at full pay, 20 at half pay, 20 unpaid. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Dubai
- GP or specialist visit under the basic plan. Covered with 20% co-insurance; no co-insurance on a follow-up within 7 days. Employee still carries: menopause care is not named in the plan.
- Medicines under the basic plan. Covered at 30% co-insurance, up to AED 2,500 a year, formulary only. Employee still carries: hormone therapy outside the formulary is paid by the employee.
- Hormone tests and treatment. Often not covered by insurance plans, according to a UAE gynaecologist. Employee still carries: paid by the employee where not covered.
- Time off for appointments. Up to 90 days of sick leave a year: 15 at full pay, 30 at half pay. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Egypt
- Universal Health Insurance (Law 2 of 2018). Covers care in the governorates where it has launched. Employers pay 4% of insured salary. Employee still carries: private fees where the scheme is not yet in place.
- Where the scheme is live. Phase 1: Port Said, Ismailia, Luxor, Suez, South Sinai and Aswan. Employee still carries: no confirmed start date for phase 2.
- Time off for appointments. Sick leave with medical approval: 100% pay for 3 months, 85% for the next 6, 75% for the next 3. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Ghana
- NHIS. Funded partly by a VAT levy and 2.5 percentage points of SSNIT contributions; SSNIT contributors pay no premium. Employee still carries: care outside the NHIS benefit package.
- Private specialist care. Through employer health insurance, where offered. Employee still carries: fees not covered by the plan.
- Time off for appointments. Certified sick absence does not count against annual leave. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Israel
- Health insurance contribution. Paid by the employee only: 3.23% on wages up to NIS 7,703 a month and 5.17% above that, up to NIS 51,910. Employee still carries: health fund co-payments and supplementary plans.
- Time off for appointments. Sick pay accrues at 1.5 days a month, up to 90 days. Employee still carries: day 1 unpaid, days 2 and 3 at 50%, full pay from day 4.
Middle East and Africa
Jordan
- Social Security health insurance. A planned scheme for private-sector workers was postponed in 2024 until further notice. Employee still carries: care through group insurance or out of pocket.
- Private specialist care. Through employer group insurance, where offered. Employee still carries: fees not covered by the plan.
- Time off for appointments. 14 days of sick leave a year on full pay, plus 14 more if hospitalised. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Kenya
- Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Replaced NHIF from 1 October 2024; salaried employees contribute 2.75% of gross salary, minimum KES 300 a month. Employee still carries: care outside the SHIF package.
- Out-of-pocket costs. About 24% of health spending was paid directly by patients in 2023. Employee still carries: consultations, tests and medicines not covered.
- Time off for appointments. Up to 14 days of paid sick leave a year after two months’ service: 7 at full pay, 7 at half pay. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Kuwait
- Government health insurance for expatriates. KWD 100 a year from 23 December 2025, up from KWD 50 for workers. Employee still carries: the fee, paid by the sponsor, plus private care outside the scheme.
- Private specialist care. Usually through employer group insurance. Employee still carries: fees not covered by the plan.
- Time off for appointments. Up to 75 days of sick leave a year: 15 days full pay, then 75%, 50% and 25%, then unpaid. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Lebanon
- NSSF sickness and maternity contributions. Employer pays 8% of salary up to a monthly ceiling. Employee still carries: employee pays 3% of salary up to the ceiling.
- Private specialist care. Through employer health insurance, where offered. Employee still carries: fees not covered by the plan.
- Time off for appointments. From 15 days at full pay and 15 at half pay, rising to 75 and 75 with over 10 years’ service. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Mauritius
- Public primary care. Free basic primary care through a wide network of public facilities. Employee still carries: private fees for faster specialist care.
- Sick leave. 15 working days a year on full pay after 12 months’ service. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
- Menstrual leave. One day a month on full pay for female workers, from 13 August 2026. Employee still carries: does not cover symptoms after periods stop.
Middle East and Africa
Morocco
- AMO contributions, 2026. Employer pays 4.11% of total gross salary. Employee still carries: employee pays 2.26% of total gross salary.
- Private specialist care. Through complementary insurance, where offered. Employee still carries: costs not reimbursed by AMO.
- Time off for appointments. CNSS pays two thirds of capped salary after a 3-day wait, for up to 52 weeks. Employee still carries: the first 3 days; employers pay only if the contract or agreement says so.
Middle East and Africa
Nigeria
- Health insurance under the NHIA Act 2022. Mandatory for residents; employers with five or more staff must take part. Employee still carries: contributions are set by state schemes, not by the Act.
- Out-of-pocket costs. About 72% of health spending is paid directly by patients. Employee still carries: consultations, tests and medicines not covered by the plan.
- Time off for appointments. Up to 12 working days of paid sick leave a year, with a medical certificate. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Oman
- Dhamani health insurance. Platform in place since 2023 and rolling out in phases. Employee still carries: depends on the employer’s plan; the full private sector mandate is not yet confirmed.
- Private specialist care. Through employer group insurance, where offered. Employee still carries: fees not covered by the plan.
- Time off for appointments. Up to 182 days of sick leave a year: 21 days at full pay, then 75%, 50% and 35%. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Qatar
- Non-Qatari employees. Employer must provide health insurance with an insurer registered with the Ministry of Public Health. Employee still carries: cover for menopause care and hormone therapy depends on the plan.
- Specialist menopause care. Sidra Medicine runs a dedicated Menopause Clinic. Employee still carries: fees depend on the provider and plan.
- Time off for appointments. After three months’ service: two weeks of sick leave at full pay, then four weeks at half pay. Employee still carries: then up to six weeks unpaid; no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Saudi Arabia
- Employees of private employers. Employer must provide health insurance for employees and dependants and pay the full premium. Employee still carries: cover for menopause care and hormone therapy depends on the policy.
- Time off for appointments. Sick leave: 30 days at full pay, then 60 days at three-quarters pay. Employee still carries: then 30 days unpaid; no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
South Africa
- Prescribed minimum benefits. Schemes must pay diagnosis, treatment and care in full, with no co-payment, for listed conditions. Employee still carries: we found no confirmation that menopause is a listed condition.
- Menopause medicines. Some schemes publish menopause medicine lists; Bankmed’s 2026 list includes Estrofem, Activelle, Novofem and Provera. Employee still carries: a co-payment on medicines priced above the scheme’s reference price.
- Time off for appointments. 30 days of paid sick leave per 36-month cycle for a five-day week. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
Turkey
- General care and hospital stays under SGK. No copayment. Employee still carries: nothing for covered care.
- Outpatient specialist visits under SGK. Covered, with a small fixed fee per visit that is higher at private hospitals. Employee still carries: the visit fee, or private fees for faster care.
- Prescription medicines under SGK. Covered for most medicines. Employee still carries: 20% of the cost for most prescriptions.
- Time off for appointments. SGK temporary incapacity allowance: two-thirds of average daily earnings, after a two-day wait. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Middle East and Africa
UAE
- Dubai basic mandatory plan (Essential Benefits Plan). 20% co-insurance per GP or specialist visit; medicines at 30% co-insurance up to AED 2,500 a year, formulary only. Employee still carries: menopause care and hormone therapy are not named in the plan.
- Abu Dhabi. Thiqa gives UAE nationals full coverage; employers must insure expatriate employees. Employee still carries: cover for menopause depends on the plan.
- Hormone tests and treatment. Often not covered by insurance plans, according to a UAE gynaecologist. Employee still carries: paid by the employee where not covered.
- Time off for appointments. Up to 90 days of sick leave a year: 15 at full pay, 30 at half pay. Employee still carries: no menopause leave.
Related guides
Menopause benefits compared: Asia PacificPublic cover and workplace rules by countryMenopause benefits compared: EuropePublic cover and workplace rules by countryMenopause benefits compared: AmericasPublic cover and workplace rules by countryEmployer guides by countryFertility and menopause guides for 85 marketsMenopause corporate benefits guideOptions for designing a menopause benefit
Sources
- Aon, The Global Medical Trend Rates Report 2026
- Aon, APAC employee medical plan costs to stabilise in 2026 (October 2025)
- Public cover, costs and workplace rules: the sources listed on each country guide linked above
Plan menopause support across the Middle East and Africa
Tell us where your teams are and we will walk you through the options for each country.