ILOE insurance is mandatory for almost every employee in the UAE. If you work in the private sector or a federal government entity and haven't subscribed yet, you're already looking at a AED 400 fine — and you'd have no coverage if you lost your job tomorrow.
It pays up to 60% of your average monthly salary for up to three months when you're made redundant through no fault of your own. Premiums start at AED 5 a month. That's the whole deal.
This guide covers everything in one place: what ILOE actually pays, how to register online, how to log in to the portal, how to check your subscription status, how to use the app, how to renew, and how to file a claim.
What is ILOE insurance?
ILOE stands for Involuntary Loss of Employment. It's a government-mandated unemployment scheme that pays cash to employees who lose their jobs for reasons beyond their control — company restructuring, redundancy, business closure. It doesn't cover resignations or disciplinary dismissals.
The numbers you need to know:
- Monthly premium: AED 5 + VAT if your basic salary is below AED 16,000 (Category A), or AED 10 + VAT if it's above (Category B)
- Compensation: 60% of your average monthly salary across the 12 months before job loss
- Maximum monthly payout: AED 10,000 for Category A, AED 20,000 for Category B
- Duration: up to 3 consecutive months per claim
- Lifetime cap: 12 months of total benefits across all claims
The legal basis is Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2022, implemented through Cabinet Resolution No. 97 of 2022.
Who has to subscribe?
All private sector employees and federal government employees in the UAE must subscribe. The following are exempt:
- Business owners and investors in the company where they work
- Domestic workers
- Employees on temporary contracts
- Anyone under 18
- Emirati retirees already receiving a pension who have started a new job
If you fall into one of those categories, you can't subscribe voluntarily — the scheme isn't available to these groups.
How to register for ILOE insurance online
Registration takes under 10 minutes. You need your Emirates ID and a UAE mobile number for the OTP.
Via the ILOE portal
- Go to iloe.ae — the official ILOE portal
- Click Subscribe and enter your Emirates ID number
- Select your salary category (Category A or B)
- Choose your payment frequency: monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual
- Pay online and download your Certificate of Insurance
Via the ILOE app
- Download the ILOE app from the App Store or Google Play
- Tap Register and enter your Emirates ID
- Verify with the OTP sent to your phone
- Select your category, complete payment, and save your certificate to your phone
In person or via other channels
You can also register at any Al Ansari Exchange branch or through the Al Ansari Exchange app. Tawjeeh and Tasheel business centres handle in-person registration too. Etisalat/e& subscribers can register by SMS: send your Emirates ID to 2120, no internet needed. MBME Pay kiosks at supermarkets and malls across the UAE are another option, and some banks support ILOE subscription directly through online banking or ATMs.
How to log in to the ILOE portal
- Go to iloe.ae
- Click Login at the top right
- Enter your Emirates ID or registered mobile number
- Enter the OTP sent to your phone
- Your dashboard shows your policy status, payment history, and downloadable certificate
If you can't get in, use the Forgot Password link. You'll need your Emirates ID and the mobile number you registered with.
How to check your ILOE insurance status online
Three ways to check:
ILOE portal or app: Log in at iloe.ae or open the ILOE app. Your status — Active, Lapsed, or Cancelled — shows on the dashboard immediately after you log in.
MOHRE app: Log in, go to Services > Unemployment Insurance. Your ILOE status appears there too.
By phone: Call 600 599 555 and give them your Emirates ID.
If your status is Lapsed, a premium payment was missed. Missing more than 3 months triggers a AED 200 fine and cancels the policy.
ILOE app: what it does
The ILOE app runs on iOS and Android. It handles everything the website does — registration, premium payments, status checks, certificate downloads, and claim submissions — from your phone.
The one thing the website can't do: send you a reminder before your policy lapses. The app does that, which is the main reason to prefer it if you pay manually.
Download it by searching "ILOE Insurance" on the App Store or Google Play.
How to renew ILOE insurance
If you set up direct debit, renewal is automatic — nothing to do. If you pay manually, renew before the policy lapses.
- Log in at iloe.ae or open the ILOE app
- Go to My Policy > Renew
- Choose your payment frequency
- Pay by card or mobile wallet
- Download your updated Certificate of Insurance
Annual payment works out cheapest in practice — AED 60 + VAT for the year on Category A. Missing renewal by more than 3 months brings a AED 200 fine. Never having subscribed at all: AED 400.
What ILOE pays
| Category A | Category B | |
| Salary range | Below AED 16,000/month | Above AED 16,000/month |
| Monthly premium | AED 5 + VAT | AED 10 + VAT |
| Compensation | 60% of average monthly salary | 60% of average monthly salary |
| Maximum monthly payout | AED 10,000 | AED 20,000 |
| Maximum claim duration | 3 months per claim | 3 months per claim |
| Lifetime maximum | 12 months total | 12 months total |
The 60% is based on your average monthly salary from the 12 months before job loss — not just your last paycheck. For anyone with commissions or variable pay, this distinction is worth knowing before you assume what you'd actually receive.
What ILOE does not cover
A few situations where the scheme pays nothing:
Resignation is the obvious one — if you left voluntarily, there's no claim. The same applies if you were dismissed for misconduct or a disciplinary reason under Labour Law, or if you were let go during your probationary period. Probation dismissals are excluded regardless of the reason.
Beyond those, your claim will also be rejected if there's an abscondment complaint against you, if the employer turns out to be fictitious, or if your job loss was connected to a strike. You also need to be physically present in the UAE when you file.
How to file a claim
You have 30 days from your termination date to submit. Miss that window and the claim is void — no exceptions.
Before you file, you need to meet all of these:
- Subscribed to ILOE for at least 12 consecutive months
- All premiums paid up
- Job loss was involuntary — not resignation, not disciplinary
- No active abscondment complaint against you
- You are physically in the UAE
To submit your claim:
Online: Log in at iloe.ae, go to My Claims > File New Claim, upload your Emirates ID, termination letter, and salary proof.
Via app: Open the ILOE app, tap Claims > New Claim, follow the steps.
By phone: Call 600 599 555 during business hours.
The provider reviews the claim and responds within 2 weeks of submission. Approved payments go directly to your bank account.
Fines
| Violation | Fine |
| Never subscribed | AED 400 |
| Missed premium payments (3+ months) | AED 200 |
Check and pay fines at iloe.ae or through the ILOE app.
ILOE and private income protection
ILOE replaces 60% of your salary for 3 months. That's useful, but it's also the ceiling — the scheme wasn't designed to be a full replacement. The other 40%, and anything after month 3, comes out of savings or nothing.
If you're in a role where a few months without income would genuinely hurt, a private income protection plan can cover the gap. These are separate products sold by licensed insurance brokers in the UAE, and they can run alongside your mandatory ILOE subscription — they're not alternatives to it.
