Short answer: an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in the UAE typically costs between USD 0.20 and USD 2.30 per employee per month, which is roughly AED 0.75 to AED 8.50. Where you land in that range depends on your headcount, how many counselling sessions are included and which extras you add.

This guide explains how EAP pricing works, what moves the price up or down, and how it compares with the alternatives. EAP Dubai arranges and manages programmes delivered by a global EAP provider, so the ranges here come from real proposals for UAE employers.

How EAP pricing works

Most EAPs are priced per employee per month, often written as PEPM. You pay a small fee for every employee on the headcount, whether or not they use the service. That is what keeps the price low. A modest monthly fee across the whole workforce funds open access for the people who need it.

Some providers price per use instead. It can look cheaper at first, but it makes budgeting unpredictable and it can discourage a company from promoting the service, which defeats the purpose.

Typical EAP cost in the UAE

The table below is simple arithmetic on the USD 0.20 to USD 2.30 range, to show the scale of the spend. Larger workforces usually pay less per head. Smaller teams tend to sit toward the top of the range, and a minimum annual fee may apply.

Employees	Low end per month	High end per month	Per year
100	USD 20 (AED 73)	USD 230 (AED 845)	USD 240 to 2,760
500	USD 100 (AED 367)	USD 1,150 (AED 4,223)	USD 1,200 to 13,800
2,000	USD 400 (AED 1,469)	USD 4,600 (AED 16,894)	USD 4,800 to 55,200

At the very top of the range, a full year of cover works out at about USD 27.60, or roughly AED 100, per employee.

Some online guides quote figures of around USD 500 per employee per year for the UAE. In our experience arranging programmes for employers here, that is far above what a corporate EAP costs. If you have been quoted a number like that, ask what it includes.

What moves the price up or down

• Headcount. The more employees covered, the lower the price per head.
• Counselling sessions. How many sessions each person can have per issue, and whether they are by phone, video or face to face.
• Family cover. Whether spouses and dependants can use the service.
• Extras. Wellness coaching, manager training, onsite days and critical incident support are usually priced as add-ons.
• Languages and countries. A single-country programme is simpler than one covering several countries.
• Contract length. Longer agreements usually bring a better rate.

EAP cost compared with the alternatives

Option	Typical cost	The trade-off
Employee Assistance Programme	USD 0.20 to 2.30 per employee per month	Covers the whole workforce, 24 hours a day, confidentially.
Paying for private therapy case by case	About AED 300 to AED 1,500 per session in the UAE	Only helps the few who ask their employer to pay, and it is not confidential from the company.
An in-house counsellor	A full salary plus benefits	One person, office hours, one or two languages. Some staff avoid a counsellor who sits near HR.
Relying on medical insurance	Depends on the policy	Cover is often capped and usually needs a referral. No support for managers and no help with practical life issues.
Doing nothing	No invoice	The cost shows up later as absence, turnover and mistakes.

Private session prices are taken from a published 2026 UAE price guide (source). Put simply, one private therapy session costs more than a year of EAP cover for one employee, even at the top of the range.

Is an EAP worth the money?

The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy about USD 1 trillion a year in lost productivity, and that every USD 1 spent on treatment returns about USD 4 in better health and ability to work (WHO, 2016).

For a single company the sum is simpler. An EAP for 500 people comes to about AED 50,000 a year at the very top of the range. Most employers will recognise that as less than the cost of losing and replacing one experienced member of staff.

Questions to ask before you compare quotes

• Is the price per employee or per use?
• Who answers the phone: a qualified counsellor or a call centre that books an appointment?
• How many counselling sessions are included per person, per issue?
• Are family members covered?
• Which languages are supported, at any hour?
• What reporting do we receive, and how is confidentiality protected?
• What help is included to launch and promote the programme to our staff?

For what a standard package should contain, see what is included in an Employee Assistance Programme. For how staff use it day to day, see how employees access an EAP.

Frequently asked questions

Is an EAP priced per employee or per use?

Most are priced per employee per month. You pay for the whole headcount and usage is not charged separately, so the budget is fixed for the year.

Do we pay more if more people use it?

Not on a per-employee plan. Higher use is the point of the programme, and it does not change the fee during the agreement.

Does the price include family members?

It depends on the plan. Many programmes extend to immediate family. Ask for this to be stated in your proposal.

Is an EAP worth it for a small company?

Yes, although the price per head is higher for small teams. Even at the top of the range, the yearly cost per employee is less than one private therapy session.

Get a quote for your headcount

Tell us how many employees you have and which countries they work in, and we will send a proposal with a fixed price. Call or WhatsApp +971 52 699 3955 or email tim@eapdubai.com.