Compare Travel Insurance in United Arab Emirates

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20 live offers compared from 20 providers, from AED 100 /سنة. Updated daily.

What is travel insurance in the UAE?

Travel insurance covers the financial risks of a trip abroad: emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation and evacuation, trip cancellation or curtailment, delayed or lost baggage, and personal liability. In the UAE it carries more weight than in many markets because the population is overwhelmingly expatriate and highly mobile, healthcare abroad can be extremely expensive, and a valid policy is a documented requirement for Schengen and several other visas. A single unexpected hospital admission overseas can cost more than years of premiums, which is why even short-haul travellers commonly buy cover.

How the UAE market works

Insurers licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), which absorbed the former Insurance Authority, sell both single-trip and annual multi-trip policies. The market splits broadly into leisure travel plans and expatriate international private medical plans; the latter, from names such as Cigna, Bupa Global and MetLife, suit residents who want worldwide healthcare year-round rather than protection for a specific trip. Both conventional insurers and takaful (Sharia-compliant) providers operate, and travel cover is frequently bundled free with premium bank credit cards.

Benefits of travel insurance

Emergency medical cover — Pays for hospital treatment and repatriation overseas, usually the single most valuable benefit.

Cancellation and curtailment — Reimburses non-refundable flights and hotels if you must cancel or cut a trip short for a covered reason.

Visa compliance — Meets the minimum medical cover that Schengen states and some other destinations require before issuing a visa.

How to choose

Decide first between single-trip and annual multi-trip cover; frequent flyers, common among UAE residents, usually save money with an annual policy. Check the medical and evacuation limits carefully, the excess you pay per claim, and whether pre-existing conditions, winter sports or adventure activities are included or need to be added. If you already hold a premium credit card, confirm exactly what its complimentary travel cover provides, and how to activate it, before paying twice for overlapping protection.

Leading providers in the UAE

AXA, distributed in the region through GIG Gulf, along with Sukoon Insurance (formerly Oman Insurance) and Salama, are prominent for leisure travel cover, while Cigna, Bupa Global and MetLife lead on international private medical plans for residents. Because benefits, sub-limits and exclusions vary widely between insurers at similar prices, comparing several quotes rather than buying the first option is genuinely worthwhile.

What it costs

Premiums in the UAE commonly range from about AED 100 for a short single-trip regional plan to AED 576 or more for wider annual or worldwide cover with higher medical limits. The price you pay depends on the destination region, trip length, the traveller's age, the cover limits chosen and any add-ons such as winter sports, gadget cover or enhanced medical caps.

Protections and regulation

All insurers are licensed and supervised by the CBUAE, which sets conduct rules on disclosure, suitability, claims handling and complaints. Takaful policies follow the same regulatory framework with additional Sharia-board oversight of how the fund is managed. Read the policy wording for exclusions and sub-limits, declare any pre-existing conditions honestly, and keep receipts, police reports and medical documentation to support any claim.

Common questions

Is travel insurance mandatory? — Not for every trip, but Schengen and some other visas require documented medical cover.

Does my card already cover me? — Many UAE premium cards include travel cover; check its limits and activation rules before buying separately.

Are pre-existing conditions covered? — Only if declared and accepted; undisclosed conditions are typically excluded from claims.

Travel Insurance in United Arab Emirates — FAQ