Does Home Insurance Cover Burglary or Theft?

Does Home Insurance Cover Theft and Burglary?

Yes, burglary and theft are covered under home insurance in the UAE. Typically, these policies have built-in coverage against theft and burglary or attempts — the list may include forcible and violent entry or exit from the home or property. Furthermore, this cover is available for losses or damages related to both the insured building and contents.

With that said, it’s worth keeping in mind that the coverage for various possessions can be different and may come with certain criteria.

Why Get Home Insurance with Burglary and Theft Coverage?

Burglary and theft, as mentioned earlier, are unpredictable incidents that can lead to massive emotional and financial losses. With the right home theft insurance, you can at least be covered for the financial losses related to your home and valuables. As a result, you can have peace of mind with adequate financial protection.

So if you have any contents in the house — jewellery, electronics, and more — it’s crucial to get the best home insurance cover. Note that while it is not mandatory, it’s highly recommended to get it — irrespective of your status as a tenant or homeowner.

Now, a point to remember here is that you can get different coverages under home insurance with theft and burglary coverage in the UAE. It can be different from provider to provider. So, while purchasing a home insurance plan, it’s crucial to look at the policy wording of your chosen plan.

Home Insurance Cover for Burglary and Theft — What’s Covered?

Here’s an overview of the common coverage features related to theft under home insurance in UAE —

• Building Damage: Theft and burglary can be violent and lead to property and structural damage to our homes. In such cases, you can get coverage for the insured building's loss/damage, including fixtures and fittings.
• Content Coverage: Home insurers can provide coverage in case of loss/damage of your valuable contents inside the insured house.
• Theft of Keys: Your insurer may cover the cost of replacing or repairing keys, locks, or alarm systems installed within your insured home due to theft.
• Money and Credit Cards: Mostly available as an optional cover, it provides you coverage in case of losses related to your personal money and credit cards due to theft and burglary. However, the availability of this cover may vary as per the provider.

What is Not Included Under Home Insurance with Theft Cover in UAE?

Find below the common exclusions under home insurance with theft and burglary coverage —

• Home unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days
• Loss/damage not reported to the police
• Content or valuable loss by deception
• Credit card phishing/scamming
• Valuables theft from unattended or open road vehicles (certain criteria applicable)

Note: The specifics of both inclusions and exclusions may vary as per your plan.

How to Get the Best Home Insurance with Burglary or Theft Coverage?

Here are some tips to help you find the best home insurance with theft and burglary coverage in the UAE —

Check the Insurer’s Reputation:

Go through online or word-of-mouth reviews to know the real experience of individuals in terms of claim processing, assistance, and more. Also, try to know the claim settlement ratio and other such details to get an idea of how likely the provider is to settle claims.

Understand Policy’s Inclusions and Exclusions:

As we saw earlier, coverage for several types of losses is optional or even unavailable under home theft insurance. Thus, before purchasing a plan, pay attention to the specifications and exclusions.

Compare Plans to Get an Idea of Costs:

Compare quotes from different insurers to get the best coverage without breaking your budget. On Policybazaar.ae, you can compare multiple plans and quotes of the top providers in the UAE.

Evaluate Add-Ons or Riders

While theft and burglary coverage is a standard feature of comprehensive home insurance plans, you can always check whether add-ons or riders for other specific risks (as per your requirements) are available.

How to File a Theft Claim with Home Insurance?

Here are the general steps for filing a home theft insurance claim —

• Immediately file a report with the police about the incident

Important: Without a police report, you can’t file a theft claim in most cases

• Inform your insurance provider regarding the same and initiate the claim process
• Provide evidence or supporting documents to the insurer
• The insurer may appoint an inspector to check the losses or damages — cooperate with the personnel to avoid hassles later
• Once your claim is approved, you will get the claim settlement amount

Tips to Safeguard Your Home Against Burglary and Theft

• Install alarm systems
• CCTV installation
• Lock doors and windows
• Store valuables in safe places
• Use quality locks and home automation
• Promptly report any suspicious activity

Frequently Asked Questions