Home Fire Insurance in UAE

Does Home Insurance Cover Fire in the UAE?

In most cases, yes — it does.

Fire is considered one of the standard perils covered by home insurance policies across the UAE. Whether you own the property or rent it, insurers generally include fire as part of their basic coverage. This is done either under building insurance, contents insurance, or both.

However, home fire insurance coverage always depends on the specific terms mentioned in your policy schedule. Most insurers clearly list ‘fire, explosion, lightning, and smoke damage’ as insured events under both buildings and contents protection. That said, conditions like negligence, vacant homes, or illegal modifications can impact your eligibility to claim.

So, the answer to ‘does home insurance cover fire?’ is a yes. However, knowing all the details is where your real protection lies.

What Does Home Insurance Cover in a Fire?

When a fire breaks out, the damage isn’t limited to just walls or ceilings — it can affect everything from your electrical wiring to personal belongings. That’s why it’s important to understand what home insurance covers in a fire.

Insurers  in the UAE generally cover the following under home fire insurance —

1. Structural damage to the home: This includes walls, roofs, built-in kitchens, ceilings, and permanently fixed items like water tanks or heating systems
2. Home contents: Furniture, electronics, appliances, curtains, and other personal items damaged or destroyed in the fire are covered if you choose contents protection
3. Fire brigade charges: Expenses related to fire extinguishing and emergency response are reimbursed — often up to 10% of the claim amount
4. Debris removal: Costs to clear out the remains after a fire are usually covered, again capped at a certain percentage of the claim
5. Alternative accommodation: If your home becomes unlivable due to fire, many insurers pay for temporary housing — either up to 12 months or a percentage of the insured value

These benefits form the core of fire coverage across most UAE policies. However, you must check your schedule for the exact limits, as they vary between insurers and plans.

Buildings vs. Contents — What’s the Difference in Home Insurance Fire Coverage?

One of the most common misunderstandings around home insurance fire coverage in the UAE is this — everything is protected under one umbrella. In reality, fire protection is usually split into two distinct parts: building cover and contents cover. Understanding the difference is important.

If you're a tenant, your landlord’s home and fire insurance likely covers the structure — but not your belongings. Moreover, if you’re an owner-occupier, you’ll need both to be fully protected.

Optional Add-Ons That Can Help After a Fire

A standard home fire insurance policy in the UAE usually gives you solid protection. But it doesn’t always cover everything you’ll face after a serious fire.

That’s where optional add-ons come in. These are extra benefits you can choose when setting up your policy or during renewal. They can make a real difference in how easily you recover from a fire-related event.

Here are some of the most valuable optional covers offered by insurers in the UAE —

1. Loss of Rent / Alternative Accommodation: If your home becomes uninhabitable due to fire, insurers can reimburse you for temporary housing costs. They can even compensate you for loss of rental income (if you’re a landlord). Policies generally offer up to 12 months of coverage or a percentage of the building sum insured.
2. Emergency Home Assistance: This includes services for urgent repairs after a fire, such as plumbing, electrical, or repairing broken windows. The goal is to make the home safe and prevent further damage.
3. Replacement of Locks and Keys: Fires can damage door locks, especially if emergency responders need forced access. Some policies include a small limit to cover this cost.
4. Spoilage of Food in Freezer: If your power is cut due to fire, any stored food can spoil. A few policies offer compensation for this loss, up to a stated amount.
5. Domestic Helper Coverage: This optional benefit covers any liabilities related to injuries or death of a maid or driver during a fire incident while on the premises.
6. Legal Liability Cover: If a fire in your home causes damage to a neighbour’s property or injuries to visitors, this add-on can cover your liabilities. Most policies offer it as an extension of building or contents coverage.

Key Conditions You Must Know for Home Fire Insurance

Before assuming you're fully protected, it’s essential to understand the fine print. While the answer to ‘does property insurance cover fire?’ is usually yes, your claim could still be rejected if certain conditions aren’t met.

1. Negligence May Void Your Claim: If a fire is caused by something deemed careless like unattended candles, overloaded sockets, or failure to maintain electrical systems, your insurer may deny the claim. It's your responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent accidents.
2. Vacant Homes Aren’t Always Covered: If your property is left unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days and a fire occurs during that time, many insurers will not honour your claim. This clause is clearly listed in multiple UAE policies as a standard exclusion.
3. Certain Causes Are Excluded: Fires resulting from terrorism, war, sabotage, or nuclear risks are almost always excluded. These are considered high-risk and are listed under general exclusions. 
4. You Must Notify the Authorities: In the case of fire, especially where there's property damage or loss, most insurers require you to notify civil defence or police immediately and provide an official report. Without this, your claim may be rejected.
5. Modifications Must Be Disclosed: If you've made changes to the property — like renovations, added gas installations, or new electrical systems — and didn't inform the insurer, any related fire claim could be invalidated.

What Isn’t Covered Under Home Fire Insurance?

Even if your policy seems comprehensive, there are limits. The following scenarios are commonly excluded from fire-related claims —

1. Negligence by the policyholder: If the fire results from carelessness — such as leaving cooking unattended, failing to maintain wiring, or ignoring known hazards — the claim may be declined.
2. Fire damage during long absence: Homes left unoccupied for more than 60 days often lose fire protection during that period. If a fire occurs and no one is living there, the insurer may not pay.
3. Illegal or undisclosed renovations: If you’ve made structural changes or added appliances (like gas lines or electric panels) without informing your insurer, fire damage resulting from those changes may not be covered.
4. Terrorism, War, or Political Violence: Any fire caused by acts of terrorism, sabotage, riot, civil unrest, or war is excluded across all policies.
5. Damage to the source of the fire: If a boiler or an electrical appliance is the cause of the fire, the insurer might cover the damage to the home — but not the appliance itself.

How to Make a Fire Insurance Claim in UAE?

When a fire strikes, things move fast and so should your response. Even with a valid home and fire insurance policy, a successful claim depends on following the correct procedure from the start. Here’s what most UAE insurers require if you're filing a fire-related claim —

• Call Emergency Services Immediately: Your first step should always be to call Civil Defence (997 in the UAE) to report the fire. Their official report is usually mandatory for your insurance claim to be processed.
• Notify Your Insurance Provider Right Away: Most policies require you to notify the insurer within 24 to 48 hours of the incident. Delays may affect your ability to claim. Use the emergency claims number or email listed in your policy.
• Gather the Required Documents: Submit the following —
  • Copy of Emirates ID or passport
  • Civil Defence or Police report
  • Photographs or video of the damage
  • List of damaged items with estimated value
  • Proof of ownership (e.g., receipts or bank statements)
  • Completed claim form (provided by the insurer)
• Allow a Loss Adjuster to Inspect the Damage: The insurer may appoint a licensed loss adjuster to visit your home, inspect the fire damage, and assess the value of your loss. This is a normal part of the process.
• Wait for Claim Approval and Payment: Once all documents are submitted and reviewed, and the adjuster’s report is in, the insurer will approve or reject the claim. Payout timelines vary — some may take days, others weeks, depending on the complexity.

📝 Important Tip: Never start permanent repairs before inspection unless your policy allows for emergency work. This could affect your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions