How Smoking Affects your Term Insurance Premium

Smoking is not just harmful to your health — it can also burn a hole in your pocket when it comes to life insurance. In the UAE, where term insurance is a preferred way to protect your family’s future, smoking impact on term insurance premium UAE typically leads to higher costs than non-smokers.

Written ByAashima MongiaContent Writer (Expertise: Term Life Insurance & Investment)

Reviewed ByAtul KathuriaBusiness Head – Term & Investment | Policybazaar.ae

Last updated on 12 December 2025Editorial Standards

Best Term Insurance Plans in UAE

Some of the best Term Insurance quotes in UAE & Dubai are:

Policy Term

Age

Cover

Payment Frequency

YearlyMonthly

98.1% Claim Settlement Ratio

Term Life Protect

Life Cover (AED)1,000,000

Policy Term (Years)10

Passive War Cover
Pre Existing Disease Coverage
Medical Checkup Not Required
Worldwide Coverage

95% Claim Settlement Ratio

Term Life

Life Cover (AED)1,000,000

Policy Term (Years)10

Worldwide Coverage
Life Cover
Entry Age

98% Claim Settlement Ratio

International Term Assurance

Life Cover (AED)1,000,000

Policy Term (Years)10

Passive War Cover
Pre Existing Disease Coverage: Subject to Approval*
Medical Checkup Not Required
Worldwide Coverage
Critical Illness Cover

98% Claim Settlement Ratio

Live Life Now

Life Cover (AED)1,000,000

Policy Term (Years)10

Worldwide Coverage

98% Claim Settlement Ratio

Critical Illness Protection

Life Cover (AED)1,000,000

Policy Term (Years)10

Worldwide Coverage
Cancer Cover

Why Term Insurance Premiums Increase Due to Smoking in UAE?

Smoking isn’t just a health hazard — it’s a financial one too. In the UAE and across the globe, insurance companies carefully evaluate lifestyle risks when calculating your term insurance premium.

As you can expect, smoking is one of the biggest red flags.

Smoking, by default, increases that risk because it’s closely associated with life-threatening diseases such as cancer, heart attacks, and respiratory illnesses.

Did You Know? In the UAE, smokers may pay up to 30–50% higher premiums than non-smokers for the same term insurance plan.

Here’s an overview of smoking’s impact on term insurance premium UAE —

Factor	Non-Smoker	Smoker
Annual Premium (AED)	AED 667 - 1,370*	AED 824 – 1,720*
Health Risk Assessment	Standard	High-Risk
Medical Exam Requirement	Basic	Extensive (Lung/Heart screening)
Claim Scrutiny	Moderate	More Thorough

* The premium shown is for reference only and is based on a comparison between a 31-year-old male smoker and a non-smoker for AED 1 million coverage with a 5-year policy term.

Who is Considered a Smoker in the UAE?

In the UAE, insurers take a broad view of what qualifies as ‘smoking’.

Generally, you’re considered a high-risk individual if you —

Smoke cigarettes, cigars, or shisha
Use vapes or e-cigarettes
Consume chewing tobacco or pan masala
Use nicotine patches or gums

Did You Know? Even if you vape or occasionally smoke shisha, UAE insurers still classify you as a smoker.

Additionally, insurance companies may ask you —

Have you used any tobacco or nicotine products in the last 12 months?
Have you ever consumed tobacco or nicotine in any form?

Answering ‘yes’ usually means you will be placed in a smoker category, based on your health and smoking intensity.

Types of Smokers

Category	Description	Premium Impact
Preferred Smoker	Smokes but otherwise fit	Slightly higher than a non-smoker
Typical Smoker	Smokes and has minor health concerns	Moderately high premium
Table-Rated Smoker	Heavy smoker with evident medical issues	Very high premium

Life Insurance Options for Smokers in UAE

Even if you smoke, don’t worry — you can still find term insurance for smokers in UAE —

1. Life Guard – Sukoon Insurance

Annual Premium: AED 1,138**

Key Features

✅ Worldwide Coverage

✅ Multiple Payment Modes & Currency Options

✅ Critical Illness Cover Available

🔁 Regular Pay Plan

Available Add-ons

Accelerated Critical Illness
Premium Waiver (on Permanent & Total Disability)
Accidental Death Benefit
Critical Illness (Accelerated/Additional)
Permanent Total Disability (Accident only / Accident or Sickness)
Waiver of Premium due to Disability
Hospital Indemnity

2. Term Life – Arabia Insurance

Annual Premium: AED 1,350**

Key Features

✅ Worldwide Coverage

✅ Life Cover up to AED 1.84 Million

✅ Entry Age: 15–65 years

🔁 Regular Pay Plan

⏳ Policy Term: 15 Years or Until Age 65

Available Add-ons (Optional Riders)

Critical Illness (Accelerated/Additional) – Costing AED 345 / AED 405**
Accidental Death & Dismemberment – Cover of up to AED 100,000 (20-year term)
Permanent Total Disability (Various Occupations / Cover Types) – Price range between AED 46 to AED 54**
Waiver of Premium (Own/Any Occupation) – Cover of up to AED 100,000

3. Term Life Protect – HAYAH Insurance (formerly AXA GCIC)

Annual Premium: AED 1,478**

Key Features:

✅ Worldwide Coverage

✅ Pre-existing Disease Coverage (on approval)

✅ Medical Checkup: Based on age, cover, and health

✅ AED 1,000,000 cover from Day 1 (Accident & Sickness)

🔁 Level Term Plan

Included Riders

Temporary Life Cover (AED 900,000)
Passive War Risk (AED 1,000,000)
Terminal Illness (AED 500,000)

Optional Riders

Critical Illness (Accelerated) – AED 100,000 for AED 258.12**
Permanent Total Disability – AED 1,000,000 for AED 147.73**

4. Live Life Now – MetLife

Annual Premium: AED 1,750**

Key Features

✅ Worldwide Coverage

✅ AED 1,000,000 cover from Day 1 (Accident & Sickness)

🔁 Level Term Plan

Included Riders

Terminal Illness
Medical Discount Card
Second Medical Opinion

Optional Riders

Critical Illness (Accelerated) – AED 183,500 for AED 339.47**
Accidental Death Benefit – AED 1,000,000 for AED 1,150**

Did You Know?

Insurers may allow premium reconsideration or allow you to apply for a fresh term plan at non-smoker rates after 12–60 months of being smoking-free.

**For reference only — calculated for a 31-year individual who smokes. Actual costs may vary.

Click to View Term Insurance Plans

What Happens if You Lie About Smoking?

Lying about your smoking habits is a big red flag in insurance and can highly impact life or term insurance for smokers in UAE.

If your insurer finds out during a claim that you were dishonest —

Your policy may be voided
Your family’s claim could be denied
You may face insurance fraud allegations

UAE insurers often run detailed health and medical checks when reviewing claims. Thus, you should always be transparent about your smoking habits and health conditions.

What if You Start Smoking After Buying a Plan?

If you become a smoker after buying a term plan, it’s advisable to —

Inform your insurer to avoid future claim issues
Understand if your premium will change
Get a health reassessment if you're switching coverage types

Key Takeaways for Smokers in UAE

Smoking increases your term insurance premium due to high health risks
Disclosing your smoking status is crucial for valid claims
You can still buy term insurance for smokers in UAE, although premiums are higher
Quitting smoking helps reduce long-term costs and improves coverage eligibility
Consider buying a critical illness rider to protect against tobacco-related diseases

Final Word

Choosing term insurance as a smoker is still a wise decision. The cost might be higher, but the financial protection it offers your loved ones is invaluable. Always disclose your habits truthfully and consider lifestyle changes like quitting smoking to benefit in the long run.

In the UAE, more insurers now support wellness-based policies where healthy lifestyle habits (like quitting smoking) can provide you premium discounts.

Click to View Term Insurance Plans

Frequently Asked Questions

Smokers are at higher risk of serious illnesses like cancer and heart disease, making them riskier to insure. As a result, insurers charge higher premiums to cover potential claims.

If you're buying a new plan, past smoking habits may still influence the premium, depending on the insurer’s rules. Always disclose your full medical history for accurate pricing.

It’s best to inform your insurer about lifestyle changes. If you hide it and a claim arises, the insurer may deny the payout due to non-disclosure.

Lying about smoking or health habits can lead to claim rejection later. Insurers verify facts during claim settlement — dishonesty may leave your family without any financial support.