SBI Life Insurance for NRIs in UAE: Plans, Benefits, & How to Buy Online

SBI Life Insurance (incorporated 2000, IRDAI-registered 2001) is one of India’s largest private insurers. It was founded as a joint venture between the State Bank of India (SBI) and BNP Paribas Cardif. Importantly for UAE-based Indians, SBI Life confirms that eligible Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can purchase select Indian policies while staying abroad. All NRI policies are issued and serviced in India, in Indian rupees and must comply with IRDAI guidelines.read more

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Aashima Mongia
Written ByAashima MongiaContent Writer (Expertise: Term Life Insurance & Investment)
Atul Kathuria
Reviewed ByAtul KathuriaBusiness Head – Term & Investment | Policybazaar.ae
Last updated on 21 August 2026Editorial Standards

Best Term Insurance Plans in UAE

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

98.1% Claim Settlement Ratio
Term Life Protect
Term Life Protect
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  • Medical Checkup Not Required
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95% Claim Settlement Ratio
Term Life
Term Life
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  • Life Cover
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International Term Assurance
International Term Assurance
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  • Medical Checkup Not Required
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  • Critical Illness Cover
98% Claim Settlement Ratio
Live Life Now
Live Life Now
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98% Claim Settlement Ratio
Critical Illness Protection
Critical Illness Protection
  • Worldwide Coverage
  • Cancer Cover

About SBI Life Insurance Plan

SBI Life Insurance comprises products for financial protection and savings. They provide a safety net for your family in case of unfortunate events, ensuring they remain financially secure. These plans come in various types, including term plans for pure life coverage, savings plans that combine insurance with investment, and pension plans to support your retirement.

With flexible premium options and the backing of SBI, one of India’s most trusted banks, SBI Life Insurance Plans offer a reliable way to secure your future while meeting your unique financial goals and needs.

What are the Reasons to Buy Life Insurance from SBI Life Insurance Company?

If you’re an Indian living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or anywhere else in the UAE, SBI Life Insurance UAE offers several advantages for long-term financial planning.

Here are the benefits of buying a life policy from SBI Life Insurance —

  • UAE residents can claim zero-rated GST on term insurance premiums when paying via an NRE bank account or foreign inward remittance.
  • With more than 80,000 advisors, the company has one of the most efficient agent networks.
  • As a major player in the insurance market, SBI Life has a wide range of products to meet the needs of a diverse customer base.
  • The company has made a significant impact on the Indian insurance industry, making its services accessible to individuals nationwide.
  • No travel is required for medicals. You get complete video or tele-medical check-ups directly from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or other emirates.
  • Payouts and maturity proceeds can be credited directly to NRE accounts for easy repatriation to the UAE.
  • Convenient cross-border payments via credit/debit cards, net banking, or NRE/NRO accounts with automated receipts.
  • SBI Life Care services, online policy management, digital premium payments, and NRI support make it easier to manage your policy while living overseas.

If you're seeking life insurance, SBI Life’s experienced team can help you find a policy that fits your needs.

Best SBI Life Insurance Plans for UAE NRIs

Here are the best SBI life insurance policies —

eShield Next eShield Insta
This plan gives your family financial security for the uncertainties of life. It helps you take care of your current requirements and your dynamic responsibilities. The key benefits and features of this SBI life insurance policy are
  • 3 plan options - Level Cover, Level Cover with Future Proofing Benefit, and Increasing Cover
  • Option to customise the plan as per your requirement
  • Life cover of up to 100 years
  • Better half-benefit option
  • Terminal illness benefit
  • Additional optional covers — Accidental death benefits, accidental partial permanent disability benefit
This online SBI life insurance policy is a term plan. You can effortlessly buy it from anywhere and financially secure your family. The major features and benefits of this term life insurance plan are —
  • 2 plan options - Pure Term Insurance, Term Insurance with Return of Premium
  • Affordable premiums
  • Pay regular premium for 10 years
  • Easy enrolment of policy
Saral Jeevan Bima Sampoorn Cancer Suraksha
This is a standard term plan to help financially secure the life assured’s family in case of the former’s death during the plan tenure. Listed below are the key features and benefits of this SBI life insurance policy –
  • Affordable premiums
  • Flexibility of premium payment — regularly (annually) or at once in a lump sum
  • Death benefit
This SBI life insurance plan is a critical illness plan, specially designed to help the life assured get treated for cancer upon diagnosis. Here are the key features of this plan —
  • Second medical opinion
  • Sum assured reset benefit
  • In-built premium waiver benefit
  • No medical examination is required
  • Option of monthly income benefit
  • Choice of 3 benefit structures — Standard, Enhanced, and Classic benefit structures
Arogya Shield Smart Shield Premier
This SBI life insurance policy is a blend of health and pure-term life plans. It provides comprehensive health coverage for medical emergencies and a guaranteed life cover to financially secure the life assured’s family. Key features and benefits of Arogya Shield -00
  • Health + Pure Term Life Insurance
  • Affordable premiums
  • Sum assured options of INR 100,000; INR 200,000; INR 300,000 under health insurance cover
  • Sum assured ranging from INR 5,00,000 to INR 25,00,000 as life insurance cover
    • Cover for 141 daycare procedures under health insurance cover
This SBI life insurance plan is an exclusive term plan that offers a higher sum assured and flexible premium payment options. The key benefits of this plan are —
  • Choice of 2 benefit options — Level Cover, Increasing Cover
  • Coverage available up to the age of 85 years
  • Optional riders — Accidental Death Benefit, Accidental Partial Permanent Disability Benefit
  • Affordable premiums
Smart Shield Grameen Bima
This is a non-linked pure-term plan that financially secures the life assured’s family in case of the former’s demise during the plan tenure. The key benefits of this SBI life insurance policy —
  • Term plan with 2 options – Level Term Assurance and Increasing Term Assurance
  • Comprehensive coverage at an affordable premium rate
  • 2 rider options - Accidental Death Benefit and Accidental Total & Permanent Disability Benefit Rider
  • Death benefit
This SBI life insurance plan is a pure term, micro-insurance plan that financially protects the life assured’s family at an affordable premium rate. Its key benefits and features are -
  • Choose the premium range in multiples of INR 100
  • Surrender benefit
  • Death benefit
  • No medical examination required
  • Easy enrolment via a simple process
Saral Swadhan + Smart Swadhan Plus
This is a traditional SBI life policy that offers assured maturity benefits. If the life assured survives the plan tenure, the insurance company provides a return of premium. Here are the key benefits of Saral Swadhan +
  • Maturity benefits — 100% or 115% of the total premium paid (if the policy term is 10 or 15 terms respectively)
  • 2 types of plan tenure options — 10 and 15 years
  • Fixed life cover throughout the policy term
  • Flexibility to pay the premium amount as per your financial capacity
  • Straightforward proposal form
This is a comprehensive SBI life insurance policy that combines life cover and promotes savings. It has a return of premium feature that protects the life assured. Detailed below are the primary features and benefits of Smart Swadhan Plus -
  • Life cover
  • 100% assured return of total premium as a maturity benefit
  • Simple application process
  • Flexible premium payment options — Regular, Limited, or Single premium payment
Smart Swadhan Supreme Saral Swadhan Supreme
This is a comprehensive SBI life insurance plan that offers an assured return of the total premium at the end of the tenure (if the life assured survives). The following are the key features and benefits of this plan —
  • Life cover at an affordable rate
  • Receive 100% of the total premium paid as a maturity benefit
  • Conveniently pay your premium regularly or for a limited period
  • Plan tenure ranges from 10 to 30 years
It is a life insurance plan with savings through the ‘return of premium’ feature. It offers death benefits as well as maturity benefits. Find out more about these key features and benefits below —
  • Ease of policy issuance
  • Convenience of paying regularly or for a limited period (7, 10, or 15 years)
  • Get 100% of the total premium paid as a maturity benefit
  • Plan tenure from 10 to 30 years

Why are SBI Life Insurance Plans Suitable for NRIs?

Several points are particularly important for Indians in the UAE:

  • Online Service: NRIs can manage policies fully online. SBI Life’s NRI portal lets users schedule and pay premiums via internet banking or international cards (Visa/Mastercard), and view receipts instantly.
  • Tax Benefits: Premiums may qualify for tax deductions under Indian tax laws (Section 80C). Meanwhile, maturity and death benefits are generally tax-free under Section 10(10D), subject to applicable conditions. Additionally, term insurance plans are currently exempt from GST.
  • No Medical Test for Eligible Applicants: Some SBI Life plans, such as Saral Jeevan Bima, eShield Insta, and Sampoorn Cancer Suraksha, may be available without a medical examination for eligible applicants or lower coverage amounts. For a higher sum assured, medical tests may be required and can often be arranged in India or, where available, through approved remote medical or video assessments for NRIs.
  • Local Support: SBI Life has dedicated NRI service lines and toll-free numbers in India.

Note: PolicyBazaar.ae also lists many plan details and claim steps for Gulf clients.

Currency Considerations for UAE NRIs

Since SBI Life policies are issued in Indian Rupees (INR), UAE residents should also consider exchange rate movements when planning long-term insurance.

Your income in the UAE is typically earned in AED, while premiums and policy benefits are generally linked to INR. Changes in the AED-INR exchange rate may affect the actual cost of premiums when converted from dirhams.

Although currency fluctuations do not affect the insured amount in Indian Rupees, they can influence your overall financial planning if you intend to use UAE income for premium payments.

Many NRIs maintain dedicated NRE accounts to simplify premium payments and reduce the impact of exchange rate timing.

Which Documents are Required to Buy an SBI Life Insurance Plan?

Here is the list of documents usually required to buy an SBI life insurance policy —

For Indian Residents

  • PAN Card
  • Driving Licence
  • Job Card from NREGA duly signed by the State Government (if applicable)
  • Passport
  • Voter ID
  • Aadhar Card
  • Property Tax or Municipal Receipt
  • Bank Account or Post Office Savings Statement
  • Utility Bills of less than 2 months
  • Allotment letter of accommodation from employer
  • Orders of pension payment or family pensions

For Non-Resident Indians

  • Duly filled-in proposal form
  • Medical reports stating the fitness or declaration of health issues
  • Income proof
  • An attested copy of the passport of the country of residence
  • Age proof

A completed FATCA form is also required. Medical reports may be required for higher covers. These requirements match SBI Life’s NRI guidelines and local broker checklists.

What are the Eligibility Criteria to Apply for an SBI Life Insurance Policy?

To apply for an SBI life insurance policy, you must meet the following eligibility criteria —

For Indian Residents

  • Minimum Age — 18 years
  • Maximum Age at Maturity — 65 years

For Non-Resident Indians

  • You should have lived outside India for a specific period or as mentioned in the policy
  • You should have had an Indian passport at some point
  • You must have married an Indian citizen

What Determines Your SBI Life Insurance Premium?

The SBI Life Insurance premium you pay depends on several factors, including:

  • Your age
  • Chosen policy
  • Sum assured
  • Policy term
  • Medical history
  • Smoking habits
  • Occupation
  • Premium payment frequency

For UAE-based NRIs, premiums are generally paid in Indian Rupees (INR) through NRE/NRO accounts, foreign remittances, or approved online payment methods.

Since every applicant has different financial needs and health profiles, the final premium amount is calculated during underwriting.

How to File a Claim against SBI Life Insurance?

Discussed below are all the key details related to the SBI Life claim process and the available methods —

Online Process

  • Visit SBI Life’s official website.
  • Go to the ‘Claims and Maturity’ option under the ‘Services’ tab.
  • You will find the online claim section. Fill in the details and click on the Submit button.
  • Follow the instructions thereon.

Overseas Death Claims

If death occurs in the UAE, submit the attested Death Certificate, Embassy clearance

Via Post

Fill in the claim form along with the supporting documents to the address mentioned below —

SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd, 8th Level Seawoods Grand Central, Tower 2, Sector 40, Plot No. R-1, Seawoods, Nerul, Navi Mumbai - 400706

Via Email

You can send the filled-in claim form and supporting documents (for the death claim) to claim@sbilife.co.in.

At an SBI Branch

You can visit your nearest SBI Life branch to submit the filled-in claim form and supporting documents.

How to Buy SBI Life Insurance UAE Online?

If you’re planning to buy SBI Life Insurance in the UAE, the entire application process can often be completed online. Eligible NRIs living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other Emirates can complete most formalities remotely, depending on the selected plan and underwriting requirements.

Step 1: Choose the Right Plan

Select a policy that matches your financial goals.

Step 2: Complete the Online Application

Fill out the proposal form with your personal details, passport information, overseas address, employment details, and nominee information.

Step 3: Submit Required Documents

Additional documents may be requested depending on the chosen plan.

Step 4: Medical Examination (If Required)

Depending on your age, health condition, and chosen sum assured, SBI Life may request medical tests.

For many eligible NRIs residing in the UAE, these medicals can often be arranged locally through authorised diagnostic centres instead of requiring travel to India.

Step 5: Premium Payment

Premiums can usually be paid using: NRE Account, NRO Account, Foreign inward remittance, Debit or Credit Card, and Net Banking (where applicable).

Step 6: Policy Issuance

Once underwriting is completed and all documents are verified, the policy is issued digitally. You can download your policy document and manage it online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the grace period for SBI life insurance plans?

The grace period for SBI life insurance plans is 15 to 30 days.

What to do in case you lose or misplace your insurance policy?

If you lose your life insurance policy somewhere, you can request a duplicate policy document.

Why is a medical examination needed when buying a life insurance plan?

You need a medical examination because it helps in determining the sum assured and the policy premium.

What happens if you do not pay a premium for your SBI Life Insurance?

If you do not pay the premium on time, the policy lapses. Upon renewal of the policy, the policy benefits are either reduced or completely ceased.

What is the grace period for SBI Life Insurance plans?

SBI Life provides a grace period of 15 days for monthly premium payment modes and 30 days for quarterly, half-yearly, or annual payment modes

What happens if you do not pay a premium for your SBI Life Insurance on time?

If premiums are not paid within the grace period, the policy lapses, and life coverage temporarily stops. Lapsed policies can be revived within a specific revival period, usually five years, by paying overdue premiums along with any interest.

What should you do if you lose or misplace your physical policy document?

You can download an electronic copy (e-Policy) instantly via the SBI Life portal or DigiLocker. Alternatively, ask for a duplicate physical policy bond by submitting an indemnity bond and proof of identity.

Why is a medical examination needed when buying a life insurance plan?

Medical tests allow the insurer to assess health risks accurately and determine appropriate premium rates. For UAE residents buying high sum assured plans online, SBI Life conducts the tests via video/tele-medical check-ups.

How do UAE NRIs claim the 18% GST waiver on SBI Life premiums?

NRIs living in the UAE can claim zero-rated GST on term insurance premiums paid through an NRE bank account or a foreign currency credit card if they provide valid proof of UAE residence.

Can I buy SBI Life Insurance while living in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Eligible NRIs residing in the UAE can purchase selected SBI Life Insurance plans, provided they meet underwriting guidelines, documentation requirements, and product availability.

Can I pay SBI Life premiums from the UAE?

Premiums can generally be paid through NRE or NRO accounts, foreign inward remittances, debit or credit cards, or other approved payment methods, depending on the policy.

Do I need to travel to India to buy an SBI Life policy?

Many eligible NRIs can complete the application process online. Where medical examinations are required, they may be arranged at authorised centres in the UAE, subject to SBI Life’s underwriting process.

Will my SBI Life policy remain valid if I continue living in the UAE?

Yes. Once issued, your policy generally remains valid as long as premiums are paid on time and policy conditions are met, regardless of whether you continue residing in the UAE.

Reviews & Ratings

Explore SBI Life Insurance plans for NRIs in the UAE. Learn about benefits, eligibility, policy options, and how to buy SBI Life Insurance online.
4.7 / 5
(based on 44,090 reviews)

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