Travel Insurance

What is Travel Insurance?

As the term suggests, travel insurance Dubai is a kind of general insurance plan that keeps you and your belongings protected while traveling internationally and/or domestically. These plans are designed to offer compensation and cover most kinds of personal losses you may face during your trip. This can include flight cancellations, hotel booking cancellations, medical treatment, personal liability, etc.

Travel Insurance Insights
 

Particulars	Specification
Travel insurance Cost	Starting at AED 24
Age Range Covered Under the Insurance	30 days to 60-65 years
Covid-19 coverage	Mandatory quarantine stay expenses for 7 to 14 days, including the cost for RT-PCR tests and medicines.
Countries Covered	200+ Countries covered
Duration of Insurance	Single trip: A trip of upto 90 days or upto the return date ( which ever is earlier ) Multi trip: Valid up to 1 year with a maximum coverage of up to 90 days per trip
Medical Benefits	Accidental Death Emergency Medical Expenses Hospital Daily Cash Allowance Loss of Baggage Trip Cancellation Cover Missed Departure or Connection Flights
Add-ons	Emergency dental expenses Adventure Sports Cover Luxury Item Loss Cover Pre-Existing Medical Disease
Covers Family	Available with most plans
Claim procedure	Can Claim both online and offline
Claim Settlement Preiod	Varies with insurer

Travel Insurance in UAE

The United Arab Emirates puts a lot of emphasis on travel insurance plans. This is evident from the fact that all visitors must have a proper travel insurance. Travel insurance focuses on ensuring that you have every possible protection cover you may need when travelling to a foreign country. From medical benefits to trip cancellation and personal liability, every important benefit is provided by travel insurance. These plans can be bought via both online and offline platforms. There are over 60 insurance providers you can scout through.

Key Features and Benefits of Travel Insurance 

There are several important benefits of travel insurance plans which makes it worth buying them for every traveller. If you are wondering why to get a travel insurance for each trip you take, below are some points explain why is travel insurance important for all:

Covid-19 Coverage

Covid-19 coverage is now offered as one of the main benefits of travel insurance plans offered in the UAE. Most comprehensive travel insurance plans include Covid-19 coverage as a basic benefit while others may have it as an add-on cover. Covid-19 cover, in most cases, covers the mandatory quarantine stay for 7 to 14 days as well as the cost for RT-PCR tests and medicines, if you need any. This mostly only applies when you get tested positive for Covid-19. 

Baggage Cover

The baggage coverage of insurance for travellers is one of the most sought benefits. Losing your baggage during a flight or having it delayed can cause a lot of problems when you are on a trip. Baggage cover benefits like lost baggage benefit lost personal documents benefit or baggage delay benefit allows you compensation to either help you buy things you need for the trip or to compensate for lost time during the trip. 

Medical Cover

The medical cover of a travel insurance plan offers much-needed help when you are away from home in a foreign country. From emergency medical coverage to medical evacuation, hospital cash allowance, and repatriation, almost all necessary services are covered in medical cover offered by travel insurance. 

Trip-related Benefits

You may face a few troubles when you are out on a trip. Trip-related coverage of insurance for travellers ensures that you are protected in these times of need. Trip-related benefits included in travel policies can be personal liability cover, legal fee cover, missed or delayed flight cover, hijack allowance and more. This range can differ as per the comprehensiveness of the plan.  

Portable Plans

Annual travel insurance plans can be ported to a different provider if you like. Porting plans is possible during the renewal period of the plan. 

Mandatory Requirements 

Having travel insurance is often a must-have for many places around the world. This is not a mandate for all countries. You can find the mandatory travel insurance requirements for any particular country.

Personal Liability Cover

Personal liability cover is a rather important travel insurance benefit. It covers any liability you come across while travelling. Personal liability benefit covers third-party liabilities that arise due to an accident. Liabilities coming out of performing illegal activities are not covered, however. 

Flight-Related Benefits

Flights are often subject to change, cancellation and even delay. While flight cancellation is not something that you can control, you can certainly save yourself some costs by getting insurance for travellers. Almost plans offer compensation for cancelled flights, flight delays and other flight-related benefits of best travel flight insurance.

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Best Travel Insurance Partners in UAE

Types of Travel Insurance Plans 

Travel insurance is quite widespread and there are several divisions and sub-divisions when it comes to the types of travel insurance in UAE. 

Travel insurance plans can be divided into three categories depending which are explained as follows:

1. As Per the Type of Travellers

• Individual Travel Insurance: Individual travel insurance plans, as the name suggests, cover individual travellers only. The benefits included in an individual plan are as comprehensive as any other plan you may come across. Travel health insurance, trip-related and baggage related benefits are included in most individual travel insurance in UAE. It is best suited for people travelling alone or group travel insurance if groups with friends. 
• Family Travel Insurance: A family travel insurance plan covers all included members of the family. Anyone from 30-day old children to 65-year old senior citizens can be included in family plans. The maximum age of members can differ a few years as per the provider you pick for your travel insurance plan.  
• Business Travel Insurance: Business travel insurance plans are bought by companies and business organisations for their employees who travel for work. Any employee of a company who travels internationally can utilise business plans at the company’s discretion. Benefits included in a business plan are quite similar to that of a generic personal travel insurance plan. A few added covers may be found here though. This can include being benefits like cover for electronic gadgets. Other than that, basic benefits like travel medical insurance and baggage and trip covers are also available. 
• Student Travel Insurance: Student travel insurance plans are designed for students who travel abroad for studying. Any student between 16 and 35 years of age can avail of a student insurance in UAE. Apart from the basic travel medical insurance and travel benefits, a student insurance plan may also include benefits like sponsor cover and study interruption cover.
• Senior Citizen Travel Insurance:  Travel insurance plans for senior citizens are designed for people older than 65-70 years of age. The minimum, as well as maximum age applicable for these plans, can differ as per the provider. Some providers offer travel insurance up to the age of 99 years while some only offer it until 80-85 years. Senior citizen travel insurance plans are more expensive than any other kind of travel insurance policy. This is due to the increased risk factor that older people bring in for the insurer.

2. As Per Geographical Coverage

• Domestic Travel Insurance: Domestic travel insurance plans offer you coverage when you are travelling to the Gulf countries or the UAE. The range of benefits covered in domestic travel insurance UAE, Dubai plans is similar to those covered in international travel insurance plans. This can include, travel medical cover, trip-related coverage, flight-related covers and baggage benefits as well.
• International Travel Insurance: As the name suggests, international travel insurance plans are applicable all across the world. They offer you protection when you are travelling to a foreign country. The included benefits could be travel health insurance, flight curtailment and cancellation benefits, baggage related coverage and more. 
• Schengen Travel Insurance:  Schengen travel insurance plans are a type of international travel insurance. These plans are applicable within the 26 Schengen countries only. The included benefits are similar to those provided in other kinds of plans. There are some minimum specified requirements that every Schengen travel insurance plan must meet.  

3. As Per Length and Frequency of Trips

• Single Trip Travel Insurance Plan:  As the name suggests, a single trip travel insurance plan is designed to cover you only for one trip. The plan coverage begins as soon as you depart for the trip and ends as soon as your trip duration ends. All basic and add-on benefits are available in these plans. Single trip travel insurance plans can be bought as individual travel plans, family plans or senior citizen travel insurance as well.
• Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance Plan: An annual multi-trip travel insurance plan comes with a yearly validity. It can be used to cover multiple trips taken within the tenure of the plan. Annual multi-trip plans are perfect for people who travel more than 3 times in one year. Almost all business insurance for travellers are multi-trip travel insurance plans since travelling employees have to take multiple trips. The benefits included are the same as any other kind of plan from the portfolio. 

Best Travel Insurance in UAE

Here is a comprehensive list of cheapest travel insurance  :

Plan Name	Medical Cover	Max Duration	Price
AIG Insurance Annual Silver	$ 50,000	90 days/trip
Al Hilal Travel Gold Annual	$ 100,000	92 days/trip
Union Insurance Annual 1	$ 1,000,000	31 days/trip
Watania Travel Annual Program 1	$ 500,000	30 days/trip
AIG Insurance Annual Platinum	$ 500,000	90 days/trip
See More Plans >>

What is covered under Travel Insurance in UAE? 

Travel insurance cover inclusions can be divided into three main categories – travel medical insurance coverage, trip-related coverage and baggage-related coverage. These three categories have several further benefits. Examine the below-given section to find what is covered under travel insurance :

1. Travel Medical Insurance Coverage and Benefits

• Emergency Medical Expenses: As the name suggests, this travel insurance benefit covers all emergency medical Covers for minor as well as major injuries and illnesses and offers reimbursement as per the assured amount of the plan. This also includes emergency dental cover.
• Medical Evacuation Cover: The medical evacuation benefit can help you get evacuated to the nearest hospital in times of need. This benefit can also be used to have you evacuated to your home country in case of a medical emergency.
• Hospital Daily Cash Allowance: If you happen to be hospitalised in a foreign country for an injury or illness, the travel medical insurance plans offer a daily allowance to cover hospitalisation fees, minus the deductible amount. It also covers the room rent of the hospital you are admitted to.
• Medical & Body Repatriation: This benefit is useful in case one of the covered members meet their demise on the trip. The medical repatriation benefit can be used to transfer their mortal remains back to their home country. 
• Personal Accident Cover: When included in a travel insurance, personal accident cover offers compensation for accidental death, accidental disabilities and accidental medical expenses.
• Family Compassionate Visit Cover: If you fall ill and have to be admitted to a hospital when on a trip, your insurance for travellers may cover the compassionate visit of one of your family members. 

2. Baggage-related Coverage

• Loss of Baggage: The loss of baggage benefit of a travel plan comes in effect when you lose your baggage while on the trip. This is valid for the entirety of the trip. The lost baggage benefit offers a compensation amount for the lost baggage as per the limit of the plan.
• Loss of Personal Documents: Losing your personal documents can be quite problematic. Most travel insurance plans provide coverage to recover your lost documents, especially your passport. Many plans offer compensation for all lost documents while others only offer cover for a lost passport. 
• Loss of checked-in baggage: The baggage that you check in at the airport can also get lost. Checked-in baggage lost at the airport or on a flight is covered under this benefit. The coverage is offered up to the sub-limit of the plan. 
• Delay of checked-in baggage: Since your checked-in baggage is transported separately, there is a chance for it to get delayed. This benefit offers compensation for the duration of the delay. 

3. Trip-Related Benefits and Coverage

• Trip Cancellation Cover: In case your trip gets cancelled due to an unforeseen reason, your insurance for travellers offers compensation to cover the financial loss of travel and accommodation bookings. 
• Trip Curtailment Benefit: If your trip gets delayed due to any unforeseen reason, insurance for travellers would offer compensation for it.
• Personal Liability Cover: Personal Liability cover of travel insurance plan offers help in covering for any kind of accidental personal liability you incur during the trip. 
• Financial Assistance: Your travel insurance plan may help you if you are facing any kind of financial troubles while on the trip. 
• Delayed Departures: Delayed departure of your flights can not only be troublesome but may also lead to financial loss. Travel insurance policies compensate you for the delay as per the rate described in the plan. 
• Missed Departure or Connection Flights: You get compensated for the price of the ticket of the flight that you have missed. The compensation amount is limited to the sub-limit of the benefit. 
• Hijack Cover: If your plane happens to get hijacked, the insurance plan covers compensation for the duration of the hijack.
• Hotel Booking Cover: In case your trip gets cancelled, the travel insurance plan also covers the accommodation arrangements you made.

Add-On and Optional Covers

• Emergency dental expenses: Some plans cover dental expenses as a basic benefit while others require you to add it as an add-on benefit. The expenses covered only include the emergency dental treatments you take during the trip. 
• Adventure Sports Cover: Adventure sports add-on covers bookings, equipment and medical treatment due to sports like skiing and diving.
• Luxury Item Loss Cover: While luggage loss is covered as a basic benefit of insurance for travellers, losing luxury items like jewellery is not covered. However, an add-on can be used to cover the loss of your luxury items as well.
• War-Prone Location Cover:  War-related damage and injuries can be covered by a generic travel insurance plan with this add-on. 
• Pre-Existing Medical Disease: Pre-existing conditions are covered by all health insurance plans in the UAE but the same does not apply to travel insurance plans. An add-on can be used to make sure that your travel insurance covers medical treatment for pre-existing diseases as well. 
• Electrical Items and Gadget Cover: Generally electrical items and gadgets like laptops are not covered by generic personal travel insurance plans. This can be covered by a business travel insurance plan though. Add-on can be used to include this cover in your generic plan.

What is not covered under Travel Insurance in UAE?

Following are some of the most common travel insurance exclusions:

• Injuries and illnesses are caused when being a part of illegal or dangerous activities
• Unless covered by an add-on, treatment and hospitalization for pre-existing diseases are not covered
• Suicide or self-inflicted injuries are also not covered
• Injuries or illnesses are caused when under the influence of alcohol
• Medical trips were taken as per the doctor’s advice
• Damages caused by substance abuse
• Damages or losses are retained due to war or war-like situations
• Radioactivity or radioactive substances cause damages or injuries
• Any kind of non-medical expenses
• Cosmetic treatments or medical treatments for obesity
• Any kind of pregnancy complications

Does Travel Insurance cover Pregnancy?

Eligibility Criteria to Buy Travel Insurance In UAE

The eligibility criteria for buying the cheapest travel insurance plan in UAE is pretty simple really. You should be older than 18 years of age and have valid ID proofs for your citizenship or residency. However, a few other eligibility criteria may be applicable as per the type of travel plan you need to buy. Given below is the complete list of eligibility:

General Eligibility Criteria to Buy Travel Insurance

• You should either be a UAE resident or a citizen to buy the cheapest travel insurance.
• Anyone older than 30 days can be included as an insured member of a travel insurance plan. The maximum age can differ as per each provider. 

Eligibility Criteria to Buy Travel Insurance as per the Type of Plan:

• Individual Travel Insurance Plans: Any one individual can buy an individual travel insurance plan. Most insurance providers set the minimum age limit for individual travel plans at 18 years.
• Family Travel Insurance Plans: Most family travel insurance plans can cover two adults and two children. Any child older than 30 days can be insured by a family travel insurance plan. The maximum age limit here ranges around 60-65 years. 
• Corporate or Business Travel Insurance Plans: Business travel insurance plans can generally only be bought by the companies. Some providers also offer business plans to individuals though. A company-owned business can be utilized by employees at per company’s discretion.
• Senior Citizen Travel Insurance Plans: Most providers allow people older than 60-65 years to buy senior citizen travel insurance plans. The maximum age limit of senior citizen plans may differ as per the providers. 
• Student Travel Insurance Plans: Any student aged between 16 to 35 years of age can get a student travel insurance plan. You will also need proper documents representing your status as a student.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disease in UAE?

With Covid-19 dominating the world as of now, more and more insurance companies, if not all, are introducing coronavirus cover in their insurance plans, not only health but also travel insurance plans as well. The Covid-19 travel guard cover generally covers the insured person for Covid-19 infection while being on the trip or before leaving. If you are diagnosed with Covid-19 before boarding the flight, the insurance will cover the cancellation expenses of the trip. If you come in contact with the infection while being on the trip, the insurance generally covers the treatment expenses and compensated for trip interruption. The coverage benefits may differ as per the insurance company that you choose to make it a point to check out the full list of benefits offered in the Covid-19 cover. 

How to Choose Best Travel Insurance Cover In UAE?

• Conduct Proper Research: Avoid picking the first option you come across. Conducting proper research is a must when you set out to choose the best travel insurance cover. Get information about the top providers in your emirates and take hold of their top plans. Compare the benefits of each plan you shortlist along with the cost of the plan. Comparing both things can help in determining the cost-effectiveness of the plan.
• Read Customer Reviews: Going through the reviews of existing customers can be very helpful to find the best-rated travel insurance cover. A lot of things may look good in theory but aren’t as good in practical situations. This can be identified from the reviews of other customers who have already bought it. Since everything is digital now, you can easily find the reviews online as well.
• Compare Quotes: Once you have figured the top 2 or 3 contenders to find your best travel insurance covers, get quotes for them. The actual quote you get for your cheapest travel insurance may differ from the face value shown by the provider. This is because several individual factors can influence the premium amount of your
• Check Flexibility of the Plans: Flexible travel insurance plans are the best possible choice since you can cater them as per your individual requirements. Find a travel insurance online that can be customised as you want it to be.
• Assess Your Needs: Sit back and make a list of benefits you actually need in your travel insurance plans. While all benefits may seem important, they are not of any use to a lot of people. For example, buying a very comprehensive travel insurance with an adventure sports cover will not make sense if you have no plans to go play adventure sports. List your requirements and then buy a plan according to them. 

How to Calculate Travel Insurance Premium Online?

One sure–shot easy way to calculate travel insurance premium is by using an online travel insurance cost calculator. Several such online travel insurance premium calculators are available on the internet for you to utilise. While all these calculators may differ a little, most of them require similar information to give you a result. The information you may need to get results via the travel insurance calculator online can include, the type of plans you need, existing medical conditions, personal details, and the expected assured sum of the plan. Just fill in the required information and obtain the results.

Tips to Reduce Your Travel Insurance Premium

Buy Your Plan Early: The later you put off buying a travel insurance plan, the higher travel insurance premium you will get. Purchasing your travel insurance plan early can help you get significantly lower premiums.  The ideal time to buy your cheapest travel insurance plan is when you buy your travel tickets and accommodation arrangements. 

Compare Your Options: Comparing different options you come across not only gives you a fair idea of the cheapest available plan but also help in determining the market standards. So, always compare your top cheapest travel insurance premium options before you make a final decision.

Steer Clear of Bundle Deals: Many airlines offer bundle deals when you buy your air tickets. These bundle deals often seem like the easy way to get done with travel insurance plan shopping. But in reality, these bundle plans are not as cost-effective as you would like them to be. The offered benefits are way lesser than what most travel insurance providers offer and the travel insurance premiums are way too high.

Customise Your Plans: Try and customize your travel insurance coverage as per your unique needs. Make a list of your requirements and then find a plan that suits them. A plan that is flexible and customizable will save you some cost since you can remove all the unwanted benefits and reduce the price.

Take Your Time: Being hasty is not something you want to be when choosing an insurance plan. Whether it is insurance for travellers or a health insurance plan, taking your time is the key. Invest a few hours in research and only then make the final decision.

Consider Multi-Trip Plans: If you are planning to take multiple trips within one year, it is best if you buy a multi-trip plan. Buying individual plans for each trip will cost you a lot more.

Buy Online: Almost all insurance providers in the UAE offer special discounts for online purchases. Check out if the provider of your choice also offers such a discount and take advantage of it to get lower travel insurance premiums.

What Is the Travel Insurance Claim Process?

Claim procedure for your travel insurance plan may differ a little every time depending on the type of claim you need to submit. The process to file travel insurance claims is quite simple though. Given below are the steps you will need to follow for any certain kind of travel insurance claim you need to file:

• Medical Treatment Claims: If you require emergency medical treatment, call your insurance provider and inform them about the situation. Head to any of the network hospitals and let the hospital know about your insurance coverage. The hospital will get approval from the provider and begin your treatment. The treatment costs will be covered by the insurance provider.
• Theft or Loss of Personal Effects: Contact the police right away and file a report. Call the insurance provider next and let them know about the loss. Get the police report and make an itemized list of the stolen/lost things. Submit both these things along with a claim form and other required documents. You will receive the claim amount in the form of reimbursement.
• Flight and Trip Related Claims: Travel insurance online claims like cancelled flights, cancelled or delayed trips or high-jacked flights can be filed as reimbursement claims. Keep all related documents like flight tickets and accommodation booking receipts safe.

Calling and informing the insurance provider is one of the primary steps. Also make sure that you have all the required documents like medical bills, police reports, list of lost items, flight tickets, hotel booking receipts, etc. Other important documents you will need include a passport, policy documents and claim forms. 

How to Renew a Travel Insurance Policy?

Renewing your travel insurance in UAE is quite easy given the availability of both online and offline options in our midst. Mind that only annual multi-trip travel insurance plans can be renewed. Single–trip plans can only be extended up to a few days only. The extension limit may vary as per the provider. 

To renew your travel insurance plan offline, simply visit the provider branch and set up a renewal request. Your broker will take care of the rest. To renew your travel insurance plan online, you can either go to the provider website or the aggregator website and follow the given steps:

Locate the renewal portal for travel insurance at the provider/aggregator website.

Step 1: Log in using your travel insurance membership number and password provided by the insurer.

Step 2: Go to the renewal form and fill out the requested details.

Step 3: Pick the plan you want to renew with, add or remove add-ons if you wish. If you want to renew with the same plan, simply skip this step and continue.

Step 4: Verify everything and complete your renewal request by paying the premium.

Step 5: Your policy documents will be forwarded to you via email.

6 Tips for Choosing Best Travel Insurance in UAE

Since there are various travel insurance plans available online, it may become difficult to select the best and most suitable one. To ease this process, we are mentioning here some tips that can help you select the best travel insurance policy:

• Affordability of the Premium: The premium of any insurance policy, for sure, plays a major role in the selection of a travel insurance policy. Therefore, check the premium and make sure the coverage that the policy offers justifies it.
• The Credibility of the Insurance Company: The goodwill and positive reviews of the company play a major role while making a selection.
• Hassle-Free Buy, Renew, and Claim Settlement Process: Select a travel insurance company that offers convenient methods to buy, renew, and settle the claim.
• Travel Destination: Make sure that your travel insurance policy is covering the travel destinations of your choice.
  Moreover, the travel destinations that you want to cover affect the premium as well. Travelling to countries where the medical expenses are high cost more premium.
• Travel Duration: The duration of the travel affects the premium too. An insured has to pay a higher premium for journeys with a long duration. So, make a selection accordingly.
• Claim Settlement Ratio: Select an organization that has a good claim settlement ratio. A claim settlement ratio or claim settlement percentage tells a lot about the company and its reputation, so don’t rely on an insurer without checking the claim settlement ratio.   

How PolicyBazaar.ae Helps to Get the Best Travel Insurance Policy Online?

Combining research, comparison, customer reviews and shopping and bringing them to a single platform, Policybazaar.ae eliminates quite a lot of steps of your buying process. Policybazaar.ae is a universal platform where you can find top travel insurance plans from all the best providers in the UAE. You can compare plans, get quotes, read customer reviews and then buy your plan. We work in a partnership with some of the top travel insurance providers in the UAE. Quality customer service and top-tiered financial advice are some of our many seamless services. You can expect to get the following when you shop with Policybazaar.ae:

• Compare and buy plans on a single unified platform.
• Get 24x7 customer services with our pro-active customer help department.
• Access to top travel insurance providers in the UAE.
• Advice from our financial experts to find your perfect plans.
• Easy renewals and quick coverage every time you need.

Countries That Need International Travel Insurance Policy

Although travel insurance is an optional choice for travellers and tourists generally, there are a few countries that have made it mandatory to have travel insurance if you want to visit. UAE is one of these countries as well. Following is a complete list of all the countries that require you to have travel insurance apart from the UAE:

Anguilla Antarctica Aruba The Bahamas Bermuda Brazil The British Virgin Islands Cambodia The Cayman Islands Chile Costa Rica Cuba

Curacao The Democratic Republic of Congo The Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt French Polynesia Israel Iran Jamaica Japan Jordan Lebanon

Mexico Nepal New Zealand Qatar Russia Schengen Countries St. Maarten Tahiti Thailand Turkey Turks and Caicos Ukraine

Note that the conditions and insurance required for each country are always slightly different. For example, the travel insurance for the Schengen group must be a minimum of €30,000. Make sure that you get familiar with all the terms and condition before you invest in a plan.

Travel Insurance FAQs