Travel Insurance for UAE Residents: A Guide
What travel insurance covers, single-trip or annual, and what to check before you buy.
✓ Since 1995 · ✓ Central Bank of the UAE Reg. No. 081 · ✓ Compared across leading UAE insurers
Medical treatment abroad can be very expensive, and many UAE health plans only cover emergencies outside the country, or nothing at all. Travel insurance fills that gap and also covers problems such as cancelled trips and lost baggage. This guide explains how it works for UAE residents. It's written by Al Berwaz Insurance Brokers, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE (Registration No. 081).
What it usually covers
- Medical emergencies: treatment and hospital stays abroad, and emergency evacuation.
- Cancellation: non-refundable costs if you have to cancel or cut short a trip for a covered reason.
- Baggage: lost, stolen or delayed luggage and personal belongings.
- Travel delay: extra costs when your flight is delayed.
- Personal liability: if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property abroad.
Single trip or annual cover
Single-trip cover suits occasional travel. If you travel two or three times a year or more, annual multi-trip cover is usually cheaper and saves buying a new policy each time.
Visa requirements
Schengen visa applications require travel medical insurance with at least EUR 30,000 of cover. Other countries have their own rules, so check before you apply.
What isn't usually covered
- Pre-existing conditions you didn't declare
- Hazardous activities such as diving or skiing, unless added
- Travel against official government travel advice
- Losses caused by alcohol or drugs
- Valuables left unattended
Why use a broker?
Travel policies differ on medical limits, cancellation reasons and activities covered. A broker compares insurers and helps you pick cover that matches how and where you travel. Broker commission is built into the insurer's premium, so using a broker doesn't add to your cost.
Related:Travel insurance · Health insurance guide · All guides
Got questions? We've got answers
Quick answers to other questions travellers ask us about travel insurance.
Ask Us a QuestionWhen should I buy travel insurance?
As soon as you book, so that cancellation cover protects you if you have to cancel before you travel.
Does it cover my family?
Family policies cover you, your spouse and your children, often for less than separate policies.
What do I do in a medical emergency abroad?
Where possible, call the insurer's 24-hour assistance number on your policy before treatment. They can arrange the hospital and pay it directly.
Can I buy cover after I've left the UAE?
Most policies must be bought before you travel. Some insurers sell cover once you're abroad, but with waiting periods, so buy before you leave.
✓ Serving Abu Dhabi since 1995
✓ Licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE (Reg. No. 081)
✓ Travel cover compared across leading UAE insurers
Sources:Embassy of Sweden in the UAE: Medical travel insurance. Checked October 2026.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Terms differ between insurers. Cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions of the issuing insurer.