Insurance in the UAE A Step-by-Step Guide

Within the Gulf Cooperative Council, the UAE has the largest insurance market (GCC). In the United Arab Emirates, there are currently 62 insurance companies – 35 national and 27 international – as well as brokers, agents, and consultants.

In addition, the insurance market in the United Arab Emirates grew by 17% in 2019, yet penetration remains low when compared to many OECD countries. Furthermore, several types of insurance are still available only voluntarily. The UAE's two most important sectors are health and automobile insurance. Many of the local suppliers are sharia-compliant takaful insurance cooperatives.

In the United Arab Emirates, insurance is governed by the Insurance Authority. Regional regulation is carried out by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Dubai's and Abu Dhabi's health departments are also in charge of the city's health insurance markets. The Emirates Insurance Association represents the majority of insurance companies in the United Arab Emirates.

In the United Arab Emirates, it is compulsory to have the following insurance:

1. Insurance for Automobiles

You must have third-party liability insurance if you plan on driving in the UAE. This protects you from third-party claims for bodily injury or property damage.

In the United Arab Emirates, you can also get full coverage car insurance. This includes all occurrences, including those in which you are at fault, as well as damage to or theft of your car. You can also add emergency medical coverage, off-road incidents, and roadside assistance coverage to your policy.

Insurance firms in the UAE provide no-claim bonuses, which cut your premiums based on how long you have gone without filing a claim.

The type of car, the level of coverage, and the driver's history all influence premiums. The typical yearly auto insurance premiums in the UAE range from AED 1,528 to 1,983 for the most popular models.

2. Insurance for Health

If you live in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you must have health insurance; however, private insurance can be purchased elsewhere.

Employers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi typically provide their employees health insurance. Basic doctor's visits and hospitalization are frequently covered. Standard plans, on the other hand, frequently do not include specialist care, as well as dental and vision care. If you require additional coverage, you should verify your premium and raise it.

In the United Arab Emirates, there are various types of optional insurance.

1. Home Insurance

Both the building and its contents can be covered by home insurance in the UAE. You can determine the scope of coverage because this is an optional sort of insurance.

Fire, floods, earthquakes, storms, and vandalism are all covered by building insurance. Theft, loss, or damage to your belongings are all covered by contents insurance. It's critical to review policies for any requirements about what you must do to secure your property from potential threats.

You can obtain additional coverage if you rent your property to renters in the United Arab Emirates, such as fees for alternate emergency lodging, home-based accidents, or rental loss. The cost of homeowner's insurance varies depending on risk factors and the value of the policy, but it usually starts at around AED 350 per year.

2. Life Insurance is a type of protection against the unexpected

A variety of providers operating in the UAE offer life insurance. Many ex-pats either purchase a plan from an overseas provider or transfer a policy they already have. Some UAE firms, however, include life insurance as part of their benefits package, alongside health insurance.

You can pick a plan that best suits your needs, and the majority of them are designed to pay the living expenses of your spouse and dependents if you die. A lump-sum payment is usually given to them. You can also buy packages that will help you to provide for yourself if you retire or get disabled and are unable to work.

Premiums will be determined by several lifestyle characteristics as well as the type of insurance purchased.

3. Insurance Cover for Travel

Travel insurance is a good option if you live in the UAE and frequently travel outside the country. This can be used to cover a variety of expenses, including:

Expenditures for cancelled or missed flights, lost or delayed baggage, medical expenses, and emergency lodging fees in the event of an incident when travelling abroad; as well as Liability costs to third parties.

4 Income Security Insurance

In the United Arab Emirates, social security only applies to employed nationals. As a result, ex-pats are unprotected in the event of job loss or illness. With this in mind, purchasing income protection insurance to keep yourself from being out of money if you are unable to work for any reason is an excellent option.

The majority of organizations that provide this type of insurance allow you to customize your policy to meet your specific requirements. Standard insurance covers temporary or permanent illness or disability, but you can often pay extra to cover any time off from work.

5. Insurance Against Liability

This type of insurance is more commonly associated with companies. Individuals, on the other hand, can get insurance to protect themselves from claims made against them as a result of injuries or property damage to third parties.

Liability insurance is typically purchased as an add-on to house insurance to cover mishaps that occur in the residence. Many insurance carriers also provide it as a stand-alone policy.

We are a fully operational internet-based marketing company based in Dubai. We are committed to developing effective content and strategies for corporate brands who want to shine their business in the online world.