Travel insurance for the United Arab Emirates
Compare travel insurance quotes for the UAE and travel with confidence
Expert tips for finding the right travel insurance for the UAE
Before buying a policy, check out these top tips from Adrian Taylor, our travel insurance expert, to help you find the best travel insurance for the United Arab Emirates.
Adrian Taylor
Executive General Manager – General Insurance
Buy early to be protected
Compare and purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan as soon as you make a booking or pay any deposits to ensure you have cancellation cover from the start should you need to cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances. If you purchase travel insurance after an event has started or if you’re aware of the reason you may need to cancel your trip, you won’t be covered for any lost deposits or cancellation fees.
Check that your policy and your itinerary align
When you travel, consider how much cover you may need for medical expenses, trip cancellation fees, baggage delay and rental vehicle excess, based on your plans for your trip. For example, certain adventure activities, as well as cruises, may require you to purchase add-ons to your policy if you want to remain covered, so be sure to factor this into your insurance search.
Declare your pre-existing medical conditions
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, declare these conditions as part of your application to your chosen insurer. Your travel insurance company will assess whether they’re able to provide you with medical cover for your pre-existing conditions, so there are no surprises if you’re injured or become ill when overseas.
Do I need travel insurance for the United Arab Emirates?
We recommend purchasing travel insurance no matter where you’re headed, and the same is true for the UAE. While it’s one of the safer countries to visit in the Middle East, there are still some precautions you should take as you never know when things can go wrong.
Australia doesn’t have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, meaning you’ll have to pay for any overseas medical care yourself. Medical care in the United Arab Emirates can be expensive, and in the UAE, you’ll need to provide an up-front deposit, proof you can pay or details of your appropriate travel insurance policy.1 Fortunately, travel insurance can cover these medical emergencies and expenses, as well as problems such as flight or baggage delays, trip cancellations and much more.
You can also choose between different types of travel insurance. While most people may only need a single trip policy, if you travel to the UAE multiple times a year, you may find more value in an annual multi-trip policy.
Is travel insurance mandatory for the UAE?
No, currently travel insurance isn’t legally necessary for travelling to the UAE or Dubai. Although, it’s strongly recommended, and you should consider purchasing at least medical-only cover in case you get sick or injured while overseas and need to pay for medical expenses.
If you’re looking for a policy that fits your budget and needs, you can compare plans, features and prices with our free travel insurance comparison service.
What should be included in travel insurance for the United Arab Emirates?
With so much to see and do across the UAE, it’s important to check what’s in your travel insurance policy, as coverage differs between policies and insurance providers. The inclusions in your policy will vary depending on the level of cover you’re after.
You can read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the full details of what’s included and excluded in your policy. Read the Target Market Determination (TMD) to check whether a policy is suitable for your circumstances.
While travel insurance can cover various events, if you’re headed to the UAE, you may want to check that you’ve got the following items listed in your travel insurance.
Medical costs
Say you were exploring the Arabian sand dunes of Rub’ al Khali, the world’s largest sand desert, but fell and rolled your ankle. Not only would it be a painful commute to the nearest doctor for medical treatment, but it could be expensive, further souring your trip.
Your travel insurance cover can help foot the bill for hospitalisation and emergency medical expenses, including medical evacuation or repatriation back to Australia, should it be necessary. While getting medical attention is never fun, at least you’ll have peace of mind knowing you may be covered for the cost if you purchase travel insurance.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, getting international travel insurance can be a little more difficult as not all conditions are covered automatically, but it’s even more important in case you end up with unexpected medical bills.
Personal belongings and luggage
With travel insurance, you can get cover for personal belongings, passports, luggage, cash, credit cards and travel documents. You travel cover may provide reimbursement up to the policy limits should they be stolen, lost or damaged.
Cancellations and travel delays
Standard or comprehensive travel insurance policies typically include some form of cancellation cover. Unlike other benefits, cancellation cover starts from as soon as you buy your policy in case you need to cancel before you even depart.
Cancellation cover can also come in handy if your trip is disrupted. For example, you may be covered if bad weather delays your flight and you miss your accommodation or other booking. This may also include emergency accommodation and other necessities you need while you’re delayed.
Adventure activities
From Dubai to Abu Dhabi, there’s no shortage of excitement in the UAE. If you want to get closer to nature, there’s desert horse riding, camel riding tours and even falconry experiences to choose from. For the more daring, the city of Dubai is famous for skydiving.
Often, travel insurance providers will cover a few sports and activities in their policy, or offer cover as an adventure sports add-on to your travel insurance. This is typically for sports and activities with a higher risk of injury.
It’s definitely possible to get travel insurance coverage for activities such as sandboarding, horse riding and even skydiving, but not all travel insurers offer this type of cover.
What’s excluded from travel insurance for the United Arab Emirates?
Having travel insurance, whether you’re visiting the UAE or elsewhere, means you can be covered for a variety of events – but there’s a limit. Exclusions can differ between insurance providers, but generally, you won’t be covered for:
- Being intoxicated. If you consume alcohol or an illicit substance, your insurer typically won’t provide cover for any related incidents.
- Breaking the law. Doing something illegal (or just acting recklessly) can put you at risk of your travel insurance claims being rejected.
- Sports or activities not covered by your policy. If you participate in a sport or activity that wasn’t on your policy and get hurt or your belongings are damaged, you may not be covered.
- Unattended luggage. Even with insurance cover for your possessions, it’s important not to leave them unattended. This makes it easier for thieves to steal them, and your insurer may not pay a claim.
- Pandemics and epidemics. Generally, costs associated with pandemics and epidemics are not included under travel insurance policies. The exception to this is COVID-19, as some comprehensive travel insurance policies offer COVID-19 cover.
Check a policy’s terms, conditions and limits before purchasing to understand where and when your cover applies.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As a General Insurance expert with over 13 years’ experience in financial services, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.
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1 Smartraveller, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government. United Arab Emirates. Information accurate as of May 2025. Accessed May 2025.