With summer holidays just around the corner, many Dubai residents are busy booking flights and hotels, but pushing travel insurance to the last minute. Insurance experts warn that this could be one of the costliest decisions of your trip.
According to Anas Mistareehi, CEO of eSanad, the real purpose of travel insurance goes far beyond meeting visa requirements. “The goal isn’t just to meet a visa requirement,” he explains. “It’s to make sure a serious illness, surgery or even a medical evacuation doesn’t turn into a huge financial burden.”
1. Don’t Just Pick the Cheapest Policy
Pavan Poojary, from Luxury Travels, says most customers ask just one question when shopping for travel insurance: “What’s the cheapest policy?” While saving Dh30 or Dh50 might seem worthwhile, it could prove to be a costly mistake if something goes wrong.
Many travelers only compare medical cover and baggage benefits before making a purchase decision. However, this is only part of the picture. You should also verify whether your policy covers:
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Trip cancellation and trip curtailment
- Personal liability coverage
- Adventure sports (if you plan to ski, scuba dive, or trek) or Museum of the Future Dubai
According to Pavan, travelers often discover these exclusions only after attempting to make a claim, by which point it’s too late.
2. Medical Cover Amounts Should Match Your Destination
One of the biggest misconceptions is that every destination requires the same level of medical coverage. Mistareehi recommends at least $100,000 in emergency medical cover, along with medical evacuation and repatriation services, regardless of where you’re traveling.
However, for countries with particularly expensive healthcare systems, such as the United States and Canada, he advises travelers to consider significantly higher medical cover of $250,000 to $500,000.
The good news is that travel insurance plans available in the UAE offer medical cover ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, giving you flexibility to choose based on your specific destination.
3. Understand Why Claims Get Rejected
Many travelers assume that once they have travel insurance, every claim will be automatically approved. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. The most common reason claims are rejected is that the specific incident isn’t covered under the policy. This often happens when travelers:
- Fail to declare pre-existing medical conditions
- Participate in activities excluded by the policy
- Travel despite medical advice
- Buy insurance after a problem is already known
- Fail to keep necessary documentation to support their claim
Additional rejection reasons include claims involving alcohol, illegal activities, or travel to excluded destinations.
4. Act Quickly if You Need Hospital Care Abroad
If you’re admitted to hospital while overseas, your first priority should always be obtaining medical treatment. But don’t wait until you return to the UAE before informing your insurer.
Mistareehi advises: “Get emergency treatment immediately. Then contact your insurer’s 24-hour assistance team as soon as possible, or ask someone to do it for you.”
Providing your policy number, hospital details, doctor’s diagnosis and expected treatment early allows the insurer to coordinate with the hospital and potentially arrange direct payment instead of requiring you to pay upfront.
Always keep copies of medical reports, prescriptions, invoices and receipts, as these may be needed when submitting your claim.
5. Is Comprehensive Insurance Really Worth the Extra Cost?
Many travelers assume comprehensive travel insurance comes with a hefty price tag. The reality is quite different.
For a healthy adult taking a one-week international holiday, comprehensive travel insurance from the UAE typically costs between Dh75 and Dh200, depending on the destination, age and planned activities. Once reach Dubai, you can explore the top coffee shops in Dubai in 2026.
Current pricing in the UAE market includes:
- Single-trip standard cover: starting from around Dh76
- Single-trip premium cover: starting from Dh99
- Family plans: beginning at approximately Dh190
For that modest extra investment, you typically receive much better value, including:
- Higher medical cover limits
- Better protection for trip cancellation and curtailment
- Stronger baggage and travel delay benefits
- Emergency evacuation coverage
- Personal liability protection
- Enhanced support services
The Bottom Line: Don’t Treat Insurance as Just Another Travel Box to Tick
Your summer holiday may last only a week or two, but the financial protection it provides lasts much longer. As Pavan wisely notes: “Spending a few extra minutes understanding your travel insurance could save you thousands of dirhams when you need help the most.”
Take the time to review your coverage options, compare policies carefully, and ask questions about what’s included. Your future self will thank you when an emergency strikes and you have the protection you need.
For more travel guides, tips, and updates on living in Dubai, stay tuned to Seek Dubai.
