Travelling in the United Arab Emirates, or UAE – an independent county on the Arabian Peninsula, comprising seven emirates – is an experience that combines both old and new. While Dubai is known for its modern lifestyle, Sharjah is known for its artistic past, while the charming city of Ajman stands in stark contrast to the capital city of Abu Dhabi, for example.
While most tourist visits to the UAE are relatively safe and hassle-free, it’s wise and, since the pandemic, legally mandatory – to purchase adequate travel insurance to cover you while visiting the country. Comprehensive, reliable travelling insurance can rescue you in the event of any medical – or non-medical – crises. Reputable travel insurance providers offer comprehensive travel insurance policies with clear terms and conditions, most of which can easily be accessed online.
Some travellers see travel insurance as a waste of money, preferring to skip on the cost of cover so they can save money for travel instead. However, the value of travel insurance is only truly realised once faced with a difficult situation; until then, you probably won’t fully appreciate just how much travel insurance can help you.
Here are just four reasons why it pays to take out travel insurance before visiting the UAE.
Emergency coverage
Without doubt, this is probably the main motivating factor for taking out a travel insurance policy, regardless of where you’ll be visiting. If you’re involved in an accident or you become ill while on the road, travel insurance will cover your medical bills, hospital payments, and any other expenses specified in your chosen policy. If you didn’t have any insurance cover in place, the medical bills and any associated repatriation costs could run into thousands, or even millions of pounds.
So, while it might be tempting to save yourself a few pounds on forking out for an insurance policy, this may not be the most sensible travel decision you’ll end up making.
Insurance for unforeseen events
When looking for a travel insurance policy to cover your trip to the UAE, ensure that you’ll be fully protected and covered against any unforeseen, or unexpected events.
This could range from extreme weather and natural disasters, to cancelled flights due to holiday operator or airline failure, or any unfortunate accidents that might occur to either yourself or your travel companions. Having a valid travel insurance policy in place can help to ensure that you’ll be financially compensated for any potential losses.
Lost or delayed luggage
Baggage loss and delay is a common occurrence, covered by most modern day travel insurance policies. There may be situations when your luggage is held by airport officials, or when your luggage is delayed or misplaced.
Your travel insurance provider will be responsible for paying the benefit if the loss is not due to your own carelessness. In most circumstances, your travel insurance policy will cover the cost of emergency clothing, medical treatment, and other essential needs. Don’t take this for granted, though; always check the terms and conditions of your specific policy, to be sure.
Cancelled flights or holidays
Although individual policies differ, many travel insurance policies will indemnify the covered traveller for any travel and accommodation expenses incurred as a result of flight or holiday cancellation, due to one of the reasons below :
- Terrorism, or natural calamity such as earthquake, storm, flood, inundation or cyclone at, or in the vicinity of, the place of origin of the journey.
- Strikes and Riots (subject to terms and conditions)
- Loss of passport
- Advisory issued by the government of any country not to travel, compulsory quarantine or prevention of travel by the government of any country
These are just a few examples of how you could benefit from taking out a reliable travel insurance policy before visiting a country like the UAE. However, this is by no means a complete list. Always read the small print and check terms and conditions thoroughly before deciding on a policy and parting with your cash.
Tell me about your experiences of travelling to the UAE. How would you feel about visiting the country without travel insurance in place – is a reliable policy a ‘must for you’?