Travel insurance a mandatory requirement if you need a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates (of which Dubai is a part of). You won’t be able to apply for an UAE visa unless you show proof of having obtained travel insurance.
Where Can I Get Travel Health Insurance for Dubai (UAE)?
You can get travel health insurance for Dubai and the UAE via a travel insurance company in your country or through policy comparison platforms.
When buying a travel insurance policy, keep the following in mind:
- Buy it early. Travel insurance should be one of the first things you get once you book a trip. Especially if your deposits are non-refundable and you are traveling to a country such as the UAE, where accommodation can be quite costly. If you need to cancel, then you will receive some if not all your money back.
- Research and compare different policies online.
- Read the entire policy, including the fine print, very carefully. Although it can be tiresome and boring, knowing exactly how much coverage you have will save you from unexpected costs if you do need to make a claim.
What Should Travel Medical Insurance for Dubai Include?
When you buy travel medical insurance for Dubai, make sure you find a policy which covers at least these basics:
- Medical emergencies. Find a policy that offers cover for emergency medical care, such as the ambulance and ER, surgical procedures, doctor’s visit, hospitalization, and the cost of medicine.
- Trip disruption. Since a trip to the UAE is very likely expensive, then you should get coverage for any non-refundable reservations or deposits that you have made. If something does occur that can lead to cancellation, you want to make sure that at least part of your expenses can be recovered.
- Coverage for loss of personal belonging.
- Coverage for emergency evacuation or repatriation of mortal remains. In case you need to be evacuated to your home country.
Compare the available travel health insurance plans for Dubai here.
Is Dubai Travel Insurance Expensive?
The cost of travel insurance for the UAE depends on a few factors:
- The duration of your trip.
- How much coverage you want.
- When you buy it.
- Your age.
- How many people are included in your plan.
Generally speaking, you can expect to pay somewhere between 4% to 10% of your trip for your travel insurance. Learn more about the prices of Dubai travel health insurance plans at Insubuy.
Is Healthcare Expensive in the UAE for Tourists?
The UAE is known for having a great healthcare system, so if you fall ill or get into an accident there, you will be well taken care of. However, except for UAE citizens, healthcare is not free. In fact, medical costs are quite high if you do not have some form of health insurance.
So, if you are debating whether to get travel health insurance, remember that the extra cost of the insurance policy is only a fraction of what you may have to pay in case you need medical assistance.
Are There Any Risks to Visiting Dubai?
Crime-wise, the UAE s a relatively safe place to visit. There are low crime rates and tourists are rarely affected by either violent or petty crime, such as pickpocketing.
What Laws Should I Be Aware of Before Visiting Dubai?
However, it is worth noting that the laws and social rules in the UAE are much stricter than in Western countries. Even if you do not have to be wary of crime, you must take care to not break the law and face trouble with authorities.
Things that people in Western cultures consider normal can be frowned upon in the UAE and even illegal. This includes dressing “immodestly”, swearing in public (even online) or making rude gestures, eating in public transport (or eating anywhere in public during Ramadan), public displays of affection (especially unmarried or same-sex couples), criticizing the government, fundraising, taking pictures of other people without their permission, or pictures of road accidents, military buildings, palaces, or courts, etc.
Breaking these laws can result in a hefty fine at best or even arrest and jail time. So, make sure you read up on the UAE laws before you travel and follow them.