Why more UAE residents are buying travel insurance, even when visiting home
Travel insurance premiums in the UAE have jumped 12% to 18% as more residents insure even familiar trips this summer.
With summer holidays around the corner and schools on break, UAE residents are gearing up for vacations, many of them heading to their home countries. But what's different this year is the growing number of people purchasing travel insurance, even for destinations that feel familiar.
This trend was highlighted in a recent Khaleej Times report on changing travel insurance habits among UAE residents.
Industry experts say this rising trend is driven by a mix of practical concerns and evolving travel patterns.
Hitesh Motwani, Deputy CEO at Insurancemarket.ae, said there's a significant shift in how UAE travellers view insurance when heading abroad.
'There is a noticeable trend of UAE residents purchasing travel insurance even when travelling to their home countries,' he said.
'This shift is driven by increased awareness of potential risks such as medical emergencies, travel disruptions, or baggage issues that can occur regardless of familiarity with the destination. The affordability of travel insurance also contributes to its growing adoption among travellers seeking comprehensive protection during their trips.'
Toshita Chauhan, business head of general insurance at Policybazaar.ae, confirmed that more expats are now insuring trips home during high-traffic periods like summer, Eid, and school breaks.
'Yes, we've definitely seen that shift. More and more UAE expats are buying travel insurance when flying back home for holidays — especially during summer, Eid, or school breaks,' she said.
'Even if they're going somewhere familiar, many realise that medical expenses or flight delays aren't always easy to manage. The ease of comparing policies online and the affordability of plans has made it a convenient decision for most.'
Premiums are rising: Here's what's behind It
Travel insurance is becoming more common, and more expensive. As summer travel picks up, insurance premiums in the UAE have risen by 12% to 18% year-on-year, According to figures shared by industry executives with Khaleej Times, the increase reflects global medical cost pressures and growing claims activity.
Toshita Chauhan explained that this increase translates to a difference of AED 15 (approx. $4.08) to AED 70 per policy, depending on the travel duration, destination, and the traveller's age.
'The primary factors behind this increase include rising global medical costs and increased claims from travellers bound for Europe, particularly Schengen countries, largely due to hospitalisation and lost baggage.' She noted.
She added that France, Spain, and Italy have topped the list of destinations where UAE travellers request help with medical emergencies. In contrast, tropical vacation spots like Thailand, Bali, and the Maldives have seen more flight cancellations, mostly due to weather-related disruptions.
Travellers heading to the UK and US also face higher medical costs, which has added to the upward pressure on insurance premiums. So far this year, the most common claims filed by UAE travellers are for missed flights and delayed baggage.
Who's paying the most?
Not all travellers are affected equally by these price hikes. Those aged 60 and above have seen the largest premium increases, between 25% and 30%. Meanwhile, people purchasing coverage for adventure sports are facing the steepest rise overall, with premiums up by as much as 40% compared to standard plans.
Even frequent travellers are feeling the change. According to Chauhan:
'Multi-trip annual policies have also become more expensive, with prices increasing by more than 15% due to evolving claims trends and longer average travel times.' She told Khaleej Times.
A word of caution for high-risk destinations
Travellers heading to conflict zones or politically unstable regions, such as Syria, should exercise extra caution when choosing travel insurance. Syria is considered a high-risk destination, and coverage is usually limited or outright excluded by most insurers.
'Many insurers exclude war-prone countries from their standard policies, making it challenging to obtain comprehensive coverage for travel to Syria,' said Hitesh Motwani.
'As a result, most travellers to Syria may not purchase travel insurance, either due to limited availability or the perception that coverage won't be applicable. For those seeking insurance, specialized policies with higher premiums and restricted benefits may be available through select providers, but these are exceptions rather than the norm.'
Toshita Chauhan agreed that some travellers still try to get coverage for Syria, mainly for medical emergencies, trip delays, or baggage loss, but warned that exclusions are often buried in the fine print.
'Importantly, most travel insurance policies explicitly exclude coverage for war zones, areas under conflict, or destinations marked as high-risk by government advisories,' she said.
'Before purchasing a policy, travellers should confirm if Syria is included in the policy's coverage region. Due to the complex risk profile, travellers are strongly advised to proceed with extreme caution and ensure they have complete clarity on coverage terms before making the trip.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Surging travel in Europe spikes concerns over tourism's drawbacks
Suitcases rattle against cobblestones. Selfie-snappers jostle for the same shot. Ice cream shops are everywhere. Europe has been called the world's museum, but its record numbers of visitors have also made it ground zero for concerns about overtourism. Last year, 747 million international travellers visited the continent, far outnumbering any other region in the world, according to the UN's World Tourism Barometer. Southern and Western Europe welcomed more than 70% of them. As the growing tide of travellers strains housing, water and the most Instagrammable hotspots in the region, protests and measures to lessen the effects of overtourism have proliferated. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Polscy seniorzy mogą otrzymać dyskretne aparaty słuchowe jeszcze w tym miesiącu Aparatusluchowe Polska Undo Here's a look at the issue in some of Europe's most visited destinations. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) What's causing overtourism Among factors driving the record numbers are cheap flights, social media, the ease of travel planning using artificial intelligence and what UN tourism officials call a strong economic outlook for many rich countries that send tourists despite some geopolitical and economic tensions. Live Events You Might Also Like: Europe trips growing popular among Indians: Schengen visa applications surge by nearly 40% Citizens of countries like the US, Japan, China and the UK generate the most international trips, especially to popular destinations, such as Barcelona in Spain and Venice in Italy. They swarm these places seasonally, creating uneven demand for housing and resources such as water. Despite popular backlash against the crowds, some tourism officials believe they can be managed with the right infrastructure in place. Italy's Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche said she thinks tourism flows at crowded sites such Florence's Uffizi Galleries that house some of the world's most famous artworks could be better managed with AI, with tourists able to buy their tickets when they book their travel, even months in advance, to prevent surges. She pushed back against the idea that Italy - which like all of its Southern European neighbors, welcomed more international visitors in 2024 than its entire population - has a problem with too many tourists, adding that most visits are within just 4% of the country's territory. You Might Also Like: Middle East's Schengen style GCC tourist visa approved, to be rolled out 'soon' "It's a phenomenon that can absolutely be managed," Santanche told The Associated Press in an interview in her office on Friday. "Tourism must be an opportunity, not a threat - even for local communities. That's why we are focusing on organizing flows." Where overtourism is most intense Countries on the Mediterranean are at the forefront. Olympics-host France, the biggest international destination, last year received 100 million international visitors, while second-place Spain received almost 94 million - nearly double its own population. Protests have erupted across Spain over the past two years. In Barcelona, the water gun has become a symbol of the city's anti-tourism movement after marching protests have spritzed unsuspecting tourists while carrying signs saying: "One more tourist, one less resident!" The pressure on infrastructure has been particularly acute on Spain's Canary and Balearic Islands, which have a combined population of less than 5 million people. Each archipelago saw upwards of 15 million visitors last year. Elsewhere in Europe, tourism overcrowding has vexed Italy's most popular sites including Venice, Rome, Capri and Verona, where Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" was set. On the popular Amalfi Coast, ride-hailing app Uber offers private helicopter and boat rides in the summer to beat the crowds. Greece, which saw nearly four times as many tourists as its own population last year, has struggled with the strain on water, housing and energy in the summer months, especially on popular islands such as Santorini, Mykonos and others. The impact of overtourism In Spain, anti-tourism activists, academics, and the government say that overtourism is driving up housing costs in city centers and other popular locations due to the proliferation of short-term rentals that cater to visitors. Others bemoan changes to the very character of city neighborhoods that drew tourists in the first place. In Barcelona and elsewhere, activists and academics have said that neighborhoods popular with tourists have seen local shops replaced with souvenir vendors, international chains and trendy eateries. On some of Greece's most-visited islands, tourism has overlapped with water scarcity as drought grips the Mediterranean country of 10.4 million. In France, the Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, shut down this week when its staff went on strike warning that the facility was crumbling beneath the weight of overtourism, stranding thousands of ticketed visitors lined up under the baking sun. Angelos Varvarousis, a Barcelona- and Athens-based academic and urban planner who studies the industry, said overtourism risks imposing a "monoculture" on many of Europe's hotspots. "It is combined with the gradual loss and displacement of other social and economic activities," Varvarousis said. What authorities are doing to cope Spain's government wants to tackle what officials call the country's biggest governance challenge: its housing crunch. Last month, Spain's government ordered Airbnb to take down almost 66,000 properties it said had violated local rules - while Barcelona announced a plan last year to phase out all of the 10,000 apartments licensed in the city as short-term rentals by 2028. Officials said the measure was to safeguard the housing supply for full-time residents. Elsewhere, authorities have tried to regulate tourist flows by cracking down on overnight stays or imposing fees for those visiting via cruises. In Greece, starting July 1, a cruise tax will be levied on island visitors at 20 euros ($23) for popular destinations like Mykonos and 5 euros ($5.70) for less-visited islands like Samos. The government has also encouraged visitors to seek quieter locations. To alleviate water problems, water tankers from mainland Greece have helped parched islands, and the islands have also used desalination technology, which separates salts from ocean water to make it drinkable, to boost their drinking water. Other measures have included staggered visiting hours at the Acropolis. Meanwhile, Venice brought back an entry fee this year that was piloted last year on day-trippers who will have to pay between 5 and 10 euros (roughly $6 to $12) to enter the city during the peak season.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Hundreds of Indians stranded in Iran, Israel
New Delhi: Hundreds of Indian nationals - including students, pilgrims, researchers, caregivers and workers - remain stranded in Iran and Israel amid escalating military conflict between the two countries. Indian embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv are coordinating evacuations, but for many scattered across religious centres and universities, return remains uncertain and fraught with risk. Ten students from Bulandshahr's Sakhni village in UP faced difficulties to reach since missiles hit Iran earlier this week. Among them is 22-year-old Sadaf Zehra, a 3rd-year MBBS student at Tehran University. Her father, Zia-ul-Hassan, said, "She said she was fine, then her phone went off. The next day she called and said the university had moved them to a safer location three hours away. Azhar Abbas, another student, narrowly escaped a missile strike that killed five of his classmates. "We spoke to him in a video call three days ago," said his uncle, Muzammil Abbas. "Since then, there has been no contact." Abbasi Beghum, 60, said her blood pressure rose dangerously after hearing about the attacks. "I lost my husband three years ago. 'I worked hard to send my son abroad.' Across UP, many others are in similar situations. Several pilgrims from Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Meerut remain stuck in Iran. Among them are 28 pilgrims from Lucknow, including 83-year-old Kaneez Haider. Her son, Abbas Muzaffar, who travelled with her, said, "We are safe for now, but we're desperate to return. Hotels are expensive. We didn't budget for such delays" Their itinerary included visits to Karbala, Mashhad, Tehran, Nishapur and Kashan. Many had first performed Haj, which concluded with Eid on Monday, and then proceeded to Iran - a common route for Shia pilgrims visiting religious shrines. Tour operator Aqeel Jafar Rizvi of Mehndi Tours and Travels said over 1,000 pilgrims from Lucknow were in Iran, many of them now struggling with funds and limited access to medicines. Families in Kithaur's Isapur area of Meerut confirmed that 11 more pilgrims - including couples and children - remain stranded. Masoom Raza and his family were scheduled to fly back five days ago. Shia cleric Maulana Saif Abbas has written to the ministry of external affairs urging action. "These are middle-class families. They cannot manage extended stays abroad." A similar situation has unfolded in Haridwar's Manglaur area, where 36 residents - including students, pilgrims and long-term workers - remain stuck in Iran. MLA Qazi Nizamuddin wrote to the PMO and state govt seeking help. "They are now trapped in a conflict zone and need immediate assistance," he said. Uttarakhand DGP Deepam Seth said police across all 13 districts are verifying such cases. "Many of them were on long-term visas for over a decade." Israeli tourists currently in the state are also being contacted through Chabad Houses and local channels. Relatives in Deganga's Dhalipara area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas have lost contact with 11 pilgrims who travelled to Iran on May 30 and were scheduled to return on June 18.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Operation Sindhu: 2 more flights with evacuated Indian students from Iran to land tonight; government steps up rescue efforts
Boarding of the evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. India has stepped up efforts in bringing back its citizens under Operation Sindhu from conflict ridden Middle East with back and forth attaks between Israel and Iran enterng Day 8. A day after flight carrying 110 Indians landed in Delhi, two more evacuation flights have been scheduled to arrive in India on Friday night. The first aircraft will touch down in Delhi at approximately 11:30 pm from Mashad, whilst the second flight from Ashgabat is expected to land in Delhi at about 3 am on Saturday. Whilst Indian embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv are facilitating evacuations, many individuals dispersed across religious centres and universities face uncertain and dangerous circumstances regarding their return. Ten students from Bulandshahr's Sakhni village in UP have been unreachable since the recent missile strikes in Iran. Among them is 22-year-old Sadaf Zehra, a third-year MBBS student at Tehran University. Her father, Zia-ul-Hassan, said, "She said she was fine, then her phone went off. The next day she called and said the university had moved them to a safer location three hours away." Azhar Abbas, another student, survived a missile strike that claimed five of his classmates. "We spoke to him in a video call three days ago," said his uncle, Muzammil Abbas. "Since then, there has been no contact." Abbasi Beghum, 60, experienced dangerous blood pressure levels upon hearing about the attacks. "I lost my husband three years ago. I worked hard to send my son abroad." Across UP, numerous families face similar situations. Several pilgrims from Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Meerut were stranded in Iran, including 28 pilgrims from Lucknow, amongst them 83-year-old Kaneez Haider. The group had departed for Iraq on May 27 and entered Iran on June 9, planning to visit Karbala, Mashhad, Tehran, Nishapur and Kashan. Many had initially completed Haj, concluding with Eid on Monday, before proceeding to Iran - a typical route for Shia pilgrims visiting religious shrines. Tour operator Aqeel Jafar Rizvi of Mehndi Tours and Travels reported over 1,000 pilgrims from Lucknow in Iran, many experiencing financial difficulties and limited medicine access. Families in Kithaur's Isapur area of Meerut confirmed 11 additional pilgrims, including families with children, remain stranded.
