Insurance in the UAE: The Complete Guide to Every Type of Cover (2026)

Quick answer: Two types of insurance are compulsory for everyone they apply to in the UAE:

  • Health insurance: for all residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and for private-sector employees and domestic workers in the Northern Emirates. It is linked to the residence visa.
  • Third-party motor insurance for every registered vehicle.

Some activities have their own requirements. Examples are construction permits in Dubai, medical practice, yacht licensing, jointly owned buildings in Dubai and Schengen visas. Everything else, including life, home, travel, pet and most business covers, is optional. It is often required by a bank, landlord, client or contract. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) regulates onshore insurance. The DIFC and ADGM financial free zones have their own regulators.

This guide explains the 11 main types of insurance in the UAE, what each one covers, which are compulsory, and how to compare them. Each section links to a detailed guide and to a page where you can request and compare quotes.

The UAE insurance market at a glance

  • Regulator: Central Bank of the UAE. It took over from the former Insurance Authority. The current framework is Federal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025 on the Central Bank, financial institutions and insurance business, in force since 16 September 2025.
  • Insurers: 58 licensed insurance companies on the CBUAE register (July 2025): 22 national conventional, 10 national takaful and 26 branches of foreign insurers.
  • Market size (2025): gross written premium of about AED 74.8 billion, up 14.9%. Health was about AED 30 billion, property and liability about AED 36.4 billion, and life about AED 8.4 billion.
  • VAT: 5% on general insurance such as motor, health, property and travel. Life insurance is exempt.
  • Complaints: complain to the insurer first. If it is not resolved within 15 days, take it to Sanadak, the UAE's free ombudsman for banking and insurance.

Which insurance is mandatory in the UAE?

  • Health insurance: compulsory for all residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and for private-sector employees and domestic workers in the Northern Emirates. It is linked to the residence visa, and employers pay for their employees.
  • Motor third-party liability: compulsory to register or renew any vehicle.
  • Medical malpractice: compulsory for healthcare practitioners.
  • Construction works in Dubai: a contractor's policy is required for a building permit.
  • Jointly owned buildings in Dubai: the owners' association must insure the building.
  • Yachts and jet skis in Dubai: insurance is needed for the licence.
  • Schengen visa: travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000.

The 11 types of insurance in the UAE

1. Motor insurance

Third-party cover is the legal minimum. Comprehensive cover adds damage to your own car. The regulator sets the policy wording and the price bands: third-party cover from AED 750 a year, and comprehensive from AED 1,300 up to 5% of the car's value for a saloon.

Read the car insurance guide · Compare motor quotes

2. Individual and family health insurance

Health insurance is compulsory in every emirate. Who must be covered, and on what terms, depends on the emirate of your visa. Plans range from basic cover, such as the AED 320 plan in the Northern Emirates, to enhanced plans with wider networks, maternity and dental.

Read the health insurance guide · Compare health plans

3. Life insurance

Life insurance pays a lump sum to your family if you die during the policy. The main types are term, whole life and Family Takaful. It is optional, but banks usually require it for mortgages. You get a free-look period of at least 30 days.

Read the life insurance guide · Compare life quotes

4. Pet insurance

Pet insurance pays vet bills for cats and dogs, and can include third-party liability. It is optional. Pets must be microchipped and registered in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Read the pet insurance guide · Compare pet quotes

5. Money and fidelity guarantee insurance

Money insurance covers cash lost to robbery or theft on your premises or in transit. Fidelity guarantee covers losses from employee fraud. Both are commonly bought by businesses that handle cash.

Read the money and fidelity guide · Compare business property quotes

6. Group medical insurance

Every private-sector employer must insure its employees and pay for it in full. Group policies cover the whole team, with benefit categories, and are priced on a census and the group's claims history.

Read the group medical guide · Compare group medical quotes

7. Travel insurance

Travel insurance covers emergency medical care abroad, repatriation, cancellation and baggage. It is required for Schengen visas, with a minimum of EUR 30,000. Annual multi-trip plans suit frequent travellers.

Read the travel insurance guide · Compare travel quotes

8. Home and office property insurance

This covers contents cover for tenants, building cover for owners and landlords, and property all-risks and business interruption for offices, shops and warehouses. Since the April 2024 floods, check flood and storm cover carefully.

Read the property insurance guide · Compare home quotes · Compare business property quotes

9. Corporate and liability insurance

This covers public and product liability, professional indemnity, D&O, workmen's compensation, cyber and trade credit. They are mostly required by contracts, free zones or regulators, not by general law.

Read the corporate insurance guide · Compare liability quotes

10. Marine and cargo insurance

Marine insurance covers goods in transit by sea, air and land under Institute Cargo Clauses A, B or C, as well as hull, P&I and yachts. The Incoterm decides who insures the goods. War-risk terms for Gulf voyages have changed in 2026.

Read the marine insurance guide · Compare marine quotes

11. Engineering insurance

Engineering insurance covers Contractors' All Risks (CAR), Erection All Risks (EAR), plant and machinery, machinery breakdown and electronic equipment. Dubai building permits require a contractor's policy.

Read the engineering insurance guide · Compare engineering quotes

How to compare insurance in the UAE

  1. Know what you must have. Start from the legal minimum and any requirement from your bank, landlord, client or visa.
  2. Compare like for like. Check the limits, excess or co-pay, networks, add-ons and exclusions, not only the premium.
  3. Disclose accurately. Wrong or missing information is a leading cause of refused claims.
  4. Read the wording. The policy wording and table of benefits decide what is paid, not the brochure.
  5. Review every year. Your needs, prices and the market change at each renewal.

insuringU lets you compare individual and family health insurance plans side by side. For other lines, you can request and compare quotes from the relevant page. Start on the insuringU homepage.

Frequently asked questions

What insurance is mandatory in the UAE?

Health insurance, which is linked to the residence visa: for all residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and for private-sector employees and domestic workers in the Northern Emirates. Third-party liability insurance is compulsory for every registered vehicle. Some activities add their own requirements, such as construction permits in Dubai, medical practice and yacht licensing.

Who regulates insurance in the UAE?

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) regulates onshore insurance. It took over from the former Insurance Authority and now regulates insurers, brokers and other insurance-related businesses under Federal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025. Firms in the DIFC and ADGM free zones are regulated by the DFSA and FSRA.

How many insurance companies are there in the UAE?

The CBUAE register listed 58 licensed insurers in July 2025: 22 national conventional, 10 national takaful and 26 branches of foreign insurers.

Is VAT charged on insurance in the UAE?

Yes. General insurance such as motor, health, property and travel carries 5% VAT. Life insurance is exempt.

What is Takaful?

Takaful is Sharia-compliant insurance. Participants contribute to a shared fund that pays claims. The UAE has national takaful insurers offering general and family (life) takaful.

How do I complain about an insurance company in the UAE?

Complain to the insurer first. If you get no reply within 15 calendar days, or an unsatisfactory one, file a free complaint with Sanadak, the UAE ombudsman unit for banking and insurance.

What does an insurance price comparison website do?

It shows prices and cover from several insurers side by side, so you can compare before you buy. insuringU is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE as an insurance price comparison website.

Sources

Last reviewed: 29 September 2026. This guide is general information, not advice on a specific policy. insuringU is a brand of Affinity International Insurance Prices Comparison L.L.C., Dubai trade licence 1352749, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE as an insurance price comparison website.