Money & Fidelity Guarantee Insurance in the UAE: A Business Guide (2026)

Quick answer: Money insurance protects a business against losing cash, cheques and similar items to robbery, theft or accident. That includes money held on the premises, in a safe, or in transit to the bank. Fidelity guarantee insurance protects the business against losses caused by its own employees' dishonesty, such as fraud, embezzlement, forgery or theft. Neither is compulsory by UAE law. They are most often bought by businesses that handle cash, stock or payments.

This guide explains what each cover pays for, how they differ, who needs them, typical exclusions and conditions, and how to compare quotes. Compare business property, money and fidelity cover on insuringU.

Money and fidelity insurance: key facts

• Money insurance covers loss of money by robbery, theft or accident:
  • in transit, when carried by you or your authorised employees;
  • in a locked safe or strongroom;
  • on the premises during business hours.
• "Money" usually means cash, cheques, bank drafts, postal orders, stamps and credit card vouchers.
• Fidelity guarantee covers direct financial loss from fraud or dishonesty by employees, acting alone or together.
• How they fit together: money insurance excludes employee dishonesty, and fidelity insurance covers it. Businesses often buy both.
• Compulsory? No. Landlords, banks or head offices sometimes require them under a contract.

What does money insurance cover?

• Cash in transit: money carried between your premises and the bank, or to a supplier, by you or your authorised staff.
• Cash in safe: money in a locked safe or strongroom, including outside business hours.
• Cash on premises: money in tills and counters during business hours.
• Damage to the safe or strongroom during a robbery or break-in.
• Staff belongings: some policies also pay for employees' personal belongings damaged in a hold-up.

Policies set separate limits for each safe and for each journey. Choose limits that match your real peak amounts, for example after a busy weekend, not your average.

What does fidelity guarantee insurance cover?

• Misuse of company funds and embezzlement.
• Theft of stock, goods or other physical assets by employees.
• Payroll fraud and fake suppliers.
• Manipulating sales or payment systems.

Cover can be arranged in three ways:

• Named employees: specific people are covered.
• By position: for example, all cashiers and accountants.
• Blanket: all employees are covered.

Most policies also give a discovery period, usually 12 months after the policy ends, to find and report losses that happened while it was in force.

Who needs money and fidelity insurance?

• Retail shops, supermarkets and restaurants that handle daily cash.
• Exchange houses, money transfer and payment businesses.
• Petrol stations, pharmacies and clinics.
• Distributors and warehouses with high-value stock.
• Any SME where one person controls payments, banking or stock.

Common exclusions and conditions

Money insurance usually excludes

• employee dishonesty (this is what fidelity insurance covers);
• shortages from errors or omissions;
• fraudulent electronic transfers and card fraud;
• money left in unattended vehicles;
• money taken from a safe opened with keys left on the premises overnight;
• indirect loss.

Fidelity insurance usually excludes

• losses that can't be traced to an identified employee;
• acts by partners or owners;
• trading losses;
• loan defaults;
• loss of trade secrets;
• indirect loss;
• losses discovered after the discovery period.

Typical conditions

Insurers expect sensible cash controls:

• a safe of an agreed standard;
• keys held away from the premises;
• regular banking;
• two people, or a cash-in-transit company, for larger journeys;
• dual control of payments;
• regular audits and reconciliations.

Read these conditions carefully. Not meeting them is a common reason claims are reduced.

What affects the price?

• How much cash you hold and move, and how often.
• How cash is moved, and the security at your location.
• Your audit and approval controls.
• Staff numbers and the type of cover (named, by position or blanket).
• The limits you choose and your past losses.

Premiums carry 5% VAT.

How to claim

1. For theft or robbery, report to the police immediately and get a report.
2. Notify the insurer as soon as the loss is discovered. Fidelity losses must be reported within the discovery period.
3. Keep the evidence: cash records, bank deposit slips, audit findings, CCTV and internal investigation notes.

How to compare money and fidelity quotes

• Match the limits to your real peak cash in the safe and per journey.
• Check the cover basis (named, by position or blanket) and the discovery period.
• Read the security and control conditions, and make sure you can meet them.
• Consider buying them as sections of a wider property package, alongside fire, theft and business interruption.

Request business property quotes on insuringU, including money and fidelity sections.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between money insurance and fidelity guarantee insurance?

Money insurance covers cash stolen or lost through outside events such as robbery, theft or accident. Fidelity guarantee covers losses caused by your own employees' dishonesty. Money insurance excludes employee dishonesty, which is why the two are often bought together.

Is money insurance mandatory in the UAE?

No. No UAE law requires it. Some landlords, lenders or franchise agreements require it by contract.

Does money insurance cover cash in an employee's car?

Only while it is being carried in transit under the policy's conditions. Money left in an unattended vehicle is usually excluded.

Does fidelity insurance cover cyber fraud?

It covers dishonest acts by employees. Outside cyber fraud, such as fake payment instructions from impostors, usually needs a crime or cyber policy.

How long do I have to discover an employee fraud?

Many policies allow losses to be discovered up to 12 months after the policy expires, if they happened while it was in force. Check the exact discovery period.

Do I need a police report to claim?

For theft or robbery, yes. Report it to the police straight away. For employee fraud, insurers usually ask for the internal investigation and audit evidence, and often a police complaint.

Related guides

• Insurance in the UAE: the complete guide
• Corporate and liability insurance for UAE businesses
• Home and office property insurance in the UAE

Sources

• Union Insurance: Money insurance and Fidelity insurance
• Tokio Marine UAE: Money insurance and Fidelity guarantee

Last reviewed: 29 September 2026. This guide is general information, not advice on a specific policy. Wordings differ between insurers, so read the conditions and exclusions before you buy. 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.