Travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE): Which Travel Insurance Should I Get?
With its dazzling mix of futuristic skylines, lavish five-star resorts, and world-class retail shopping, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a dream holiday destination for many. Yet beyond the glitz and glamour lies a rich tapestry of heritage from age-old traditions, to desert adventures, to architectural marvels.
Whether youāre indulging in luxury, exploring culture and history, or just family fun, be sure to pack more than your sunscreenāa good travel insurance goes a long way in staying protected against unexpected mishaps like medical emergencies and trip disruptions.
Read on for more UAE travel tips and a roundup of the best travel insurance plans for the UAE.
Whether youāre indulging in luxury, exploring culture and history, or just family fun, be sure to pack more than your sunscreenāa good travel insurance goes a long way in staying protected against unexpected mishaps like medical emergencies and trip disruptions.
Read on for more UAE travel tips and a roundup of the best travel insurance plans for the UAE.
Best UAE Travel Insurance Plans in 2025
Budget travel
FWD Premium, Business, First Plans
Overall good budget
Bubblegum plan
Extreme sports & flight disruptions
Tiq Entry, Savvy, Luxury plans
Pre-existing conditions (Esp. for elderly)
MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex Standard, Elite, Premier plans
Overseas medical expenses
Singlife Travel Prestige
For pregnancy and families
Allianz Travel Basic, Silver, Platinum plans
Natural disasters
Singlife Travel Lite, Plus, and Prestige plans
Covid-19 coverage
Starr TraveLead Comprehensive Bronze, Silver, Gold plans
Travel Requirements to Enter the UAE
Vaccination and travel insurance
There are no vaccination specifications for Singaporeans travelling to the UAE.
However, it is strongly recommended to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan to protect against unexpected trip disruptions and cancellations, medical emergencies, personal accidents, baggage damage or loss, and other potential travel mishaps.
However, it is strongly recommended to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan to protect against unexpected trip disruptions and cancellations, medical emergencies, personal accidents, baggage damage or loss, and other potential travel mishaps.
Visa application & passport requirements
As long as your passport or travel document is valid for at least 6 months upon arrival, Singaporeans do not require a visa to enter the UAE for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
If applying for a tourist or family visa for whatever reason, you can check its validity via the UAEās Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, & Port Security website.
Note: Passengers with a sticker/stamp or manually extended passport validity are not permitted to enter the UAE. Conversely, valid visas in expired passports are accepted so long as a new passport is issued.
Passengers without a round-trip ticket could be denied entry into the UAE. For instance, those visiting on a tourist visa must have a return/onward ticket.
All passengers must have a valid gender āFā or āMā on their travel document to enter and/or transit through the UAE. Meanwhile, all minors younger than 18 years old on a tourist or family visa must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
If applying for a tourist or family visa for whatever reason, you can check its validity via the UAEās Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, & Port Security website.
Note: Passengers with a sticker/stamp or manually extended passport validity are not permitted to enter the UAE. Conversely, valid visas in expired passports are accepted so long as a new passport is issued.
Passengers without a round-trip ticket could be denied entry into the UAE. For instance, those visiting on a tourist visa must have a return/onward ticket.
All passengers must have a valid gender āFā or āMā on their travel document to enter and/or transit through the UAE. Meanwhile, all minors younger than 18 years old on a tourist or family visa must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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Best Things to Do in the UAE
Founded on 2 December 1971, the UAE comprises seven municipalities known as emiratesāDubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. Each emirate operates semi-autonomously under their own government, with each offering its own distinct cultural experiences and attractions.
Here are some top attraction highlights.
Here are some top attraction highlights.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre
A masterpiece of Islamic architecture, the grandeur of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centreās hallowed ground inspires just as much awe as it does command respect. Its scale, symmetry, and spiritual ambience welcomes all, regardless of faith.
The Dubai Mall
Spanning over an astounding 1.1 million square metres and home to over 1,200 stores, the Dubai Mall offers world-class shopping like Zara, H&M, and Apple, dining like Din Tai Fung and Cheesecake Factory, and even attractions like the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, Play DXB theme park, and ice rink. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Desert safari adventures & dune bashing
Desert safari adventures & dune bashing
Get your adrenaline fix in a 4x4 across UAEās towering, undulating golden sand dunes.
Alternatively, ppt for desert safari tours featuring camel rides, sandboarding, or visits to traditional Bedouin-style camps for a quieter and more refined taste of local culture and hospitality.
Alternatively, ppt for desert safari tours featuring camel rides, sandboarding, or visits to traditional Bedouin-style camps for a quieter and more refined taste of local culture and hospitality.
Al Ain, the Garden City
A cultural gem seeded with deep historical roots, the ancient city of Al Ain features cultural landmarks like the UAEās oldest museum (the Al Ain National Museum), lush oases, and the stunning Jebel Hafeet Mountain Drive.
Scuba diving in Fujairah
Along the UAEās east coast sits the Gulf of Oman, a popular tourist destination offering great dive sites among coral reefs, ship wreckages, and abundant marine life. Here, Snoopy Island is a top choice by avid snorkelers too.
Arabic Bathhouse
Rejuvenate thy body and refresh thy mind at a traditional hammam spa. These traditional Turkish baths involve a steam session and Kessa glove exfoliation to cleanse the skin in this centuries-old ritual.
How to Choose Travel Insurance for Your UAE Trip?
Step 1
Check extent of medical coverage
While premium prices are important, the benefits and reimbursement limits for travel insurance claims like medical expenses, trip cancellations, flight delays, and baggage theft and/or damage, are equally essential as well.
Step 2
Ensure any pre-existing conditions are covered
With select travel insurers covering injuries or illnesses sustained during the trip stemming from pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. pregnancy), you can manage unexpected health issues with greater ease and financial protection.
Such benefits include in-patient hospitalisation expenses overseas that allows you to claim for medical, surgical, nursing or hospital charges, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.
Step 3
Compare policy premiums
The amount that you need to fork out for your travel insurance costs really depends on your destination and length of stay. Most travel insurance companies have 2 to 3 tiers of plans at different price points, with varying comprehensiveness and reimbursement limits.
Step 4
Add coverage for specialised activities
There are many fun and unique activities to explore in the UAE. From outdoor attractions like the upcoming Disneyland Abu Dhabi to exhilarating activities like skydiving and dune bashing, be sure your travel insurance includes both sufficient general coverage and specialised protection for extreme sports.
Step 5
Cover travel disruptions and baggage damage/loss
Travel disruptions and baggage damage or loss can happen anywhereāespecially in bustling metropolitans with bus airports like the UAE. Besides medical emergencies, personal accidents, death, and natural disasters, itās important to stay protected against these events too.
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How Does Travel Insurance Cover Me in the Event of Natural Disasters or Unforeseen Events?
Baggage & Personal Belongings Coverage
Many travel insurance plans might not cover trip disruptions caused by natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or events beyond human control (Acts of God). However, some insurers, like Etiqa and DirectAsia, provide reimbursements for baggage damage or loss even if your trip to the UAE gets disrupted. Notably, there are reimbursement limits per article, a set of items, a laptop or other types of personal effects and the limits differ from insurer to insurer.
Trip Curtailment, Cancellation, or Travel Delay Coverage
If your trip to the UAE gets cut short (curtailed) or cancelled due to a delay, reimbursements are usually for irrecoverable unused pre-paid transport and accommodation expenses (excluding admin charges or fee related), which were cancelled within 30 days before you were due to start the insured trip. Compensation for travel delays are often limited to a certain maximum claim amount per person or per family, depending on the travel insurance plan's policy terms and conditions.
Worldwide Medical Costs Coverage
If you sustained an accidental injury due to a natural disaster, some travel insurance plans provide coverage depending on its tier (e.g. basic, premium). Reimbursement from certain plans like Etiqa and DirectAsia might include: Payment to medical facilities where you received treatment (overseas or in Singapore), or to your designated beneficiaries. There's usually a timeframe for starting treatment after returning to Singapore, and coverage amounts are capped based on your chosen plan. It's crucial to discuss these details with your insurer.
What is the Average Cost of Travel Insurance to the UAE?
There are so many travel insurance plans out there in the market that it can get rather overwhelming trying to compare each and every one of them before deciding on one.
To get you started, weāll use an example to illustrate. Letās say that youāre planning to go for a 1-week trip to the UAE and need a single trip insurance plan.
As you compare across the 6 travel insurersā benefits and premiums, the average cost of a travel insurance plan starts from $48.25, assuming that we take the lowest-tier plan offered by each travel insurance provider.
Estimated average cost of a travel insurance plan:
$46.85 + $51.75 + $61.55 + $44 + $61.60 + $46.40 + $25.45 = $337.60
$337.60 Ć· 7 = $48.25
Bubblegum, Starr TraveLead, and FWD may be more suitable if youāre looking at more cost-efficient options. Moreover, the medical expenses coverages by FWD and Starr are fairly comprehensive at up to $1 million, which are considered the average among these 7 travel insurances.
If youāre looking for even more comprehensive coverage for medical expenses in the situation that you get diagnosed with an unexpected severe illness or injury, Singlife and AIG are quite extensive with unlimited coverage and $2.5 million respectively. However, when it comes to claiming benefits for trip cancellation if youāre down with an unexpected severe illness or injury, As for claiming benefits for trip cancellation, Singlife provides the highest coverage of up to $20,000.
To get you started, weāll use an example to illustrate. Letās say that youāre planning to go for a 1-week trip to the UAE and need a single trip insurance plan.
| Insurer | Overseas Medical Expenses | Baggage Damage/Loss | Trip Disruptions/Cancellations | Total Premiums |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWD | Up to $1 million | Up to $7,500 | Up to $15,000 | From $46.85 |
| Starr TraveLead | Up to $1 million | Up to $7,500 | Up to $15,000 | From $51.75 |
| Singlife | Unlimited | Up to $8,000 | Up to $20,000 | From $61.55 |
| Bubblegum | Up to $150,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | $44 |
| AIG | Up to $2.5 million | Up to $10,000 | Up to $15,000 | From $61.60 |
| Allianz Travel | Up to $1 million | Up to $5,000 | Up to $10,000 | From $46.40 |
| Tiq by Etiqa | Up to $1 million | Up to $3,000 | Up to $10,000 | From $25.45 |
| *Above estimated premium rates are based on the highest tier of each insurance provider's plans for a 1-week single trip to the UAE, updated as of 20 May 2025. All premium rates are subject to change without prior notice at each insurance company's sole discretion. | ||||
As you compare across the 6 travel insurersā benefits and premiums, the average cost of a travel insurance plan starts from $48.25, assuming that we take the lowest-tier plan offered by each travel insurance provider.
Estimated average cost of a travel insurance plan:
$46.85 + $51.75 + $61.55 + $44 + $61.60 + $46.40 + $25.45 = $337.60
$337.60 Ć· 7 = $48.25
Bubblegum, Starr TraveLead, and FWD may be more suitable if youāre looking at more cost-efficient options. Moreover, the medical expenses coverages by FWD and Starr are fairly comprehensive at up to $1 million, which are considered the average among these 7 travel insurances.
If youāre looking for even more comprehensive coverage for medical expenses in the situation that you get diagnosed with an unexpected severe illness or injury, Singlife and AIG are quite extensive with unlimited coverage and $2.5 million respectively. However, when it comes to claiming benefits for trip cancellation if youāre down with an unexpected severe illness or injury, As for claiming benefits for trip cancellation, Singlife provides the highest coverage of up to $20,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to purchase travel insurance for my UAE trip?
- You can purchase travel insurance through our MoneySmart comparison page to get the best coverage at unbeatable prices. By now, most plans now include Covid-19 coverage too or as an add-on benefit.
How much does travel insurance for Dubai cost?
- As seen from our calculation above, the average travel insurance plan for a 1-week single trip to Dubai costs from $56.26.
Is Dubai a country or city?
- No, Dubai is not a country. Dubai is a city within the UAE, and also the capital of the Emirate of Dubaiāone of the seven emirates comprising the UAE.
How long are flights from Singapore to Dubai?
- The average flight duration from Singapore to Dubai is about 7 hours and 25 minutes.
Do Singaporeans need a visa to visit the UAE?
- No, Singaporeans do not need a tourist visa for UAE visits up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Does travel insurance cover adventure sports in the UAE?
- Yes, certain travel insurance providers include adventure sports coverage, albeit the extent differs.
Remember that since adventure sports are considered high-risk, coverage is often conditional. Itās important to review your policy details carefully to understand the full scope of your protection. Is travel insurance mandatory for UAE visas?
- No, travel insurance is optional but is highly recommended nonetheless.
Is Abu Dhabi or Dubai better for tourists?
- Between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, thereās no definitively ābetterā city to visit. It all depends on your personal travel preferences and objectivesābe it indulging in shopping and entertainment or visiting cultural landmarks and exploring natural landscapes.
When is the best time to visit the UAE?
- Although there is no fixed ideal period to visit the UAE, the winter season (between November to March) is a fairly popular time to visit due to the pleasant weather.
What should tourists wear in the UAE?
- Although the UAE is generally welcoming to tourists, itās still respectful to dress modestly as a courtesy to local customs in a predominantly Muslim country. Avoid overly-revealing clothing in more conservative areas.
About the Author
Once a clueless Z-llennial herself, Emma understands (and relates) all too well the struggle of juggling savings, credit cards, and everything in between. Having since garnered over 3 years of writing experience in the personal finance space, she now helps others sieve through the noise and break down money matters into clear, bite-sized insights.