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Travel insurance in UAE amid conflict: Limits, key coverage, exclusions explained
Insurance inquiries have drastically increased, with many people checking policies and attempting to raise claims due to major travel disruptions
- PUBLISHED: Thu 12 Mar 2026, 10:10 AM UPDATED: Thu 12 Mar 2026, 1:59 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
UAE insurers say travel premiums have remained largely stable despite flight disruptions caused by the ongoing war in the region, adding that tensions will not immediately affect adjustments to insurance pricing structures.
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Since the start of the US-Israel-Iran war on February 28 and until March 9, as many as 40,000 flights were cancelled in the Middle East, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. Airlines in the UAE have had to suspend all flights coming in and out of the country due to airspace closure during the first few days, but have since partially resumed operations.
As a result, travel insurance inquiries have drastically increased, with many travellers checking policing and attempting to raise claims. However, this doesn’t translate to approved claims, since many travel insurance policies exclude losses arising from war or conflict, Faisal Abbas, Vice President Employee Benefits & General Insurance at Continental Group, told Khaleej Times.
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In many cases, he said, costs are instead absorbed by airlines, travel agents, or emergency travel arrangements.
Anas Mistareehi, the CEO of eSanad, a platform which compares different insurance policies, mirrored that sentiment, saying that there is no noticeable increase in travel insurance premiums at this stage.
“In some cases, travellers may notice minor pricing adjustments or additional underwriting caution for certain destinations, but overall, the market has remained relatively stable,” he said.
What does travel insurance cover?
Typically, a standard travel insurance policy protects against overseas medical emergencies, trip cancellations due to covered personal circumstances, travel delays, baggage loss, and emergency medical evacuation or repatriation, says Toshita Chauhan, Chief Business Officer of General Insurance at Policybazaar.
With travel disruptions resulting from airspace restrictions or large-scale flight schedule changes, the applicability of coverage “can vary depending on the policy terms and the circumstances surrounding the disruption,” she added.
Usually, it is the airline or travel agents’ responsibility to give passengers rebooking or refund options, especially in an exceptional case like this, while insurance policies play a more limited role.
Abbas, from Continental Group, stated that insurers are scrutinising exclusions more closely, especially around war, military action, and airspace closure. “Clients may notice wording changes before any meaningful premium increases appear. But we don’t expect any drastic changes as there is usually consumer protection from the government,” he said.
No change in price
For now, travel insurance premiums will continue to operate within their normal price ranges, with no heed given to the ongoing tensions.
“Situations of regional uncertainty can sometimes persist for some time, but they do not necessarily translate into immediate or long-term pricing changes in the travel insurance market,” Mistareehi, the eSanad CEO said.
He cautioned travellers to very carefully review the policy wording and “pay particular attention” to exclusions related to countries going through an active conflict.
In the long haul, while this war may drag on, it will not necessarily translate into immediate or long-term pricing changes in the market as pricing is influenced by other factors (global travel trends, medical cost inflation, claims experience), Mistareehi added.
Hind Aldah is a business reporter based in Sharjah. In her spare time, you will find her playing classical guitar, painting amateur oil paintings, or crocheting the same old scarf that leads nowhere.