You have just booked your tickets to Dubai and are excited to gawp at the towering skyscrapers and experience thrilling desert safaris and vibrant shopping festivals. You have packed your bags, finalised your itinerary, and are now double-checking everything. Suddenly, a thought strikes you: is travel insurance mandatory for Dubai from India? You may have heard about it from fellow travellers, but you are not quite sure. Read this article to understand the travel insurance requirements for Dubai, what this insurance covers, and, finally, what it takes to get a smooth visa for your trip to Dubai.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Dubai?
As per the government of UAE’s travel advisory, it is mandatory to have international travel insurance. The reason for this requirement is to ensure that if you fall ill or find yourself in a difficult situation, you are financially equipped to handle it.
What is included in Dubai travel insurance coverage?
1. Coverage for Luggage
You would not want to find yourself in a situation where, shortly after arriving in Dubai, you discover that someone has stolen your baggage or that it has been exchanged with another passenger’s luggage. In such a scenario, instead of worrying, inform your insurer, and they will provide coverage for necessities until you recover your belongings.
The insurer also covers incidents where baggage is misplaced due to the fault of the airline carrier.
2. Coverage for Medical Expenses
If you are not a frequent traveller, you may be unable to adapt to Dubai’s local cuisine and climatic conditions, which can ultimately result in you falling sick. The situation worsens when your condition requires hospitalisation and the reception counter hands over bills that disrupt your entire travel budget.
In such cases, your travel insurance for Dubai comes to the rescue and pays for the treatment costs. Not only that, if your condition requires evacuation to your home country or any other city for better medical care, the insurer not only arranges for medical evacuation but also covers the associated costs.
3. Trip Cancellation
What if on the day when you have to board the flight to Dubai, you fall sick, and your doctor advises complete bed rest? Or what if your dear one falls ill on the day of travel, and you need to cancel your trip to take care of them? In usual situations, you won’t get a refund for non-refundable bookings.
However, with international travel insurance, you have comprehensive coverage against trip cancellation.
4. Liability Coverage
If, during your trip, you accidentally injure someone or damage his/her property, the insurer will take care of the compensation amount. For example, while driving in Dubai, if someone unexpectedly jumps in front of your vehicle and gets injured, the insurer will compensate for the person’s medical treatment.
Guide to applying for a UAE Visa
Step 1: Determine the kind of visa you wish to apply for. You can apply for a tourist visa that allows you to stay up to 30 days in Dubai or any other place in the UAE. You can apply for a multiple-entry tourist visa if you wish to stay longer.
Step 2: Gather all the necessary documents. This includes —
- Valid Passport with a validity of at least six months
- Passport-size photograph with a clear white background
- Proof of travel, such as hotel booking receipts, a copy of flight tickets, and more
- Duly filled and signed visa application form
- Travel insurance offering medical coverage
Step 3: Decide on the application method.
- Through airlines: You can submit your application through the official websites of major UAE airlines.
- Through travel agencies: Many licensed travel agents in India can help process your visa application. Ensure the agency is reputable before sharing your documents.
- Online portal: You can apply through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) website.
Step 4: Submit your tourist application along with the required documents.
Step 5: Pay the applicable visa fee. The cost varies depending on the type of visa and the processing time.
Step 6: Wait for approval. The processing may take 3-5 working days. Once the approval process is complete, you will receive the visa softcopy at your registered email address.
Conclusion
Travel insurance is mandatory for Dubai when travelling from India. It is also one of the key documents required to obtain a Visa. The policy offers peace of mind by covering you for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and other unforeseen events. Given the relatively low cost of travel insurance compared to the potential risks, paying for a secure and worry-free trip to Dubai is a small price.
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