Short-term Insurance in the UAE: Top Recommendations
Travelers visiting the UAE in 2026 on a 30-day, 60-day, or multi-entry tourist visa are required to have travel medical insurance. Vacationers who qualify for a visa on arrival are highly advised to purchase travel medical insurance, short-term health insurance, or international health insurance.
This article compares travel insurance, short-term health insurance, and international health insurance for temporary travelers to the UAE. We’ll outline insurance requirements for your trip and help you pick the best plan for your time abroad
Do You Need Health Insurance to Visit the UAE in 2026?
Vacationers going to the UAE on tourist visas must have travel medical insurance that covers at least USD $150,000 (AED 550,875), emergency care, medical repatriation, and COVID-19 treatment, and that is valid for the entire visa duration plus 30 extra days.
Additional insurance requirements are dependent on whether you apply through an UAE airline, hotel, travel agency, or the Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP).
The UAE government does not require health insurance for travelers who qualify for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry, but some airlines do require it. So, all travelers to the UAE are highly encouraged to purchase medical insurance for their trip.
Travelers who do not have the health insurance required for their trip will be denied entry into the UAE.
What Kind of Insurance to Get for the UAE in 2026
Travel medical insurance, short-term health insurance, or international health insurance can all meet the requirements for travelers to the UAE in 2026. Prioritize required benefits like medical repatriation and COVID-19 coverage, and select plans with at least USD $150,000 toward emergency care.
Travel medical insurance provides less coverage than short-term or international health insurance, but it is also generally less expensive. These plans can be bundled with traditional travel insurance for complete trip coverage through benefits like trip cancellation or lost luggage coverage.
Short-term health insurance is ideal for travelers who need more coverage than standard travel medical insurance plans offer but who don’t want to pay the premium costs associated with international health insurance plans.
International health insurance provides comprehensive medical care for travelers headed to the UAE or anywhere else in the world. This portable care allows the greatest access to extensive medical networks and private facilities around the globe, but it comes at the highest price.
| Travel Insurance vs. Short-Term Health Insurance vs. International Health Insurance for Individuals in the UAE in 2026 | |||
| Travel Medical Insurance | Short-Term Insurance | International Health Insurance | |
| Cost | About USD $20 (AED 73.45) per day | About USD $25–60 (AED 90–220) per month for basic plans | About USD $490 (AED 1,800) per month* |
| What it Covers | Emergency medical expenses, injuries, or illnesses occurring while traveling may include emergency hospital stays, surgery, doctor visits, prescription drugs, dental work, medical evacuation, and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D); optional high-risk activity coverage | Emergency evacuation, emergency room visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital stays, surgeries, lab tests, and some doctor visits | Inpatient and outpatient care, emergency medical evacuation, prescription drugs, specialist visits, chronic condition coverage, and routine check-ups; optional maternity, high-risk activity, mental health, dental, and optical coverage |
| What it Doesn’t Cover | Pre-existing conditions, routine care, alternative medicine, non-emergent prescriptions, and cosmetic procedures | Some pre-existing conditions, routine dental and vision care, alternative medicine, cosmetic procedures, some prescriptions, and most high-risk activities | Elective procedures, drug- or alcohol-related injuries |
*This information comes from Pacific Prime’s proprietary data from real customers. Individual Pacific Prime clients paid an average of USD $5,895.98 (AED 21,653) for international health insurance per year in 2024, while families paid an average of USD $17,669.98 (AED 64,893).
To compare these annual average premiums across the globe or to find additional costs for international health insurance for families, read our Cost of Health Insurance guide.
The Best Temporary Insurance for the UAE in 2026
Some of the best health insurance options for short-term visits to the UAE include GIG Gulf and Salama for travel insurance; VUMI and IMG for short-term insurance; and Cigna Global and Allianz Care for international insurance.
To find the best travel insurance for the UAE, check out our comparison article here.
For more information on the best short-term insurance in the UAE, visit our article, Short-Term Insurance in the UAE: A Provider Comparison
To get quotes on top international insurance plans for the UAE, use our free quote tool.
Let Pacific Prime Help You Get Insurance for Dubai
All travelers to the United Arab Emirates should purchase health insurance for their trip, whether it is mandatory or not. Many visa types require it, and high medical costs in the UAE make it critical for financial protection for all vacationers.
Do you want help finding health insurance for the UAE? Contact Pacific Prime Dubai to find options from top health insurance providers in the Emirates and across the globe.
Pacific Prime has over 20 years of experience providing insurance to expats and travelers. We can offer unbiased advice to help you find the best plan for your trip. If you’d like to compare plans on your own, feel free to use our free quote generator.
After obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences, International Relations from Mahidol University International College, Veerabhatr has forged his career as a content writer in the travel, lifestyle, and real estate industries, writing in both English and Thai. He now continues to hone his skills as a writer at Pacific Prime, looking to engage and educate the audience by simplifying insurance.
Writer by day, and a DJ by night, Veerabhatr is a staunch music lover, and listens to all spectrums of genres available. He also loves to drink beer (moderately), eat all types of food, go to the beach, and learn about different cultures across the globe. He is also a die-hard fan of football and motorsports.
- Short-term Insurance in the UAE: Top Recommendations - 12th May 2026
- Cyber Insurance for Corporate: Risks and Trends for UAE Companies - 28th April 2026
- Medical Test Costs for UAE Residence Visa in 2026 - 28th April 2026
Comments
Comments for this post are closed.
We'll notify you
when our team replies!