In recent days, many UAE residents have found their travel plans disrupted: flights cancelled or rescheduled, holidays postponed, and a general sense of uncertainty driven by tensions in our region. Naturally, one of the first questions people are asking is: “Will my travel insurance actually protect me?”
As a fellow resident and frequent traveller, I want to address this head‑on, in clear and practical terms.
What travel insurance is actually covering right now
The good news is that, in most cases, travel insurance is responding and claims are being paid. We are seeing successful claims for:
- Trip cancellations and curtailments – when plans are cut short or cancelled for covered reasons.
- Alternative accommodation and extra travel costs – where travellers have had to make last‑minute changes.
- Delays – in many policies, extended delays trigger specific benefits.
- Loss of luggage and documents – the usual protections that standard travel insurance offers.
Insurers we work with are, by and large, stepping up to support customers during this period. The technical wording of policies has not changed overnight, but their approach to paying claims is where we see a real difference between providers.
The big question: is “war” covered?
This is the question I’m hearing most often: “If this is classed as war or conflict, am I covered?
” Technically speaking, “war” is excluded in almost all standard travel insurance policies. That exclusion has always been there – not just now. On paper, if an incident is deemed to be an act of war, insurers can rely on that exclusion. However, practice and theory are not always the same.
We are currently seeing many insurers choosing to support customers as much as they reasonably can, even in a grey area. Some will look for reasons to pay claims rather than reasons not to. Others may take a stricter, more technical stance.
This is why who you are insured with matters just as much as what is written on the policy schedule.
Our claims philosophy and how we choose our insurer partners
At InsuranceMarket.ae, we see the claims moment as the true test of any insurance promise. Selling a policy online is easy; standing by a client when things go wrong is where it really counts.
That’s why we are very careful about the insurers we empanel on our platform and hence, we prefer to partner with insurers who:
- Support clients as much as possible at the time of need.
- Have the financial strength and local presence to handle large‑scale events.
- Demonstrate a consistent track record of paying valid claims fairly and promptly.
- Work closely with us to interpret the policy in the customer’s favour wherever reasonably possible.
Internally, our team treats every claim as a commitment, not a transaction. We actively engage with our insurer partners on complex cases, escalate where needed, and advocate for outcomes that reflect both the wording of the policy and the spirit of protection our customers expect.
In short: we don’t just connect you to “any” insurer; we work with those who are prepared to stand with us in supporting clients at their time of need.
What we’re working on: clearer options for “war” coverage
We’re not satisfied with leaving customers in a “maybe covered, maybe not” situation. Our product teams are working closely with underwriters and reinsurers to create additional, optional coverage extensions – for example, a simple “war cover” checkbox that you can select (for an additional premium) on top of your normal travel policy.
The idea is straightforward from a customer’s point of view:
- Standard travel insurance remains as is.
- You add a clearly defined “passive war” extension – relevant to situations like the ones we’re experiencing – for extra peace of mind.
This is technically complex in the background, but we are doing everything we can to bring such solutions to market as quickly and responsibly as possible.
What UAE travellers should do now
Given the current environment, my advice is:
- Don’t travel uninsured.
Being partially covered is far better than not being covered at all. - Buy from reputable insurers, via a trusted advisor.
Larger, well‑capitalised insurers with strong local presence – and a demonstrated claims track record – are, in our experience, the ones most likely to step up during a crisis, not step back. - Read the key exclusions, especially around “war” and “conflict”.
Understand that the exclusion does exist, but also ask your broker or adviser how insurers are responding in practice right now. - Contact us before or after you book.
If your dates are changing, or you’re unsure what your current policy covers, our team can help adjust periods of cover and clarify your options, and we’ll work with our insurer partners to support you wherever we can.
A final word
Uncertainty inevitably drives anxiety, but it can also drive better decisions. We’ve seen travel insurance volumes more than double, which tells me that more UAE residents are taking their protection seriously.
At InsuranceMarket.ae, our role is not just to sell a policy online in seconds; it’s to stand beside you when things are unclear, to explain the fine print in plain English, and to work with insurers who share our commitment to doing the right thing at the right time.
If you’re travelling soon, or simply want to review your current coverage, I encourage you to reach out to us. Being informed – and insured – is one of the most practical ways to bring a little certainty back into uncertain times.
