As most of us know, Travel Insurance in Dubai is elective for residents travelling either within the emirates or overseas. Put simply, it’s not compulsory or mandated under any law to buy it. That said, there are some countries of the world that stipulate that you should have a valid travel insurance to enter them as a visitor, so you should pay attention to that and always check the requirements of your chosen destination when making your travel arrangements (the UAE is one such country by the way if you’re reading this from an overseas perspective).
Generally speaking, it’s your choice whether to buy travel insurance or not, so, the question is, are there any disadvantages to not having it? Is it really worth the time, trouble, and money?
In this blog, we’ll explore some reasons why travel insurance really is a must have for any trip.
Expect The Unexpected
If there’s one thing guaranteed in life, it’s that nothing ever is! We all like to think that our plans will run exactly as we envision, but in reality it can be very different. Let’s take flying for example. Your flight might be delayed, rescheduled, or simply cancelled altogether for any number of reasons. You could miss that all important transfer flight connection, which means you don’t reach your destination when you need to. And imagine if you are flying to that destination to join a cruise ship? The ship will simply sail without you, and your holiday is over before it has even begun!
Travel insurance is designed to cater for those situations. For circumstances outside of your control, cover is available for delay, curtailment and cancellation, meaning you don’t have to pay the price if something goes wrong with your trip unexpectedly.
Accidents Happen
Another true saying! No matter how cautious you are, accidents can happen. Whether it’s the dropping your camera into the sea whilst filming those tropical fish, losing your mobile phone over the ledge of your hotel balcony, or skidding on the ski slopes and breaking your leg, anything can happen that you’re totally unprepared for, emotionally, physically and most of all, financially.
Travel policies have sections that cover luggage, personal possessions (including gadgets and equipment), important documentation (passports, tickets, etc), and even you (personal accident and medical expenses), so offer peace of mind, practical help, and much-needed financial assistance should anything happen accidentally during your trip.
Journey Into The Unknown
Part of the appeal of visiting a new place is that you’ve never been there before! New sights, smells, streets to explore, shops to visit. A real assault on the senses. But what if the assault you experience is of the unwanted kind? A lack of local knowledge could find you venturing into less than desirable districts and becoming the victim of a crime. Theft of your precious items such as jewellery, or pickpocketing of your essentials like passport and money could ruin your holiday, especially if force was used and you were physically hurt.
Travel insurance would not only cover you for the items stolen up to the limits/values specified in the policy but also for your injuries and any treatment needed if you were physically hurt in such an incident.
Home-Sick?
You may not be pining for home, but might need to get back there if one of your loved ones is sick or indeed if you yourself fall ill on holiday.
Travel insurance provides cover for curtailment (cutting short) your trip, as well as repatriation in the event you fall ill or suffer an injury and need special transportation back home. Such costs can run into thousands and probably much more than you could ever afford personally, so this cover alone makes purchasing travel insurance worthwhile.
Money Talks
Travel Insurance is one of the more “affordable” insurances, with premiums in the hundreds rather than thousands (the exception being if you’re buying cover for the whole family for a whole year for the whole world, but that’s another blog).
Put simply, could you afford to lose thousands for the sake of spending a couple of hundred? Think about all the coverage that the policy provides. For a start, total up the value of your luggage and the items you’re packing into it, plus the value of any jewellery being worn and gadgets carried with you in hand luggage, such as a laptop and mobile phone. Surprising how it all adds up! And that’s just for starters. These items can all be assigned a value, but what about the unknowns, such as medical expenses. Get sick overseas and you could get caught out by massive medical bills you neither expected nor can afford.
If there was ever a reason to buy travel insurance in Dubai, financial protection is surely it!
Conclusion
So, now we’ve highlighted just 5 reasons why you should have that all-important travel insurance, we’re sure you’re off to check-out the best policy for you! Don’t forget, online is always an option but if you prefer the personal touch, we’d recommend speaking to a reputable broker. We know at least one that sells travel insurance in Dubai (hint hint!)
