- What are the best comprehensive travel insurance plans?
- What exactly is comprehensive travel insurance?
- What is the price of comprehensive travel insurance?
- The coverage of comprehensive travel insurance
- The conditions of comprehensive travel insurance
- Why take out comprehensive travel insurance?
- How to choose the right comprehensive travel insurance
- Does Your Current Insurance Policy Cover comprehensive Travel Insurance?
- FAQ
- On the same topic
comprehensive travel insurance: key takeaways
1. Definition: Comprehensive travel insurance covers major risks like medical emergencies, cancellations, and lost luggage before and during your trip.
2. Price: A one-week comprehensive policy for Europe from the UAE typically costs between 180 and 350 AED.
3. Coverage: It covers medical emergencies, repatriation, and cancellations but often excludes pre-existing conditions and high-risk activities.
4. Bank cards and health insurances: Bank cards and local health plans like DHA/SEHA offer very limited or no international travel coverage.
5. Tips: Check medical limits, evacuation coverage, and exclusions for pre-existing conditions and specific destinations before purchasing.
6. Other useful info: Many countries, including the Schengen Area, require proof of adequate travel insurance for visa applications.
Why trust HelloSafe ?
HelloSafe is an international specialist in travel insurance comparison, advising over one million travelers every month. After analyzing 38 travel insurance policies available in the UAE, our experts share here everything you need to know to choose the best comprehensive travel insurance.
What are the best comprehensive travel insurance plans?
Here is a selection of the best comprehensive travel insurance plans available for residents of the UAE in 2025. These policies are among the best due to their high medical limits, low deductibles and straightforward terms, providing broad protection for trips abroad.
| Contract we recommend | Medical reimbursement | Deductible | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| HelloTravel Premium | 550,000 AED | 0 AED |
|
| Cap Assistance 24/24 | 550,000 AED | 0 AED |
|
| Tourist Card | 400,000 AED | 100 AED |
|
| World Travel | 450,000 AED | 200 AED |
|
| Globe Partner | 367,000 AED | 0 AED |
|
| Globe Traveller | 450,000 AED | 0 AED |
|
- Worldwide annual coverage.
- Fast compensation process.
- Digital medical card available.
- Comprehensive protection for families or couples.
- 24/7 multilingual assistance.
- Mobile app for claims.
- Covers COVID-19 related events.
- Unchanged premiums by age.
- Online policy management.
- Covers adventure and sports.
- Assistance for visa applications.
- Quick claims process.
- Direct hospital settlement.
- Covers natural disasters.
- Adventure sports included.
- Visa letter included.
- Low cost for frequent travelers.
- Digital certificate issuance.
- Climate event coverage.
- Easy claim tracking.
- Coverage for long stays.
- Premium remains after age 65.
- Support in Arabic and English.
- Policy extension flexibility.
The best comprehensive travel insurance plan varies by your personal travel needs. Use HelloSafe’s travel insurance comparison tool to find the plan that fits you and subscribe directly online.
Compare the best travel insurance for freeI compareWhat exactly is comprehensive travel insurance?
Comprehensive travel insurance is a multi-risk policy that protects against a broad range of incidents before and during travel.
It usually covers medical expenses abroad, trip cancellation or interruption, baggage loss or delay, personal liability and emergency assistance.
This type of insurance offers wide protection within one contract for any destination and trip duration.
Comprehensive insurance is sometimes called multi-trip or full travel insurance and provides both higher coverage limits and more types of protection than basic or single-risk policies.
Expert advice
Here are the situations where taking out comprehensive travel insurance is especially recommended if you live in the United Arab Emirates:
- When you travel outside the GCC countries where local health plans may not apply.
- If you visit a country with high healthcare costs like the USA or Canada.
- If you book an expensive or non-refundable trip, including flights and hotels.
- For any pre-existing health condition or if you are over age 65.
- When applying for a visa that requires mandatory insurance, like a Schengen visa.
- If you travel with children and need cover for medical or logistical issues.
- When participating in adventure sports like skiing, diving, or hiking.
What is the price of comprehensive travel insurance?
On average, comprehensive travel insurance costs between 3% and 6% of the total price of your trip.
| Trip | Trip cost (AED) | Indicative price per person (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| City break in Istanbul (4 days) | 2,000 | 60 to 120 |
| Two-week tour in Thailand | 8,000 | 240 to 480 |
| Three-week family vacation in Canada | 22,000 | 660 to 1,320 |
| One-week Mediterranean cruise | 7,000 | 210 to 420 |
These prices are provided as an indication and may vary depending on the type of plan chosen (standard or premium) and the specific conditions of each insurer.
The price of your comprehensive travel insurance depends on several factors:
- trip duration: the longer your stay, the higher the price.
- destination: countries with high medical costs such as North America generally increase premiums.
- traveller’s age: senior travellers usually pay more.
- level of coverage: premium plans with high limits and low deductibles cost more.
- selected options: covering valuable items, adventure sports, or “cancel for any reason” will increase the cost.
The coverage of comprehensive travel insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance is designed to offer full coverage at every stage of your journey: before departure, during travel, and while abroad.
It protects your health, belongings, legal rights, and finances against the most common travel-related risks.
| Covered guarantee | Definition | Expert advice |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Trip cancellation | Refunds non-refundable travel expenses if you cancel for a covered reason before leaving. | A minimum cover of AED 10,000 is recommended and the deductible should not exceed AED 100. Pre-existing illness, visa refusal, and change of mind are usually excluded. |
| 🚫 Missed departure | Pays extra transport costs if you miss your plane for reasons beyond your control. | Look for at least AED 1,000 cover with no deductible. Missed flights due to your lateness or lack of written proof are excluded. |
| 🧳 Baggage loss or theft | Compensates if your baggage is lost, stolen, or damaged during the trip. | Choose no less than AED 5,000 of cover. Avoid deductibles above AED 50. Unattended or fragile luggage, and high-value items are often excluded. |
| 🕒 Travel delay | Gives a fixed allowance for long transport delays. | Seek AED 500+ after 6 hours of delay, with no deductible. Shorter delays or those without written confirmation are excluded. |
| 🏥 Medical expenses abroad | Key guarantee. Pays for emergency medical treatment if you fall ill or are injured overseas. | Minimum AED 500,000 cover is advisable, with a low or zero deductible. Routine care, mental health, and chronic illnesses are usually excluded. |
| 🚑 Medical repatriation | Key guarantee. Covers your emergency return to the UAE or home for serious health events. | Make sure cover is unlimited and arranged directly by the insurer. Voluntary returns and personal refusals to be repatriated are not covered. |
| 🦷 Emergency dental care | Pays urgent dental costs during the trip. | AED 1,000 minimum is recommended with a deductible no greater than AED 50. Cosmetic and planned treatments are excluded. |
| 🪪 Personal liability abroad | Protects you if you accidentally damage property or injure someone during your trip. | Not less than AED 450,000 and a max deductible of AED 500. Damage to family, rental property, or motor claims are excluded. |
| ⚖️ Legal assistance abroad | Pays lawyer fees and legal bail if you face trouble abroad. | Minimum AED 10,000 for fees and AED 35,000 bail. Deductible should be low. Criminal cases and incidents involving alcohol are excluded. |
| 💔 Trip interruption | Refunds unused bookings if you return home early for a covered reason. | Aim for at least AED 5,000 of cover. Avoid high deductibles. Early returns for minor or voluntary reasons are not covered. |
Pre-existing illness, visa refusal, and change of mind are usually excluded.
Missed flights due to your lateness or lack of written proof are excluded.
Unattended or fragile luggage, and high-value items are often excluded.
Shorter delays or those without written confirmation are excluded.
Routine care, mental health, and chronic illnesses are usually excluded.
Voluntary returns and personal refusals to be repatriated are not covered.
Cosmetic and planned treatments are excluded.
Damage to family, rental property, or motor claims are excluded.
Criminal cases and incidents involving alcohol are excluded.
Early returns for minor or voluntary reasons are not covered.
Reimbursement limits vary depending on the insurer and the plan selected (eco, standard, premium). They must always be checked in the general terms and conditions.
To find the comprehensive travel insurance best suited to your profile and your trip, easily compare offers on HelloSafe.
The conditions of comprehensive travel insurance
To activate your comprehensive travel insurance and make your benefits valid, certain conditions must be respected. Here are the main ones:
- Timing of subscription: you must buy the policy before your scheduled departure from the UAE, ideally within 24 to 48 hours of booking.
- Residency status: you must be a resident of the UAE at the time of taking out the insurance.
- Trip duration compliance: the trip must not exceed the coverage period stated in the policy, for example 90 days maximum.
- Geographic validity: the selected destinations must be covered and not subject to exclusions by UAE law or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- No ongoing travel: you cannot be already abroad when purchasing or activating the policy.
- Incident notification: you must inform the insurer promptly in case of emergency, hospital admission, theft, or loss.
- Medical declaration: pre-existing illnesses must be declared and may require additional underwriting or can be excluded.
- Document submission: for claims, you must provide original receipts, certificates, proof of travel, or police reports as required.
Watch out!
A common mistake is buying insurance just before departure. For trip cancellation coverage to apply, your comprehensive policy must be purchased before a problem occurs. To be fully protected against unforeseen events, buy your insurance as soon as you book your trip, not at the airport.
Why take out comprehensive travel insurance?
While travelling, even a minor health issue can quickly become expensive, especially outside the UAE. Unexpected emergencies abroad may result in costs far higher than your entire trip.
Here are some examples of healthcare costs abroad:
| Type of treatment | Average cost | Covered by insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Foot sprain (X-ray and consultation) |
| Up to 100%, according to the policy limit |
| Stitches after a fall |
| Covered up to policy limit, minus deductibles |
| Consultation and treatment for intestinal infection |
| Generally fully reimbursed, if medically necessary |
| Emergency tooth extraction |
| Typically partial coverage, subject to sub-limit |
| Appendicitis surgery and hospitalization |
| Usually covered up to 100% for emergencies, if within annual maximum |
- Europe: AED 800 to AED 1,200
- North America: AED 2,200 to AED 3,500
- Asia: AED 400 to AED 800
- Europe: AED 600 to AED 1,000
- North America: AED 1,800 to AED 2,800
- Asia: AED 300 to AED 600
- Europe: AED 400 to AED 800
- North America: AED 1,500 to AED 2,500
- Asia: AED 200 to AED 500
- Europe: AED 1,200 to AED 2,000
- North America: AED 3,000 to AED 5,000
- Asia: AED 600 to AED 1,200
- Europe: AED 25,000 to AED 40,000
- North America: AED 80,000 to AED 150,000
- Asia: AED 15,000 to AED 30,000
Coverage varies greatly depending on the plan chosen (standard or premium) and the insurer. Refer to the general conditions and always compare with tools like HelloSafe.
In addition to medical expenses, comprehensive travel insurance also covers many other risks: trip cancellation or interruption, lost or delayed luggage, civil liability abroad, repatriation assistance, legal support, as well as digital assistance and emergency fund advances.
Good to know
An accident abroad can cost over AED 150,000—far beyond your bank card's cover. A comprehensive plan from providers like Mondialcare offers full protection for medical emergencies, repatriation, and cancellations, ensuring your trip remains worry-free.
How to choose the right comprehensive travel insurance
Not all comprehensive travel insurance is the same. Coverage limits, reimbursement rates, and exclusions can differ widely. It is important to compare all relevant criteria to make sure your plan fits your needs and destination.
| Criterion | Why it matters | Expert tip |
|---|---|---|
| 💶 Reimbursement limits | High medical costs abroad can easily exceed standard limits. | For trips outside the UAE, select at least AED 500,000 medical coverage for safety. |
| 📉 Deductible | The deductible is what you pay before insurance covers the rest. | Favour plans with low or zero deductible, especially for medical and baggage claims. |
| 📋 Policy conditions | Benefits may depend on when and how the policy is purchased. | Confirm key dates and make sure your policy is valid for your exact travel period. |
| 👵 Traveller’s age | Seniors may face higher premiums or coverage limits. | Older travelers should review age-related conditions to avoid gaps in protection. |
| 👨👩👧 Traveller profile | Needs vary for solo, family, business, or group trips. | List all travelers and check if a group or family plan gives better benefits or rates. |
| 📆 Trip duration | Most policies have a maximum trip length. | For longer journeys, look for annual or long-stay plans to maintain continuous cover. |
| 🌍 Geographic area | Coverage can change depending on your travel destination. | Make sure high-risk regions or specific countries like the USA are fully covered. |
| 🛡️ Existing coverage | Bank cards, health insurance, or other policies may already offer partial cover. | Review existing coverage to avoid doubling up on insurance and extra costs. |
| 🧗 Planned activities | Risky or adventure activities are often excluded in standard plans. | State in advance any sports or unusual activities to get proper adventure coverage. |
| 🖥️ Online subscription | Online sign-up is fast and can provide instant documentation. | Favour insurers with digital platforms for faster service and easier claims. |
Does Your Current Insurance Policy Cover comprehensive Travel Insurance?
It is legitimate to wonder if your current insurances, like credit card or public health insurance, can offer you a comprehensive travel insurance, but unfortunately this is often not enough.
Here is a summary table to help you review your current insurance and what it covers.
| Type of insurance | Comprehensive travel insurance included? | What it covers | Why Travel Insurance is better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public health insurance (Dubai Health Authority) | Never | Emergency medical only in the UAE or GCC region, max: AED 10,000. No international coverage, evacuation, baggage, trip interruption, legal, or cancellation benefits provided under public health insurance. | Travel insurance covers up to AED 1,000,000 for medical, evacuation, trip cancellation, and liability anywhere in the world. |
| Private health insurance (Daman Health, AXA UAE) | Almost Never | Some limited emergency cover abroad, max: AED 25,000–50,000, may require network hospitals. No trip cancellation, evacuation, baggage, delays, or legal guarantee typically included. | Travel insurance reimburses up to AED 1,000,000 for all medical, luggage, cancellation, and liability needs, often worldwide. |
| Classic credit card (Emirates NBD Standard, ADCB Classic) | Never | Basic travel mishaps, often just baggage delay or minor medical, max: AED 2,000–5,000. No evacuation, liability, cancellation, or major medical events are covered with classic cards. | Travel insurance provides AED 500,000–1,000,000 as standard for medical, evacuation, and other full-spectrum travel guarantees. |
| Premium credit card (FAB World Elite, HSBC Premier) | Limited coverage | Emergency medical, trip interruption or delay, max: AED 60,000–75,000, key gaps in evacuation and legal. No comprehensive cover for evacuation, personal liability, or full cancellation protection included. | Travel insurance offers AED 1,000,000 or more, including full evacuation, legal assistance, and all classes of trip interruptions. |
No international coverage, evacuation, baggage, trip interruption, legal, or cancellation benefits provided under public health insurance.
No trip cancellation, evacuation, baggage, delays, or legal guarantee typically included.
No evacuation, liability, cancellation, or major medical events are covered with classic cards.
No comprehensive cover for evacuation, personal liability, or full cancellation protection included.
Expert advice
Your bank card or health plan may not cover trip interruption for family emergencies. Always check the exclusions in your contract to prevent unexpected costs abroad. In all cases, it is safer and more reassuring to subscribe to a dedicated travel insurance tailored to your trip.
FAQ
Is comprehensive travel insurance mandatory?
Comprehensive travel insurance is not mandatory for all travelers, but it is required when visiting certain countries, such as when obtaining a Schengen visa or for trips to destinations that request proof of insurance for entry. Even where it’s not required, it’s strongly recommended—for example, a family trip to the USA, where unexpected medical expenses or cancellations can cause significant financial strain.
When is it recommended to purchase comprehensive travel insurance?
Purchase comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you confirm your trip and before making any non-refundable payments like flights or hotels. This timing ensures your policy includes valuable pre-departure benefits such as trip cancellation cover, and protects you financially from unforeseen circumstances before your journey begins.
How do I purchase comprehensive travel insurance?
First, compare plans using HelloSafe’s travel insurance comparison platform to match your needs and budget. Next, carefully check the guarantees and exclusions, as comprehensive plans vary widely in benefits. Then, purchase your policy online for instant coverage—your insurance certificate will be issued immediately for visa or travel use.
Can I purchase comprehensive travel insurance after booking my trip?
Yes, you can purchase comprehensive travel insurance after booking your trip. However, it is best to buy it before making major payments, as this maximizes your protection against cancellations or emergencies that might occur before departure. Buying early means broader coverage eligibility and peace of mind.
How do I make a claim on my comprehensive travel insurance?
To file a claim, contact your insurer as soon as possible and provide all required documentation, such as your policy number, receipts, and incident details. Most UAE insurers have online or mobile claim portals, making the process quick and efficient. It's important to keep all supporting documents until your claim is settled.
Does comprehensive travel insurance cover COVID-19-related events?
Most comprehensive travel insurance policies now include COVID-19 coverage by default, covering medical treatment, trip cancellation, and quarantine costs related to the virus. Always review your policy to ensure pandemic-related expenses are specifically included, as coverage details can vary among insurers.
Is comprehensive travel insurance valid for multiple countries and extended trips?
Yes, comprehensive travel insurance is designed to cover multiple countries and long durations, making it ideal for multi-destination journeys or round-the-world trips. Always check that your destinations are listed in the policy, and buy an annual multi-trip plan for frequent international travelers based in the UAE.
Is comprehensive travel insurance mandatory?
Comprehensive travel insurance is not mandatory for all travelers, but it is required when visiting certain countries, such as when obtaining a Schengen visa or for trips to destinations that request proof of insurance for entry. Even where it’s not required, it’s strongly recommended—for example, a family trip to the USA, where unexpected medical expenses or cancellations can cause significant financial strain.
When is it recommended to purchase comprehensive travel insurance?
Purchase comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you confirm your trip and before making any non-refundable payments like flights or hotels. This timing ensures your policy includes valuable pre-departure benefits such as trip cancellation cover, and protects you financially from unforeseen circumstances before your journey begins.
How do I purchase comprehensive travel insurance?
First, compare plans using HelloSafe’s travel insurance comparison platform to match your needs and budget. Next, carefully check the guarantees and exclusions, as comprehensive plans vary widely in benefits. Then, purchase your policy online for instant coverage—your insurance certificate will be issued immediately for visa or travel use.
Can I purchase comprehensive travel insurance after booking my trip?
Yes, you can purchase comprehensive travel insurance after booking your trip. However, it is best to buy it before making major payments, as this maximizes your protection against cancellations or emergencies that might occur before departure. Buying early means broader coverage eligibility and peace of mind.
How do I make a claim on my comprehensive travel insurance?
To file a claim, contact your insurer as soon as possible and provide all required documentation, such as your policy number, receipts, and incident details. Most UAE insurers have online or mobile claim portals, making the process quick and efficient. It's important to keep all supporting documents until your claim is settled.
Does comprehensive travel insurance cover COVID-19-related events?
Most comprehensive travel insurance policies now include COVID-19 coverage by default, covering medical treatment, trip cancellation, and quarantine costs related to the virus. Always review your policy to ensure pandemic-related expenses are specifically included, as coverage details can vary among insurers.
Is comprehensive travel insurance valid for multiple countries and extended trips?
Yes, comprehensive travel insurance is designed to cover multiple countries and long durations, making it ideal for multi-destination journeys or round-the-world trips. Always check that your destinations are listed in the policy, and buy an annual multi-trip plan for frequent international travelers based in the UAE.
On the same topic
