Indian missions in UAE urge adequate medical cover for travellers and residents
By Dubai Currents Staff2 min read
The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have called on Indian nationals visiting or residing in the United Arab Emirates to ensure they hold sufficient medical insurance. The advisory warns that unexpected illnesses or accidents can result in overwhelming medical costs for patients and their families.
In a message posted on X on Tuesday, the missions stated they had recently handled several cases of citizens facing medical emergencies that led to large hospital bills, far exceeding what the patients or their relatives could afford, partly because of inadequate insurance coverage.
Advice for visitors
“All Indian nationals who are travelling to UAE for visit or tourism purposes are hereby advised to take adequate and appropriate medical insurance, prior to commencement of their journey, which also covers cashless facilities including the cost of medical repatriation to India in the event of unforeseen medical emergency,” the advisory said.
The missions emphasised that visitors must check their policy covers medical emergencies, provides cashless treatment wherever possible, and includes the cost of repatriation to India if needed.
Call for residents to verify coverage
Indians already living in the UAE on employment visas or as dependents have also been urged to review their existing medical insurance. The advisory stated: “Indians residing in UAE on employment visa or as dependents are advised to verify that their medical insurance is adequate to cover all medical expenses in UAE and medical repatriation to India.”
Residents and their dependents are encouraged to ensure their current policies are sufficient for medical treatment within the UAE and for any necessary medical repatriation to India.
Scope of coverage
The broader message of the advisory is for all Indian nationals to carefully check the scope of their insurance before travelling to the UAE or relying on an existing policy while living in the country. For visitors, this means confirming that cashless facilities and repatriation are included. For residents, it involves verifying that the policy covers all medical expenses in the UAE and any potential medical evacuation to India.
