Indian missions in the United Arab Emirates urged visitors to obtain medical insurance before travel and residents to check their plans, citing cases where coverage fell short during medical emergencies, Gulf News reported.
The Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai and Northern Emirates issued the advice, the outlet said. The missions reported cases of Indian nationals who became ill or needed emergency care while holding policies with gaps. Some resulting bills were beyond what patients or their relatives could afford, Gulf News reported.
Visitors and tourists are advised to arrange a suitable policy before departure. The missions recommend checking that it offers cashless treatment and pays for medical repatriation to India if an emergency occurs. The Consulate posted the advisory on social media in English, Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu, Gulf News reported.
The notice also directs Indian workers on employment visas and their family members to check whether their current policies cover all medical expenses in the UAE, as well as repatriation to India. The UAE is home to about 4.5 million Indian expatriates, the outlet said. It described the recommendation as part of repeated appeals by the missions for visitors to secure insurance before travel, citing the substantial costs that unexpected treatment can bring.
Separately, the Consulate helped UAE insurers establish a Life Protection Plan for expatriate workers, with a focus on blue-collar employees, according to Gulf News. It provides financial benefits to families after a worker's natural or accidental death and includes coverage related to accidental disability and repatriation costs. An expansion in 2025 made workers ages 18 to 69 eligible for Dh35,000 in coverage at a Dh32 premium for 12 months, the report said.
