The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, the Consulate General of India in Dubai, and missions in the Northern Emirates have strongly urged Indian residents and tourists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to ensure they have sufficient medical insurance.
The missions warned that unforeseen illnesses and medical emergencies could lead patients and their families to face enormous treatment bills.
In a advisory note published on Tuesday on the social network X, Indian representations reported numerous cases where citizens encountered urgent medical problems that resulted in large sums exceeding the means of the patients or their relatives due to insufficient insurance coverage.
The notification stated: 'All Indian citizens traveling to the UAE for visiting or tourism purposes are strongly advised to obtain adequate and appropriate medical insurance before starting the trip, which also covers cashless services, including costs for medical repatriation to India in case of an unforeseen medical emergency.'
Furthermore, the missions appealed to Indians who already reside in the UAE on work or dependent visas to check whether their current insurance policies provide sufficient coverage.
The notice added: 'Indians residing in the UAE on a work visa or as dependents are advised to ensure that their medical insurance is sufficient to cover all medical expenses in the UAE and medical repatriation to India.'
This warning emphasizes the importance of checking the scope of insurance coverage before traveling to the UAE or when using existing insurance while residing in the country. For visitors, this means confirming coverage for medical emergencies, the availability of cashless services where applicable, and ensuring repatriation to India if necessary. Residents and dependents were recommended to review their current coverage to guarantee its adequacy for medical expenses in the UAE and medical repatriation.