You meet a Financial Advisor in a coffee shop in DIFC or Marina. He is charming. He wears a nice suit. He draws a graph on a napkin showing how you can become a millionaire in 20 years. He says: “You need Life Insurance. But why just pay for death? Why not pay into a … Read more
Most parents buy insurance thinking about school fees or grocery bills. “If I die, I want my kids to go to Repton or Dubai College.” But in the UAE, there is a legal hurdle that comes long before the school run. It is the issue of Child Guardianship. If you are an expat father (the … Read more
You bought Life Insurance. You signed the papers, did the medical checkup, and paid the first premium. You feel secure. But in the eyes of the insurer, you are currently in the “Danger Zone.” For the first 12 months (and sometimes 24 months), your policy is provisional. It is active, yes, but it is subject … Read more
In the UK or USA, when the main breadwinner dies, it is a tragedy. But financially, the wheels keep turning. Joint bank accounts remain open. The spouse can still pay for groceries. The mortgage has insurance attached. In the UAE, death triggers a Financial Freeze. This is where Life Insurance stops being a “nice to … Read more
Ask a random expat in Dubai: “Do you have Life Insurance?” 50% will say: “Yes, I have it through my work.” They sleep soundly, believing their family is protected. In reality, they are walking on a tightrope without a safety net. Relying on “Group Life Cover” (Employer Insurance) as your only protection is the single … Read more
When you scan your insurance policy, you look for the big numbers. “Contents: AED 200,000.” Good. “Liability: AED 1 Million.” Great. You probably ignore Section F, Clause 4, tucked away at the bottom. It usually has a smaller number, like “AED 50,000” or “AED 25,000.” It is called “Alternative Accommodation” or “Loss of Rent.” In … Read more
You have found the perfect apartment. Marina view, high floor, good rent. You sign the tenancy contract. The agent asks: “Do you want Tenant’s Insurance?” You laugh. “No thanks. The landlord has insurance on the apartment. I’m just renting.” You just made the most common, and potentially most devastating, financial mistake in the UAE expatriate … Read more
You bought a laptop 3 years ago for AED 5,000. Yesterday, a water pipe burst and soaked it. It is dead. You file a claim. You expect a check for AED 5,000 to buy a new one. The insurer sends you an offer for AED 1,500. You are furious. “How can I buy a laptop … Read more
You did the responsible thing. You bought “Home Contents Insurance – All Risk.” The title sounds promising. “All Risk.” That means everything, surely? Then, in the peak of July heat, your AC unit groans and dies. Your villa becomes an oven. You call the insurance company, confident they will pay for the new compressor. They … Read more
You have a policy. You have damage. You submit the claim. Then… Silence. Or worse, endless emails from a Loss Adjuster asking for documents you threw away 5 years ago. Claim delays are frustrating, especially when you are standing in a flooded living room or looking at a broken window. But usually, the delay is … Read more