India urges travelers to the UAE to get medical insurance

Dubai: India on Tuesday advised its citizens traveling to the UAE to secure adequate health insurance before beginning their trip, citing several cases in which Indians were left with substantial medical expenses after unexpected illnesses or emergencies. “All Indian nationals travelling to the UAE for visit or tourism purposes are hereby advised to take adequate and appropriate medical insurance prior to commencement of their journey,” the Consulate General of India in Dubai said in a social media post. The advisory also said the insurance should include cashless treatment facilities, as well as the cost of medical repatriation to India in the event of an unforeseen medical emergency.

The Indian mission said the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, along with the Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, had received multiple reports of Indian nationals facing medical emergencies that led to large bills. It added that these expenses were sometimes “beyond the capacity of the patient or their family members to bear,” due to insufficient insurance coverage. Advisory for Indian Nationals Travelling to or Residing in the UAE: Ensure Adequate Medical Insurance Coverage https://t.co/0wjtlnhBd7 — India in Dubai October 27, 2026 Indians living in the UAE on employment visas, or as dependents, have also been urged to check that their medical insurance provides sufficient coverage for treatment in the country, along with medical repatriation to India.