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A new year is the perfect moment to match your cover to real life. Prices shift, regulations evolve, and families take on new commitments. In the Middle East, many of us live across emirates, travel often, and balance personal priorities with entrepreneurial goals. The right insurance removes friction from everyday decisions and protects savings when the unexpected happens. Below are the plans individuals should consider for 2026, why they matter now, and how to shape each one so it works the way you actually live.
Personal Insurance Policies
Life Insurance
Life insurance in Dubai is there to keep things steady if something unexpected happens. It can help your family cover major commitments like a mortgage, school fees, and day to day living costs without having to make rushed financial decisions. Whether you’re considering life insurance for the first time or taking a fresh look at your existing policy, it’s worth reviewing in 2026. Costs across the region continue to shift, and the amount of cover that felt comfortable a year or two ago may not fully reflect today’s reality. A good starting point is to base your coverage on current debts and the amount of support your family would need for the next few years.
For existing policies, a few simple updates can make a big difference. Make sure your beneficiary details and contact information are accurate, as small errors can slow things down when it matters most. Next, consider the additional add ons for coverage that make sense for your life. Critical illness coverage, for example, can pay a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious condition, giving you breathing room to focus on treatment instead of finances. A waiver of premium is another practical option, because it keeps your policy running even if you can’t work for a while and your income takes a hit. If you prefer a Sharia-compliant route, family takaful can provide similar protection through a cooperative model. At the end of the day, it’s about making sure the people you love are looked after if the unexpected happens.
Home Insurance
Home insurance is often treated like a “nice to have” until something goes wrong. In 2026, it’s worth giving your cover a proper review because replacement costs have continued to climb, and it’s more expensive than most people realise to replace furniture, electronics, and household fixtures after a loss.
A strong home insurance policy should include more than basic coverage for theft and fire. It should cover your belongings, protect you if a landlord or neighbour makes a claim, and give you support with temporary accommodation if your home is ever unliveable after an insured incident. Accidental damage is also worth a look, especially in busy homes where things get dropped, spilled, or knocked over and it’s no one’s “fault,” it’s just life. If you own a villa, check that the policy language is clear around flood and storm cover, and confirm what’s included for boundary walls, outbuildings, and solar installations. If you rent, make sure tenants liability is included so you are not personally responsible for damage that impacts the building or surrounding units.
To make claims smoother, keep a simple photo inventory of your home contents and store it in the cloud. It also helps to review high value items such as jewellery and watches, since many policies require these to be declared separately to be fully covered.
Health & Medical Insurance
Health insurance is one of those things you only notice when you need it, which is exactly why it’s worth reviewing before you do. In 2026, healthcare is still getting more expensive across the GCC, so the lowest premium rarely tells the full story. What really matters is how the plan works in real life: whether your go-to clinics are in-network, what you’ll be asked to pay at reception, and how easy it is to get approvals and submit claims when you actually need care.
For families, it helps to be clear on the benefits you are most likely to use. That usually means pediatric visits, maternity cover, specialist access, and pharmacy benefits that make sense for your routine. If you live between emirates or travel frequently, check how your plan works under DHA in Dubai and DOH in Abu Dhabi, and confirm what happens in an emergency when you are elsewhere in the GCC.
A few small checks can make a big difference this year. Make sure your regular clinics are in-network so you are not caught out by unexpected out-of-network charges. Set up the insurer app and keep your e-card saved on your phone, because it speeds up check-ins and makes claims easier. And if you had a baby in late 2025, confirm your newborn is listed as a dependent in the portal with the correct start date, so there are no issues when you book appointments.
Family Income Protection Insurance
Family Income protection insurance is designed for the moments most people don’t plan for. If an illness or injury keeps you off work for weeks or months, it helps replace part of your monthly income so the basics stay covered. Rent or mortgage payments still go out, school fees still land, groceries still need buying, and this is the kind of cover that helps you keep everything steady while you focus on getting better.
It matters even more in 2026 if you are self-employed, paid on commission, or working on contract, because sick pay is often limited or not there at all. The goal is to choose a monthly benefit that would genuinely help you keep up with your commitments, then set a waiting period that matches your savings. If you have a partner, it is often worth looking at cover for both of you, so one person being unable to work does not put pressure on the whole household budget.
Business Insurance
Business insurance in the UAE only feels “important” when something interrupts your ability to operate, and by then it’s too late to fix gaps. In 2026, many businesses across the region are facing higher replacement costs, tighter contracts, and more operational dependencies than they had a few years ago. The right cover helps you get back on your feet quickly and protects the cash flow you rely on to keep staff paid and customers served.
A strong business policy usually starts with three essentials. Property cover looks after your physical assets if there’s fire, flood, or storm damage. Liability cover protects you if someone claims your business caused injury or damage. Business interruption is the piece many companies overlook, but it is often the most valuable, because it helps replace income when an insured event forces you to pause operations while your fixed costs continue in the background.
Cyber Ransom Insurance
Cyber risk isn’t just a “big company” problem anymore. It is now one of the most common ways businesses lose money quickly, often through simple scenarios that feel ordinary until they turn expensive. A compromised email account, a hijacked WhatsApp number, a fake invoice that looks real, or a ransomware lockout that freezes your systems can disrupt operations overnight.
Cyber ransom insurance is designed to respond to exactly these situations. The most useful policies don’t just reimburse costs, they give you access to practical support when time matters. Look for cover that includes immediate breach response, forensic investigation, data restoration, crisis communications, and business interruption protection if an attack shuts down your ability to trade. If your business pays suppliers by transfer, social engineering and invoice manipulation extensions are also worth considering, because they address a very real and growing type of fraud.
Insurance should sit alongside basic cyber hygiene, not replace it. In 2026, simple steps like multi-factor authentication, offline backups, and staff training still do a lot of heavy lifting, and good cyber cover is what helps when those controls are not enough.
Corporate & Business Liability Insurance
As businesses grow, liability exposure grows with them. Contracts are more detailed, clients expect stronger protections, and claims can come from places you did not anticipate. That is why corporate liability insurance matters, not only for large firms, but for any company doing professional work, delivering services, or managing projects where mistakes can become costly.
General liability covers third-party injury or property damage connected to your operations. Professional indemnity protects you if a client claims they suffered financial loss due to your advice, design, or services. Directors and officers cover and support business leaders if decisions are challenged, whether by regulators, stakeholders, or other parties.
In 2026, it’s also worth looking at how your limits stack together. Many companies are adding an excess layer above core policies, because it can be a cost-effective way to increase protection without pushing every individual policy to a very high limit. If your work crosses borders or sits within joint ventures, make sure territory and jurisdiction wording matches your contracts, because gaps here often only appear when a claim is already in motion.
Keyman Insurance
If your business depends heavily on one or two people, keyman insurance is worth considering for 2026. It protects the business financially if a founder, senior leader, top salesperson, or specialist is suddenly unable to work due to death or serious illness. The goal is to keep the company stable while you manage the disruption, because when a key person is out, revenue can dip, clients can hesitate, and projects can stall quickly.
Keyman cover pays a lump sum to help you buy time and stay in control. It can be used to bridge cash flow, hire a replacement, bring in interim support, or reassure lenders and partners. A sensible way to set the cover amount is to link it to what the business would realistically lose or spend during a six to twelve month transition, rather than picking an arbitrary number.
Petra’s Perspective For The Year Ahead
The best insurance decisions in 2026 are rarely about buying more. They are about buying better, with clear wording, the right networks, realistic limits, and an insurer that will respond properly when something goes wrong. This is where the professionals at Petra can help. We work on behalf of our clients, using direct access to reputable insurers in the UAE to secure cover that fits real life, not just a renewal price.
Petra Insurance Brokers has been active in the UAE market since 1966, and that experience shows up in the details. We compare options line by line, explain what matters in plain language, and stay involved through the policy period, including when claims need extra support. If you want a focused 2026 review, our team will help you prioritise what to protect first, spot quick wins, and build a plan that gives you real confidence for the year ahead.
RAMZI GHURANI
Managing Partner
