Key facts
- Emirates and Etihad Airways have launched new insurance schemes to address travel concerns to the Middle East.
- The initiatives aim to counter negative travel advisories issued by foreign offices.
- Etihad offers free medical travel insurance for up to 15 days for international visitors on its flights until December 2026.
- Emirates provides comprehensive travel cover for an additional fee, including rebooking for conflict-related cancellations and medical expense coverage up to US$25,000.
Gulf-based airlines Emirates and Etihad Airways are introducing new insurance offerings to combat a significant drop in tourism to the Middle East, which has been impacted by geopolitical tensions and resulting travel advisories. The US-Israel attack on Iran, in particular, led to an estimated daily loss of €515 million for the region's tourism sector.
While a ceasefire in April and an anticipated Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the US are expected to improve the situation, travel insurance remains a hurdle. Many countries' foreign offices issue advisories against travel to certain regions due to civil unrest, war, or terrorism, which can invalidate standard travel insurance policies. Although the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has downgraded its advisories for many Middle Eastern destinations, countries like France and Germany still recommend only essential travel.
To overcome this, Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, is providing free medical travel insurance for international visitors arriving on its flights. This coverage is valid for up to 15 days in the UAE and applies to those utilizing the airline's stopover program. The offer is available from July until December 2026.
Emirates, headquartered in Dubai, is offering a more comprehensive travel cover for an additional fee on flights booked through its official website. This policy includes rebooking on another airline at no extra cost if a conflict-related cancellation occurs and provides trip extensions of up to 30 days if travelers are unable to depart. Additionally, it covers conflict-related medical expenses up to US$25,000 and includes standard features such as trip cancellation and compensation for baggage delays or loss.