Hi,

Myself and my partner are travelling to the UAE next week and i am not sure what type of travel insurance we need. 3 weeks after we get back, my partner will be going back out there to work for 2 years, where he will be travelling back to the UK every couple of months. I will also be travelling out there every couple of months but as i will only be staying for a few days at a time, i am pressuming a annual multi trip cover would be ok for me, but as my partner will be staying there past 21/31 days at a time, i am confused at which travel insurance to get for him!!

Thanks for the help in advance

You should first check to see what the employer provides and then look at what the government provides in terms of health and other cover, then look to insurance to cover any shortfall. Unless you are married, there will be no cover for you by virtue of the employment - as you know, they are muslim countries. If you are married, then you will both certainly be covered by the state health system if you apply for their health card (assuming the employment is full time, permanent and with a work visa). Some employers offer a little more. I used to work for their Air Force and they had their own health care system but, in my view, it was less efficient than the state system.

Thanks for the reply maxsteam, will speak to his employer to find out details.

If i choose the "couple" option on a annual multi-trip policy, is this only valid when we travel as a couple, or will it be valid for myself when i am travelling on my own?

Thanks again

Most "couple" policies will cover each person even when travelling separately but it's worth checking.

Rules within the UAE vary between the Emirates. In Sharjah they are quite strict, Dubai is relatively "western" and Abu Dhabi is somewhere in the middle.