Emirates to offer travel insurance for Dubai-bound passengers

Dhaka: Emirates is collaborating with insurance companies to develop a dedicated travel insurance product for passengers flying into or through Dubai, aiming to address a coverage gap created by ongoing Middle East conflict advisories.

Emirates President Tim Clark detailed the initiative in an interview with a prominent publication, published on June 11. Clark described the product as "reasonably priced" and said it would guarantee to get passengers home, regardless of whether the return flight is on Emirates or another airline.

"I think one of the big concerns is that if they get caught overseas and they can't get back," Clark said, adding that the airline is working with insurers "to do the right thing."

More than three months after the current Middle East conflict began, several countries still have no-fly recommendations in place for the Gulf region. These advisories have effectively voided standard travel insurance for new bookings, as most policies apply war and conflict exclusions once a government warning is issued.

Specialist high-risk coverage remains available but at higher premiums and tighter terms, leaving a consumer protection gap many travelers only discover at the point of making a claim.

Despite the advisories, roughly 40,000 passengers a day continue transiting through Dubai's airport — down from approximately 100,000 before the conflict but growing steadily. Clark noted that some flights from London are "bursting at the seams," even without standard insurance available to passengers.

On its own war risk coverage, reports indicate Emirates is paying roughly USD 100,000 per week in additional premiums to cover its entire fleet operating in and out of the region. An insurance executive described that rate as "outrageously low." By comparison, rival carriers are being quoted between USD 70,000 and USD 150,000 per individual flight landing in the Gulf.

Emirates restored services within four days of the conflict starting and quickly returned to 40% of its capacity. Clark said Dubai intercepted roughly 98% of nearly 3,000 incoming drones, missiles, and cruise missiles, with flights operating in narrow air corridors patrolled by military jets.

Initially, flights carried an additional five hours of fuel to account for potential diversions.