Financial Planning
What Is Mortgage Life Insurance and How Does It Work in UAE?
Mortgage Life insurance is a policy designed to safeguard your home loan against unexpected life...
Life is unpredictable, but your family’s financial future doesn’t have to be.
As a financial advisor who has helped over 350+ families in the UAE protect and grow their wealth, I’ve seen first-hand how the right term life insurance can turn uncertainty into financial security.
In this guide, I’ll break down the five best term life insurance plans in the UAE for 2025, their unique features, and how to choose the right one for your family and goals.
👉 Use the Life Insurance Calculator to estimate your ideal cover before you compare plans
Term life insurance is a pure protection plan. It pays a lump sum to your family if you pass away during the policy term. It’s not an investment plan and doesn’t have a maturity or surrender value.
Purpose: Protect your family’s financial future
Coverage: For a fixed number of years
Premiums: Low and predictable
Payout: Lump-sum benefit in case of death during the term
Simply put, it’s an affordable way to transfer financial risk from your family to an insurance company.
For UAE residents and expats, term life insurance is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make.
Here’s why:
✅ Global Coverage – You stay protected even if you move abroad
💸 High Cover, Low Premium – $20/month can secure over $100,000 of cover
🛡️ Flexible Riders – Add critical illness, accidental death, or disability cover
💱 Multi-Currency Options – AED, USD, GBP, or EUR
💰 Tax-Free Payouts – 100% tax-free benefits for your beneficiaries
⚙️ Easy Application – Quick medicals and seamless onboarding
Term life insurance perfectly complements your financial plan for retirement, child education, or long-term wealth building.
Quick Comparison: Top 5 Term Life Insurance Plans in UAE (2025) | |||
Plan |
Provider | Riders | Unique Feature |
ITA | Zurich International Life | CI, PTD, Waiver | Global coverage up to age 80. Seamless Digital platform |
Live Life | MetLife UAE | CI, Forever Plan | Lower Premium for certain age groups |
IPME | Friends Provident International | Life + CI combo | Free Best Doctors® second opinion |
Lifeguard | Sukoon (Oman Insurance) | AD, CI, Waiver | Same premium for smokers & nonsmokers |
Hemaya Plus | Salama | AD, Family Income, CI | Shariah-compliant, covers up to 100 |
(CI = Critical Illness, AD = Accidental Death, PTD = Permanent Total Disability)
Best for: Global coverage, strong financial strength, Seamless digital platform and quick claims
Key Benefits:
Cover up to age 80
34 critical illness conditions covered
Simple online application with home medical tests
Option for life or critical illness cover
Contingent beneficiary feature
Limitations:
Maximum 35-year term
Limited rider options (no partial disability rider)
Advisor’s Insight:
Ideal for non smokers and young people. Smoker rate can be relatively high.
📎 Learn more about Zurich Term Insurance →
Best for: Disability income and flexible premium options
Key Benefits:
Level or decreasing cover options
Unique Forever Plan rider — monthly income for life in case of total disability
Free second medical opinion and medical discount card
Multiple premium payment options (single, limited, regular)
Limitations:
Passive War risk to be added as a rider
Max cover age: 85 years
Advisor’s Insight:
Ideal for residents seeking a wide range of riders to enhance the scope of the policy.
Best for: Flexible cover options and affordability
Key Benefits:
Choose between life only, CI only, or combined cover
Premiums start at just $17.50/month
Access to Best Doctors® second opinion service
Limited or regular pay options
Limitations:
Paper based application
Advisor’s Insight:
Ideal for British and European expats.
Best for: Lower cost and simple coverage
Key Benefits:
Covers ages 1–80
No premium differentiation between smokers and non-smokers
Riders: AD, PTD, 40 critical illnesses, hospital indemnity, waiver of premium
Single premium option also available
Limitations:
Paper based application
Advisor’s Insight: :
Great for residents who want affordable protection from a trusted local insurer.
Best for: Shariah-compliant family protection
Key Benefits:
Cover up to age 100
Family income benefit option
Multiple payment modes (monthly to annual)
Includes critical illness and accidental cover
Limitations:
Critical Illness insurance restricted to 50% of life coer
Advisor’s Insight:
Perfect for Muslim families seeking ethical, Takaful-based protection with global scope.
📎 Learn more about Hemaya Plus from Salama →
NRIs often wonder whether to buy term insurance from India or the UAE.
Here’s a quick comparison:
Factor | India-Based Term Plan | UAE-Based Term Plan |
---|---|---|
Currency Risk | Linked to INR depreciation | Stable USD/AED value |
Claims | Longer processing times | Faster claim settlement |
Critical Illness Cover | Often limited | Wider global coverage |
Taxes | GST applicable | No GST or income tax |
Repatriation | Complex | Seamless, global payout |
Medical Process | Lengthy | Quick and local |
Advisor’s Insight:
For long-term NRI, a locally-issued international plan ensures better claim support, flexible payment modes, and global validity.
Before buying a policy, consider these factors:
✅ Coverage Amount: Aim for 10–15× your annual income
✅ Policy Term: Choose coverage till your expected retirement age + 5 years cushion.
✅ Riders: Add critical illness or disability riders
✅ Premiums: Lock in rates early — they rise with age
✅ Currency: Match your income or dependents’ currency
✅ Reviews: Check the insurer’s claim settlement ratio
The following table shows the premiums payable on a Million Dollar life cover over different ages of a non-smoking resident in UAE;
📎 Use the Life Insurance Calculator → to determine your ideal coverage amount.
As an independent financial advisor in Dubai with 13+ years of experience, I provide unbiased guidance to help you choose the most suitable plan — not just the one with the lowest premium.
Here’s how I can help:
Build a holistic financial plan around your protection goals
Compare multiple insurers and products
Personalize coverage with riders
Simplify applications and claims
Review and update your plan as life changes
📞 Book Your Free Consultation →
You work hard for your family — don’t leave their security to chance.
The best term insurance plan isn’t the cheapest; it’s the one that ensures your loved ones never have to compromise their dreams, even if life takes an unexpected turn.
💬 Start today. Compare your options. Book your free consultation now →
Residents and citizens of the UAE aged between 18 and 65 are eligible to apply for term life insurance, subject to underwriting criteria set by the insurance provider.
Yes, non-residents can purchase term insurance in the UAE. However, they may be subject to additional documentation and underwriting requirements, depending on the insurer.
Most term life insurance policies require medical underwriting, which may include a health questionnaire and medical examinations, to assess the risk and determine premium rates.
Yes, insurance companies pay all valid claims promptly. The average time taken to approve a claim after all necessary documents have been provided is 72 hours.
Yes, you can have more than one policy, but you should disclose all your existing life policy(ies) when applying for a new one.
The 2 types of term life insurance policies are
Nicotine consumption in any form including Shisha in the last 12 months will classify you as a smoker and you must declare to ensure correct risk assessment and seamless claims payment.
The choice between whole life and term life insurance depends on your financial goals and budgets;
Yes, students who are 18 or older can get life insurance and critical illness insurance, with coverage up to $500,000. In fact, it is one of the best gifts parents can provide when their children turn 18, ensuring long-term financial protection at affordable rates.
Yes, housewives/homemakers in the UAE can get life insurance, subject to underwriting.
Author, Blogger & Independent Financial Advisor. My goal is to give you actionable tools for creating passive income and building wealth. More than 10,000 expats have already used my ideas to jumpstart their journey towards financial independence. Connect with me to start yours...
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