travel

UAE travellers rush to sign up for travel insurance

Dubai: Travel disruptions hit hard this week after the Ethiopia volcano sent ash sweeping into major air corridors between the Gulf and India. Airlines cancelled and rerouted flights without warning, leaving many travellers scrambling for new plans and covering unexpected costs along the way.

Moments like these are pushing more UAE residents to protect their travel plans before stepping on a plane. Policybazaar.ae reports a 45% jump in travel-insurance queries for Q4 2025 compared with last year.

That increase particularly comes at a time when more people travel for National Day, year-end holidays and the December school break — a period when disruptions are more painful and costly.

Lock in insurance early

Travelers are locking in insurance earlier, paying closer attention to cancellation and delay clauses, and choosing coverage that mirrors the rising uncertainty. Inbound travellers are doing the same, with a 48% rise in visitors securing insurance for trips into the UAE.

Toshita Chauhan, Chief Business Officer – General Insurance at Policybazaar.ae, says demand reflects a more aware and proactive traveller: “Travellers today are far more aware of the risks associated with international travel and view insurance as a necessity.

“We are seeing a clear shift toward informed decision-making, with customers actively seeking protection, especially during peak travel periods when volumes are at their highest.”

Why buy insurance now

The strongest interest comes from travellers aged 28–45, a group that often books tightly scheduled itineraries, relies heavily on pre-paid arrangements and values financial protection.

People are also insuring more diverse trips. Nature-driven holidays, hiking, wildlife travel and remote itineraries are trending. Solo travellers — including more women travelling independently — are choosing comprehensive policies that cover medical emergencies, trip interruptions and lost belongings.

Safety net — not gamble

Recent data shows many travellers are acting on that instinct. A 2025 survey found a 32% rise in travel-insurance quote requests between January and April compared with the same period in 2024, according to a Reuters poll.

That jump mirrors the wave of uncertainty passengers have felt during recent disruptions. Insurers say interest consistently spikes after major events — whether an IT outage or a natural incident — with some reporting a noticeable surge in requests for “delay coverage” right after a global disruption.

Market estimates reinforce the shift: the global travel-insurance sector is valued at about $30.77 billion in 2025 and is forecast to grow at roughly 16.8% through 2029. For everyday travellers, it signals something simple — people aren’t willing to fly without financial protection anymore.

What coverage works

Today’s travellers prioritise coverage that shields them from the most expensive risks:

Trip-cancellation or interruption protection for events like volcanic ash, severe weather, strikes or unexpected crises.
Flight-delay benefits that cover meals, hotels or alternative transport when delays stretch for hours.
Medical and emergency assistance for costly treatment or evacuation abroad.
Cancel-for-Any-Reason (CFAR) policies for added flexibility.

TravelInsurance.com summarises the shift in their 2025 outlook: “Travel insurance today is more important to travelers than ever before. Disruptions persist, from unpredictable weather events to flight disruptions and health issues.

“Trip cancellation coverage protects trip costs, while travel medical and emergency coverage is essential for those venturing abroad.” For travellers, that means fewer surprise expenses and less risk of losing money on non-refundable bookings.

Impact on UAE travellers

Travellers departing from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah during winter and year-end holidays face heavy booking volumes — and higher disruption risk. When plans shift unexpectedly, you may end up:

Paying more for last-minute flights
Covering hotel nights during extended delays
Losing non-refundable tours or stays
Rearranging onward connections at your own expense

The past week showed how fast carefully planned itineraries can collapse. In that environment, travel insurance feels less like an optional extra and more like a financial buffer.

If you’re flying soon, compare policies carefully. Check cancellation and delay protections. Look for coverage that includes natural-event disruptions such as volcanic ash. Review medical limits. Consider CFAR coverage if your plans feel uncertain.

A policy won’t stop disruptions — but it determines who pays for them: you, or your insurer.

Story by GULF NEWS

travel

Top 10 countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection

While thousands of UAE residents are currently scrambling to lock in travel plans ahead of the upcoming two-month school summer holiday, a smooth European getaway is far from a guarantee. In fact, choosing the wrong diplomatic mission right now could completely derail your vacation before it even begins.

The latest visa statistics from the European Commission reveal a stark reality for local holidaymakers: while some European nations welcome travellers with open arms, including giving them multiple-entry Schengen visas, a select group of consulates inside the UAE are proving to be major brick walls.

Surge in applications

Globally, the EU and Schengen-associated consulates received nearly 12 million applications for short-stay visas in 2025, a 1.8 percent increase from 2024 (11.7 million) and a 15.5 percent rise from 2023 (10.3 million). However, overall demand remained well below the 17 million applications recorded in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.

10 million visas

Over 10 million visas were issued globally in 2025, a 3 percent increase from 2024 (9.7 million). While the global refusal rate held steady at 14.8 percent, rejection rates inside the UAE tell a wildly different story for certain destinations, with several consulates turning away more than a third — and in some cases, over half — of all local applicants.

Highest rejection rates

Data reveals that Bulgaria is statistically the hardest Schengen visa to secure in the UAE. The country maintains a staggering official rejection rate of 58.2 percent, turning away 2,473 applicants out of 4,494 requests.

Luxembourg follows closely as the second-hardest destination, with a 48.5 percent rejection rate, meaning nearly one out of every two UAE applicants is denied. Estonia takes the third spot with a refusal rate of 46.4 percent across its 468 applications.

The high-volume traps

While smaller European states often see high percentages due to lower application volumes, several massive, mainstream holiday destinations in the UAE are operating as major rejection traps for unsuspecting holidaymakers.

Malta rejected 45.9 percent of its 7,079 applicants in the UAE, while Croatia denied 42.6 percent of the 2,092 people who applied. Meanwhile, Nordic favourite Sweden maintained a strict barrier, rejecting 40.7 percent of its 6,312 local applicants.

Popular Eastern European hub Hungary crossed the 10,000-application milestone in the UAE but proved to be highly exclusive, turning down 35.2 percent (3,636 applicants) of its total pool. Poland also sits high on the refusal leaderboard at 32.5 percent.

Rounding out the top 10 hardest states are Denmark and Slovakia. Denmark processed a massive 17,288 applications from the UAE but handed out rejections to 31.8 percent of them, while Slovakia refused 31.5 percent of its 1,110 applicants.

Smart travel strategy

The data indicates that instead of gambling on boutique destinations or strict Nordic states, smart UAE travellers should anchor their summer holiday itineraries with diplomatic heavyweights like Spain, France, or Germany, all of which boast significantly higher pure approval rates locally.

Gulf news

travel

Saudi Arabia bans in-flight power bank charging

operating at the Kingdom’s airports, updating regulations governing the carriage of portable chargers, commonly known as power banks, and other electronic devices onboard aircraft.

The authority announced the updated rules on social media, saying the measures are aimed at enhancing aviation safety and aligning with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Charging power banks onboard banned

Under the new regulations, passengers and cabin crew are prohibited from recharging portable power banks during flights.

The authority said the measures are intended to strengthen aviation safety and security across all flights operating in the Kingdom.

Power banks allowed only in cabin baggage

The updated rules also state that power banks must be carried only in hand luggage inside the aircraft cabin and are strictly prohibited in checked baggage.

Passengers will be allowed to carry a maximum of two portable chargers each onboard.

As an added precautionary measure, the authority further recommended avoiding the use of power banks to charge electronic devices during flights.

travel

UAE restores normal air traffic operations

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced that air traffic in the UAE’s airspace has returned to normal operations, with temporary precautionary measures lifted.

The authority said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions, carried out in coordination with relevant entities. It stressed that real-time monitoring will continue to ensure the highest levels of aviation safety.

The GCAA also expressed its appreciation for the cooperation of passengers and airlines during the recent period, reaffirming the readiness of its technical and operational teams to respond to any potential developments.

It urged the public to rely on official sources for information.