UAE heavy rain alert: Is your car insurance policy ready for flood damage?

Dubai: The UAE is facing heavy rainfall, with storms already affecting Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, and unstable weather expected across most of the country until tomorrow.

Waterlogged roads and other hazards could pose risks for drivers, prompting authorities to issue traffic safety alerts and to follow official weather updates.

For motorists, knowing how car insurance covers rain-related damage is essential to avoid unexpected costs. Here’s what every UAE driver should know about insurance during heavy rainfall.

Under the UAE’s Unified Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy, natural disasters are generally excluded from compensation. This means insurance companies are not liable for damages caused directly or indirectly by events such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, or other natural disasters.

However, vehicles covered under comprehensive insurance policies may be eligible for compensation for rain-related damage. Comprehensive insurance provides protection against a wider range of risks, including loss or damage resulting from heavy rainfall or flooding.

If you only have third-party liability (TPL) insurance, you will not be covered for damages caused by rain or floods. TPL insurance is limited to paying for damages caused to other people or their property and does not include coverage for natural disasters affecting your own vehicle.

To protect your car from rain damage, a comprehensive insurance policy is essential. This type of coverage is broader and includes risks such as heavy rain, flooding, and other natural hazards.

While comprehensive insurance is more expensive than third-party coverage, it provides extensive protection, including:

It’s important to read the policy details carefully. Even with comprehensive coverage, insurance claims may be reduced or denied if authorities have issued warnings to avoid driving in hazardous conditions and the vehicle is driven through waterlogged areas.

By combining safe driving practices with the right insurance, UAE drivers can reduce the risk of damage and financial loss during periods of heavy rain.