On Tuesday, the Consulate General of India in Dubai posted on social media that all Indian nationals heading to the UAE for visit or tourism must obtain adequate medical insurance before starting their journey. The advisory cites multiple instances of Indians encountering huge medical bills after unforeseen illnesses or emergencies, bills that were "beyond the capacity of the patient or their family members to bear," according to the Indian mission.
The consulate emphasized that the insurance should cover cashless facilities and the cost of medical repatriation to India in case of an emergency. It warned that many employer‑provided plans in the UAE do not include repatriation and that families may find themselves in debt if they are not properly covered.
Earlier this month, a small group of Indians in Abu Dhabi were forced to pay tens of thousands of rupees for emergency treatments, a scenario the mission said it had seen repeatedly. The advisory also urged expatriate workers on employment visas and their dependents to double‑check that their insurance covers all medical expenses in the UAE.
The Indian mission will monitor claims and may issue further guidance if the number of high‑cost cases rises. Travelers are now urged to verify that their policies include cashless services and repatriation before booking flights, ensuring they avoid the financial burden the advisory warns against.