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16 August 2012
| Last updated on 1 July 2015
Home Insurance
Here we take a closer look at home insurance and advice.
This is an area that many expats neglect whilst living in the UAE but it is always better to be safe than sorry and we all know accidents do happen!
What is home insurance?
There are different types of home insurance, namely buildings, home contents and personal possessions cover.
What is buildings insurance?
Buildings insurance covers sudden and unexpected loss of, or physical damage to, your home and the permanent fixtures and fittings within it. It typically covers the damage resulting from fires, storms, floods or water leakages.
What is contents insurance?
Contents insurance covers the items in your house which are not permanent fixtures or fittings. It covers household goods and personal property such as furniture, jewellery, appliances and clothing. It also covers your valuables and money. It typically covers the damage resulting from fires, storms, floods, water leakages and theft.
What is personal possessions insurance?
Some insurers also offer worldwide personal possessions cover. This means that they will provide cover, anywhere in the world, for the sudden an unexpected loss of, or physical damage to, the personal possessions that you own. Insurers will usually ask you to specify any possessions which you would like to cover that exceed a certain amount (their single article limit) which is often around 10,000 AED. It is important that you remember to declare such items that exceed the single article limit, as otherwise you may find that you do not receive sufficient compensation in the event of a claim.
Why should I buy home insurance in the UAE, it’s not really necessary?
Homes in the UAE are increasingly being affected by fires, burst water pipes and other accidental damage. Losing your possessions in such an event is difficult enough, but having no insurance in place to cover the loss is even tougher. Home insurance is relatively cheap and offers great value. Some insurance providers offer home contents cover for as little as a dirham a day.
How do I calculate the value of my home contents?
Estimate the value of your contents room by room, take photographs and keep an inventory.
Don’t forget the small items like DVDs, books and clothes, which can soon add up. It’s very common for customers to have underestimated the value of their home contents, so working through your home room by room will help you to arrive at a more accurate valuation of your home contents.
Do I need to keep receipts for all of my purchases?
It certainly helps when it comes to making a claim. Having proof of purchase will allow your insurer to process your claim quicker, as it acts as a guarantee to prove that you owned the possession(s) you are trying to claim for. In the absence of receipts, photographs to are often useful.
