The top life insurance companies in the UAE and how to choose between them

Q: How do I check if a life insurer is CBUAE-licensed?

The CBUAE publishes a register of licensed insurers on its website at cbuae.gov.ae. Search the insurer's name or trade name. All legitimate life insurers operating in the UAE must appear on this register.

Q: What is the difference between conventional and takaful life insurance in the UAE?

Conventional life insurance is a contract where the insurer pays claims from its own funds. Takaful is a mutual contribution model where participants contribute to a shared risk pool managed under Shariah principles. On death the family receives the agreed sum assured from the pool. Surplus may be distributed back to participants.

How should you judge a life insurer?

Five factors carry the most weight when comparing life insurers in the UAE.

CBUAE licence. Every life insurer operating in the UAE must hold a valid CBUAE (Central Bank of the UAE) licence. Confirm the insurer appears on the official CBUAE register before buying. This is a non-negotiable starting filter, not a differentiator.

Financial strength ratings. Insurers rated by AM Best or Standard & Poor's publish those ratings on their websites. A higher rating indicates greater financial resilience to pay claims over the long term, which matters most for a whole-of-life or endowment plan spanning decades. Not all UAE-licensed insurers carry an international rating; absence of a rating does not mean the company is unsafe, but a published rating is a useful data point.

Claims settlement. Some insurers publish claims settlement ratios; most do not. Where available, a high ratio (percentage of submitted claims paid) signals a functioning claims process. Where the ratio is not published, check independent reviews and ask the broker or insurer directly for their stated process and typical settlement timeline.

Policy terms for expats. Most expats in the UAE are here temporarily. Key questions: does the policy lapse if you lose UAE residency? Is there a worldwide territory clause? Can you continue the policy after leaving the UAE, and if so, under what conditions and premium? These terms vary significantly between providers and are critical for anyone who may relocate.

Takaful or conventional. Residents with a Shariah-compliant preference should look at takaful operators. The cover structure is the same (family protection on death, savings plan where applicable) but the underlying mechanism differs: contributions go into a shared pool managed under Mudarabah or Wakalah principles, with surplus potentially returned to participants. Several UAE-licensed takaful operators offer family (life) takaful plans.

Who are the main life insurers in the UAE?

All insurers listed here are CBUAE-licensed and verified as of 12 Jun 2026 (source: insurers.json, compiled from CBUAE register and insurer own sites).

Conventional insurers

MetLife UAE. Foreign-branch insurer, CBUAE registration No. 34. MetLife has been in the Middle East for 65 or more years. Their UAE operation focuses on life and health lines. As an international insurer they are more likely than local names to offer portability provisions and USD-denominated cover. MetLife publishes its AM Best financial strength rating.

Orient Insurance. National insurer, backed by Al-Futtaim Group, established in 1982. Rated A by AM Best and Standard & Poor's (verified 12 Jun 2026, source: orientinsurance.com). Writes all major lines including life. Orient has a separate CBUAE-licensed subsidiary Orient Takaful for those who prefer Shariah-compliant cover.

Sukoon Insurance (formerly Oman Insurance Company). National insurer, DFM-listed, rebranded in October 2022. Over 830,000 policyholders across all lines. Sukoon has a separate CBUAE-licensed takaful subsidiary, Sukoon Takaful (formerly ASCANA), at sukoontakaful.com.

ADNIC (Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company). National insurer, listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Abu Dhabi-based multi-line operator with strong group medical and corporate presence in addition to individual life products.

Dubai Insurance Company. National insurer, founded 1970, one of the UAE's oldest. Writes motor, health, home, life and travel. Network of 4,000-plus medical providers. Suited to residents who prefer a long-established, locally headquartered insurer.

Other conventional providers with life lines. Alliance Insurance (founded 1975), Union Insurance (ADSE-listed), Fidelity United Insurance and Al Ain Ahlia Insurance all hold CBUAE licences and write life alongside other lines.

Takaful operators

Salama (Islamic Arab Insurance Company). National takaful, DFM-listed, founded 1979. Paid-up capital AED 1.21 billion. Over 450,000 customers. Offers General Takaful and Family Takaful (life equivalent). Uses contribution not premium terminology. Shariah board oversight.

Takaful Emarat. National takaful specialist in health and family (life) takaful. Founded 2008. Network of 5,000-plus healthcare providers. Listed on the CBUAE takaful register. Focused specifically on health and life lines, making it one of the more specialist family takaful operators in the market.

Watania Takaful. Operates as two CBUAE-licensed entities under Watania International Holding PJSC: Watania Takaful General PJSC (motor and general) and Watania Takaful Family PJSC (health and life). For life cover, the Family entity is the relevant one. Offices in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai.

Abu Dhabi National Takaful. National takaful, ADSE-listed (symbol: TKFL), founded 2003. Writes a full takaful range including family takaful (life), motor, property and health. Shariah board oversight.

How do they compare on term cover?

Term life insurance pays a lump sum (the sum assured) to named beneficiaries if the policyholder dies within the policy term. It pays nothing if the policyholder survives to the end of the term. It is the most straightforward and usually the lowest-cost form of life cover.

Because premiums are calculated from individual factors (age, health, smoking status, sum assured, term length, occupational hazard, territory), no published comparison table on this site could reflect what any given person would actually pay. What you can compare before requesting a quote:

Maximum sum assured. Some insurers have upper limits on their standard term products; others underwrite on a case-by-case basis for large sums. If you need a sum assured above AED 1 million (or equivalent in USD), check the insurer's capacity explicitly.
Policy term options. Typical UAE term policies run from 5 years to 30 years. Check whether the insurer offers the exact term you need.
UAE residency clause. Most UAE term policies include a clause that the policyholder must maintain UAE residency. If you lose residency, the policy may lapse or convert on different terms. Ask this question directly before buying.
Portability. International insurers with UAE branches (MetLife, for example) are more likely to offer continuation provisions that allow the policy to remain in force after the policyholder leaves the UAE, with possible territory changes. National insurers vary. This is among the most important features for expats who are not permanently based in the UAE.
Currency. Most UAE term policies are denominated in AED. Some international providers offer USD policies, which may suit expats whose family obligations are in another currency.

The expat-specific angle on life cover, including what happens to your policy when you leave the UAE and how to manage group cover through employment, is covered in depth in life insurance for expats in the UAE.

What about savings-linked plans?

Beyond pure risk cover, life insurers in the UAE offer savings-linked plans. These combine a death benefit with an investment or savings element. They suit residents planning for retirement, education funding or long-term wealth accumulation alongside family protection.

Endowment plans. Pay the sum assured on death or on a fixed maturity date, whichever comes first. The maturity value is typically guaranteed (or has a guaranteed minimum). Premiums are higher than for equivalent term cover because you are paying for savings as well as risk.

Whole-of-life plans. Cover continues for the policyholder's entire life rather than a fixed term. Often include an investment or cash-value element that builds over time.

Investment-linked (unit-linked) plans. A portion of the premium buys life cover; the rest is invested in funds chosen by the policyholder. The payout on death or surrender is partly market-dependent. Returns are not guaranteed. These plans carry more complexity than term or endowment products and are regulated under CBUAE rules for unit-linked insurance products.

Family takaful savings plans. The takaful equivalent of endowment or savings plans. Contributions are split between the risk pool and a participant savings account (PSA). On maturity, the PSA balance (plus any surplus share from the pool) is returned to the participant. On death before maturity, the beneficiaries receive the sum assured plus the PSA balance.

Comparing savings-linked plans is significantly more complex than comparing term cover. The investment element, surrender charges, allocation rates and bonus projections all affect the long-term value. This site does not model projected investment returns; confirm all illustrated values directly with the insurer and understand that non-guaranteed figures can change.

How do you shortlist for your situation?

A few practical scenarios help narrow the field.

You want the lowest possible premium for a set sum assured. Compare term policies across at least 3 licensed insurers. Request quotes with identical inputs: same age, sum assured, term, non-smoker/smoker status, cover territory. The premium difference between providers can be material for the same effective cover.

You plan to leave the UAE within 5 years. Portability is your priority. Focus on international insurers with continuation provisions, or check each national insurer's specific terms on loss of residency. MetLife UAE's international background makes it worth including in this shortlist. Always ask: what happens to this policy if I lose my UAE visa?

You have a Shariah-compliant preference. Salama, Takaful Emarat, Watania Takaful Family and Abu Dhabi National Takaful all offer family takaful plans with Shariah board oversight. Orient Takaful and Sukoon Takaful are the takaful arms of the two A-rated conventional names. Compare contribution rates and plan terms across at least 2 takaful operators.

Your employer provides group life cover. Group cover through employment is common in the UAE but it ends the day your employment ends. A personal term policy fills the gap and is independent of your employer. Size the personal policy to cover your sum-assured needs minus whatever group cover you expect to have. See the group employer cover considerations in life insurance for expats.

You want savings alongside protection. Endowment or family takaful savings plans are the relevant product types. Get at least 2 illustrations from different providers and compare the guaranteed maturity value, not the projected value. Surrender charges in the first 5 years are typically significant; factor that in if your plans may change.

Information, not advice. InsureCompare.ae is an independent comparison site. We are not licensed by the CBUAE to advise on insurance products. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy from any specific insurer or to purchase any particular cover type. Descriptions are based on publicly available information verified 12 Jun 2026. Always confirm current product terms, financial ratings and pricing directly with the insurer or a CBUAE-regulated adviser before purchasing.

Frequently asked questions

Is life insurance mandatory in the UAE?

No. Life insurance is not legally required for residents in the UAE. Health insurance is mandatory for employees in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (employer obligation), but life cover is voluntary. Many expats take it out independently to protect their families, particularly when no home-country safety net applies in the UAE.

How do I check if a life insurer is CBUAE-licensed?

The CBUAE (Central Bank of the UAE) publishes a register of licensed insurers on its website at cbuae.gov.ae. Search the insurer's name or trade name. All legitimate life insurers operating in the UAE must appear on this register. Do not buy from an insurer that does not appear there.

What is the difference between conventional and takaful life insurance in the UAE?

Conventional life insurance is a contract: the insurer collects premiums and pays claims from its own funds. Takaful is a mutual contribution model: participants contribute to a shared risk pool managed under Shariah principles (Mudarabah or Wakalah). On death, the family receives the agreed sum assured from the pool. Surplus in the pool may be distributed back to participants. Takaful operators use the term contribution rather than premium.

Can I keep my UAE life insurance policy if I leave the country?

It depends on the policy. Many UAE term policies include a residency clause that lapses or amends the policy if you lose UAE residency. International insurers with UAE branches are more likely to offer portability provisions that allow the policy to continue after departure. Ask this question explicitly before buying. The specific terms are in the policy schedule.

Is a medical examination always required to get life insurance in the UAE?

Not always. Many insurers offer non-medical or simplified underwriting for lower sum-assured amounts, typically relying on a health declaration form instead of a full medical exam. Higher sum-assured policies generally trigger a medical examination or medical report request. Age is also a factor: older applicants are more often asked for a medical. The insurer advises on requirements at the application stage.

Is the sum assured paid free of tax to my beneficiaries in the UAE?

The UAE does not levy personal income tax or inheritance tax on residents. Life insurance payouts to beneficiaries are not subject to UAE tax. However, if your beneficiaries are resident in a country that taxes insurance proceeds or foreign inheritances, their home-country tax rules apply. Verify with a tax adviser in the relevant jurisdiction; this is not tax advice from InsureCompare.ae.