Etihad Airways, DCT Abu Dhabi, and The National Insurance Company – Daman have launched an automatic medical travel insurance scheme covering eligible international passengers arriving in Abu Dhabi on Etihad-operated flights. The programme runs from July through December 2026. Coverage of up to 15 days within the UAE is embedded directly into qualifying ticket bookings, with no separate application process required from the traveller.
Eligibility is defined in the source as applying to guests whose point of origin and point of sale are both located outside the UAE. Travellers using Etihad's complimentary Stopover Programme are also included for the full duration of their Abu Dhabi stay. Standard terms and conditions apply, as set out within the programme framework. The insurance is underwritten and administered by Daman, which operates under PureHealth.
What this means for our clients
For founders and executives relocating to the UAE, this initiative is relevant in two practical ways. First, if you are flying internationally to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad-operated service during the scheme period, short-term medical coverage may already be included in your ticket — worth confirming with Etihad before you travel. Second, it signals a broader pattern we see across Abu Dhabi: the emirate is actively lowering friction for international arrivals, which reinforces its competitiveness as a base for founders weighing Abu Dhabi against other UAE jurisdictions.
The scheme does not replace the mandatory health insurance that UAE residents are typically required to hold under local regulations, nor does it substitute for the medical insurance often required as part of a residency visa application. Incoming founders should treat it as a short-term visitor benefit rather than a structural element of their compliance planning.
If you are evaluating Abu Dhabi as your base or planning an exploratory trip ahead of a company formation decision, we are happy to walk you through the residency and insurance requirements that apply at each stage — book a consultation with the Sirius team, or review the original announcement at Economy Middle East: https://economymiddleeast.com/news/abu-dhabi-launches-automated-medical-insurance-scheme-for-all-arriving-etihad-airways-travelers/