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Expat Life Insurance in Dubai

Expat Life Insurance Dubai

As an expat in Dubai living miles away from your country, you need to prepare yourself from unpleasant events. Whether it be a critical illness or inability to work or even commercial risks, you need to be protected by a reliable and highly reputable insurance company.

One of the most important steps that you need to take before going overseas for an assignment or for long-term employment is to find a qualified insurance adviser who can explain to you the various policies you can take when you move to Dubai. You probably have accidental death and dismemberment coverage, but you need to know if it is still covered during other events such as terrorist attacks or natural calamities. Never assume that your employer in Dubai will adjust their insurance benefits according to the needs of their expatriates. But if they do, then that’s good news for you.

A life insurance policy is designed to pay out a lump sum upon the death of a person or persons named on the policy. The death of a spouse who is the main income generator means the death of your family’s income too. And one of the main reasons for life insurance is to provide for your loved ones even if you have passed away. It will enable the remaining family members to still pay any long-term debts such as a mortgage. Even if you are not yet married, it is a wise decision to take out insurance because you never know when your circumstances will change, and you may find yourself “uninsurable” when the time comes that you need to apply for insurance.

Insurance companies in Dubai offer a range of services to help reduce your risks in the following:

– Commercial risk
– Critical illness
– Dangerous occupations
– Dangerous sports
– Disability insurance
– Health insurance
– Income protection
– Life insurance
– Mortgage protection
– Personal risk
– Redundancy insurance

You are encouraged to talk to insurance advisers before you sign up for any insurance packages.

Healthcare is quite expensive in Dubai, unless you have a health card that allows residents to receive low cost medical treatments. It is recommended that you take medical insurance for expatriates. A number of insurance companies offer this type of insurance and you should consider your choices carefully. The insurance usually covers hospital stays, advanced imaging services, out-patient and in-patient surgical operations and emergency dental treatments.

Moving abroad involves critical decisions and life in a foreign country, although manageable, is not really easy because of the uncertainties. When moving to another country, expats must select the right life insurance company. This is a part of being a responsible expatriate.

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Expat Doctors Working With Ministry of Health Banned From Private Practice

Dubai Doctors

Expatriate doctors who work full-time at any Ministry of Health (MOH) government facility will no longer be allowed to work part-time in the private sector in Dubai beginning October 1.

Gulf News quotes a senior Dubai Health Authority (DHA) official, saying, “The [affected people] are only the non-UAE physicians who are working full-time in MOH and part-time in the private sector in Dubai,”

A DHA circular released on July 4 said that all DHA part-time licenses for non-local physicians will be cancelled by October 1, 2012. Non-complying professionals and facilities will be penalised. The decision came following a directive from the MOH in April.

Expat doctors and physicians working with Ministry of Health have two options now. Either they let go of their private practice or resign from their government jobs.

This decision by MOH go both ways. It could result in good physicians resigning from government jobs to go for private practice. It may also result in shortage of doctors at private hospitals / clinics as many doctors will prefer their lucrative government jobs over private practice.

Earlier, it was reported that the UAE will require approximately 13,000 doctors over the next two years due to growing population and rise in lifestyle-induced diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular illness.

It is to be noted that private practice is usually illegal in UAE and an employee cannot work part-time in usual cases.

dubai expat life

Cigarette Prices to double in Dubai

Dubai Cigarette PricesDubai government has decided to double cigarette prices in Dubai from August.

The government announced its plans to make smoking pricier last year in a bid to keep up with neighbour states whose cigarettes are more expensive.

Authorities say the move is part of a wider campaign to reduce cardiovascular diseases in the country, and minimise the number of young people buying cigarettes.

The increase will be form a tax applied by Dubai Municipality.

The UAE currently imposes a 100 per cent customs tax on all imported tobacco products, but the overall price of smoking is still low compared to other countries.

Tobacco products in the emirate are currently priced at an average AED 8 (US$2.2), but will increase to AED 16 as of this summer.

Doubling price of cigarettes in Dubai may make the smokers think twice before buying a pack. However, it can also promote black market of cigarettes – especially in the under-privileged areas of Dubai.