Dubai Flood, Where to now?

Thunderstorms hit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this week, bringing to Dubai rain worth more than a year within 24 hours and transforming a desert landscape into waterlogged chaos. The downpour, which began late Monday and intensified on Tuesday, left highways flooded and Dubai International Airport grappling with flight disruptions. The Dubai airport said, "We advise you NOT to come to the airport, unless absolutely necessary. Flights continue to be delayed and diverted. Please check your flight status directly with your airline... We are working hard to recover operations as quickly as possible in very challenging conditions."

If you have been directly affected by this event and need medical assistance, please call our 24-hour emergency assistance team immediately on +61 2 9333 3963. We further urge you to pay close attention to the local media and emergency services, including the DFAT Smart Traveller website.

Am I Still Covered For Claims Related To This Event?

• If you bought your policy before 12:00am (AEDT) on 15th April 2024, you are covered for claims arising from this event, provided that you purchased natural disaster cover as an add on to your policy.
• If you bought your policy after 12:00am (AEDT) on 15th April 2024, you are not covered for claims arising from this event, even if you purchased natural disaster cover as an add on to your policy. However, we will assess your situation considering all aspects of the case.

If you wish to cancel or amend your pre-booked travel arrangements as a result of this event, we recommend you contact your travel agent or travel provider regarding the best option in altering your trip. We understand some airlines provide penalty-free options to amend travel arrangements, so we also recommend you contact your airline for further details.

Important Information: You will not be covered for any claims related to this event if you did not buy the natural disaster cover add-on, regardless of when you bought your policy. However, all medical claims related to natural disasters are covered automatically on all our international policies, regardless of whether you purchased the natural disaster cover add-on.