Etihad and Abu Dhabi Launch Free Medical Cover for Visitors

Etihad Airways and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi have launched a complimentary medical travel insurance programme for international visitors flying to Abu Dhabi on Etihad-operated services. The initiative runs from July to December 2026 and is underwritten by The National Insurance Company – Daman, part of PureHealth.

Eligible passengers automatically receive up to 15 days of medical coverage during their stay in the emirate — no separate application, no additional paperwork, and no third-party purchase required. The cover activates upon arrival in Abu Dhabi and applies to international visitors whose point of origin and point of sale are both outside the UAE. Travellers using Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover Programme are also covered for the full duration of their layover.

The scheme accompanies Etihad’s biggest summer expansion on record. The airline is operating more than 300 daily flights across a network spanning Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East, with capacity up 10% year-on-year. Between 11 and 14 June alone, Etihad launched four new routes in four days — connecting Abu Dhabi with Kraków, Palma de Mallorca, Damascus, and Zanzibar — and has since added seasonal services to Mykonos, Santorini, Nice, and Málaga.

For visitors to Dubai rather than Abu Dhabi, the Etihad insurance does not extend to stays outside the emirate unless routed via an Abu Dhabi stopover. Emirates and Etihad are independent carriers with separate benefits and protection policies.

The complementary cover provides a meaningful baseline for medical expenses but does not replace comprehensive travel insurance — exclusions apply, and pre-existing conditions should be declared separately to your own insurer. The UAE visa guide covers entry requirements by nationality, while the flights to Dubai page lists current connections and current carrier schedules from major origins.

Impact on Travelers

This scheme is most relevant for visitors flying directly into Abu Dhabi on Etihad-operated flights — not codeshares, not partner flights, and not arrivals into Dubai International. If your booking is sold as an Etihad flight but operated by a partner carrier, verify coverage with the airline before travel.

The 15 days of cover is calibrated for short-stay visitors and stopover passengers. For anyone staying longer, this is a supplement rather than a standalone policy. Etihad has confirmed that the cover includes emergency hospitalisation and outpatient medical treatment within Abu Dhabi emirate, but excludes dental care, pre-existing conditions, high-risk activities, and medical evacuation to third countries. Travellers with any ongoing health conditions should maintain their own insurance alongside the complimentary scheme.

The Abu Dhabi stopover angle is worth noting specifically. If you are transiting through Abu Dhabi Airport and taking Etihad’s stopover programme — which allows free or discounted hotel stays in the emirate during layovers of eight hours or more — the complimentary cover applies for the full stopover duration. This effectively reduces the cost of a planned layover, since medical cover is one of the main reasons travellers opt not to do stopovers in unfamiliar destinations.

For visitors combining Abu Dhabi and Dubai in a single trip, the cover applies only during the Abu Dhabi portion of the stay. A 5-day Dubai and Abu Dhabi itinerary typically splits time between the two emirates; ensure your own travel insurance covers the Dubai days.

Related Reading

• Abu Dhabi city guide — what to do, where to stay, and how to get around the capital
• Abu Dhabi Airport guide — terminal layout, transit options, and getting into the city
• Abu Dhabi 3-day itinerary — a practical framework for making the most of a short visit