Business insurance in the UAE, from start-ups to corporates
For business owners, HR, finance and operations teams: one point of contact for staff health cover, employer liability, premises, stock, vehicles and contracts, compared across insurers and reviewed properly at every renewal.
- Group medical
- Workmen's compensation
- Property & liability
- Fleet & marine
By Shamna Ponnath Valappil, Senior Insurance Officer · Updated 26 September 2026Most UAE businesses need a core set of covers. Group medical for staff is mandatory in every emirate. Workmen's compensation funds the employer's legal liability for work injuries. Property and business interruption protect premises, stock and income. Liability covers (public, product and professional indemnity) respond to claims from others. Fleet, marine cargo and contractors' all risks are added when the business needs them.
Which covers does your business need?
| Business type | Usually essential | Often required by contracts |
|---|---|---|
| Trading, retail and e-commerce | Group medical, property & stock, money, public liability | Product liability, marine cargo |
| Contractors and facility management | Group medical, workmen's compensation, contractors' all risks | Public liability, motor fleet |
| Consultancies and professional services | Group medical, office package | Professional indemnity |
| Logistics and transport | Group medical, fleet, workmen's compensation | Goods in transit, marine cargo |
| Restaurants and hospitality | Group medical, property & business interruption, workmen's compensation | Public and product liability |
Business insurance I arrange
How a renewal review works
- You share the current policy schedules, benefits, claims history and, for staff covers, the employee census.
- I review gaps, over-insurance and the claims trend, and agree the specification with you.
- I go to market with insurers on the Gargash Insurance Services panel, all quoting the same specification.
- You get a clear comparison: premium, benefits, exclusions and service, with my recommendation and the reasons for it.
- I place the cover and handle additions, deletions, endorsements and claims support during the year.
Start 60 days before renewal for group medical, and 30–45 days before for other covers. That gives time to negotiate rather than accept.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with small businesses and start-ups?
Yes. From freezone start-ups with a few employees to established companies, the process is the same: understand the risks, compare insurers, explain the trade-offs in plain English.
Is there a fee for a business insurance review?
No. Reviewing your current covers and getting compared quotes costs nothing and carries no obligation. Premiums are set by the insurers, and you see everything in writing before you decide.
Can you review our policies mid-term?
Yes. A mid-term review finds gaps early and prepares the ground for renewal. Any changes before renewal depend on the current insurer's terms.
Who at our company should be involved?
Usually the owner or general manager, plus whoever owns the budget or the process: HR for group medical and workmen's compensation, finance for property and liability, operations for fleet and cargo.
10+ years in insurance, six internationally and four in the UAE market. Shamna compares personal and business cover across insurers for clients in all seven Emirates. More about Shamna
Last reviewed: 26 September 2026. General information only, not advice; policy terms decide cover.
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Shamna Ponnath Valappil is a Senior Insurance Officer with Gargash Insurance Services LLC, a UAE insurance broker regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE. Insurance arranged through this site is placed by Gargash Insurance Services LLC. Quotes are subject to underwriting by the relevant insurer(s); final terms, premiums and cover are confirmed when a policy is issued.