Home and pet insurance, for tenants, owners and landlords
Your belongings, your building, your rental income and your pets are each covered differently. I'll put together the right mix for your apartment or villa and compare it across insurers.
- Apartments & villas
- Tenants, owners, landlords
- Personal liability
- Cats & dogs
By Shamna Ponnath Valappil, Senior Insurance Officer · Updated 26 September 2026Home insurance isn't compulsory in the UAE, but it is often one of the most affordable policies you can hold. Tenants need contents cover for their belongings and personal liability. Owners also need building cover, which mortgage lenders usually require, and landlords can add loss-of-rent cover. Pet insurance pays vet bills for accidents and illness and can include third-party liability.
Which home cover do you need?
| You are… | Core cover | Worth adding |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant | Contents and personal liability | Accidental damage, valuables, alternative accommodation |
| Owner-occupier | Building and contents | Storm and flood (natural perils), domestic helper cover |
| Landlord | Building and landlord's contents | Loss of rent, landlord liability |
What contents cover typically includes
- Fire, water damage from burst pipes, and theft involving forced entry.
- Your furniture, electronics, clothing and household goods, up to the sum insured.
- Personal liability if you accidentally damage a neighbour's property or injure someone at home.
- Alternative accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable after an insured event.
- Optional: accidental damage, high-value items (jewellery, watches, cameras) and cover for belongings you carry outside the home.
Check the sum insured. If you insure your contents for less than they're worth, a claim can be reduced in proportion. Walk through each room and estimate replacement values, not what you originally paid.
Storm and flood damage
Since the April 2024 floods, more homeowners and tenants have asked whether their policy covers rain and flood damage. Many do, but wording and limits vary between insurers. I'll show you exactly what each option says before you buy.
Pet insurance
Pet plans cover vet treatment for accidents and illness, with annual or per-condition limits, and some include third-party liability if your dog injures someone or damages property. Things to check:
- Minimum and maximum age for a new pet to join.
- Whether conditions your pet already has are excluded.
- Annual limit, per-condition limit and co-pay.
- Microchip and vaccination requirements.
What I'll need
Emirates ID, property type and area (for example "2-bed apartment, Al Nahda"), approximate contents value and, for pets, breed, age and microchip number. Email details to Sales@insurewithshamna.com.
Frequently asked questions
Do tenants in the UAE need home insurance?
It isn't legally required, but the landlord's building insurance does not cover your belongings or your liability to others. Contents cover is how tenants protect their own things.
Is building insurance required for a mortgage?
Mortgage lenders in the UAE usually require the property to be insured, and many also ask for life cover linked to the loan. Check your offer letter, then I can compare options that meet the bank's conditions.
Are my valuables covered?
Standard contents cover has a limit per item and for valuables in total. Jewellery, watches and other high-value items should be listed separately so they're covered at their full value.
Does home insurance cover water damage?
Sudden water damage, such as a burst pipe, is commonly covered. Gradual leaks and poor maintenance usually aren't. Storm and flood cover depends on the policy wording, so check it before you buy.
Can I insure an older pet?
Many insurers set a maximum age for a pet to start a new policy, and existing conditions are usually excluded. Starting cover while a pet is young gives the widest choice.
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.