Etihad and Abu Dhabi tourism authority add medical cover to international visitor bookings
New initiative reflects growing interest in embedding health protection into the travel journey to support visitor confidence
Etihad Airways and the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi have launched a programme providing complimentary medical travel insurance to eligible international visitors flying to or through the United Arab Emirates capital.
The initiative will provide up to 15 days of medical travel insurance cover for qualifying travellers arriving on Etihad-operated flights between July and December 2026.
The cover will be underwritten and administered by The National Insurance Company – Daman, part of PureHealth, and will be automatically included with eligible tickets without the need for a separate application process.
According to the organisations, international travellers purchasing Etihad-operated flights to Abu Dhabi from outside the UAE will qualify for the cover, while visitors using the airline’s stopover programme will also be protected during their stay in the emirate.
Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said the initiative was designed to support the visitor experience.
“Global interest in Abu Dhabi continues to grow, reflecting the destination’s unparalleled year-round cultural, tourism, and entertainment offering,” he commented. “This initiative ensures we meet that demand with an exceptional, end-to-end visitor experience.”
The move reflects a broader trend across the travel sector towards embedding insurance products directly into the booking journey, reducing the need for travellers to arrange cover separately and increasing the visibility of protection products at the point of sale.
Embedded travel insurance has become an increasingly important distribution channel as airlines, online travel agencies, and destinations seek to enhance customer experience while generating additional value from travel bookings.
The announcement has also highlighted the growing role of destination stakeholders in traveller wellbeing, with tourism authorities increasingly partnering with airlines, insurers, and healthcare organisations to strengthen visitor confidence and support tourism growth.
Khaled Ateeq Aldhaheri, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Company – Daman, said the programme reflected increasing efforts to integrate health protection directly into the travel journey.
“This initiative adds meaningful value to the visitor experience by integrating reliable medical insurance directly into the travel journey,” he added. “Daman is proud to support Etihad Airways and DCT Abu Dhabi in delivering a differentiated offering for visitors.”
Abu Dhabi has continued to invest heavily in international tourism, with authorities seeking to attract both leisure travellers and transit passengers through stopover programmes and destination marketing initiatives.
The insurance cover will be available for eligible visitors travelling on Etihad-operated services with both the point of origin and point of sale located outside the UAE. Terms and conditions apply.
The programme is scheduled to run until the end of December 2026, after which the participating organisations may assess its impact on visitor uptake and travel behaviour.