What Does Pet Insurance Cover in the UAE? (Dental, Surgeries & More)

In recent years, with the increase in pet ownership in the UAE, pet insurance coverage has expanded significantly. More providers are offering tailored plans for cats and dogs that include emergency treatments, routine check-ups, medications, and more. Whether you’re looking for protection against sudden accidents or coverage for ongoing wellness needs, it’s helpful to understand exactly what is included in a typical policy.

This guide will walk you through what pet insurance coverage in the UAE typically includes, what’s excluded, and how different providers compare. We’ll also look at the kinds of extras that can be added on, like travel coverage or protection in case your pet gets lost.

Pet Insurance Coverage in the UAE — Accidents, Illnesses, and Surgeries

Let’s start off by talking about what are the main things are that are covered by a standard UAE pet insurance policy.

Accident and Illness Coverage

One of the most common types of pet insurance coverage is for accidents and illnesses. This means your plan will pay for treatment if your pet is injured in an accident or falls sick.

For example, if your dog breaks its leg while playing at the beach, the insurance may cover the X-rays, surgery, hospital stay, and even pain medication. Or if your cat suddenly shows symptoms of diabetes or arthritis, your policy could pay for diagnostic tests and long-term treatment.

Here are some of the common situations covered under accident and illness insurance:

• Broken bones
  Cuts or wounds requiring stitches
• Poisoning from eating harmful substances
• Chronic conditions like heart disease or skin allergies
• Infections or fever
• Emergency surgery

Most plans also include costs related to surgeries, whether they are emergency procedures or planned operations. That includes anesthesia, hospitalization, post-op checkups, and sometimes even rehabilitation sessions like physiotherapy.

So, does pet insurance cover surgeries in the UAE? The answer is yes, especially if the surgery is medically necessary. However, not every plan covers elective procedures or surgeries related to pre-existing conditions. That’s why reading the policy terms carefully is essential.

Diagnostic Tests and Medication

Proper diagnosis is a major part of pet healthcare. Many pet insurance plans in the UAE cover lab tests and imaging tools needed to identify illnesses.

These may include:

• X-rays and ultrasound scans
• MRIs and CT scans
• Blood and urine tests
• Skin or tissue biopsies

If your pet is diagnosed with a condition that requires ongoing medication, such as epilepsy or thyroid problems, your plan might also include coverage for prescriptions. These medications can be expensive, especially for long-term care, so this part of pet insurance coverage is particularly valuable.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental in the UAE?

Dental health is just as important for pets as it is for humans. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the more confusing areas when it comes to insurance coverage. Pet owners often ask, Does pet insurance cover dental procedures, and the answer depends on the situation.

Before diving into the details, it’s important to know that most pet insurance plans separate dental care into two categories: treatment due to accidents and preventive care like cleanings.

Accident-Related Dental Treatment

If your pet suffers a mouth injury due to an accident, such as being hit by a car or falling from a height, then most insurance plans will cover the dental work needed to repair the damage, as it falls under the category of an accident.

The treatment might include:

• Tooth extraction
• Gum or jaw repair
• Emergency oral surgery
• Pain relief medication

So, if you are one of the thousands of pet owners asking, Does pet insurance cover dental emergencies? In most cases, it does, but only when the injury was caused by an accident. 

Preventive Dental Care and Cleanings

Cleanings, plaque removal, and gum care are part of regular pet maintenance. However, this kind of preventive dental care is not usually included in insurance policies.

If maintaining your pet’s dental health is a priority, you will unfortunately have to take care of it on your own, as no provider in the UAE offers coverage for preventive dental care. 

Pet Insurance Coverage for Vaccinations and Routine Care

One of the most common questions pet owners ask is whether their plan includes pet insurance for vaccinations and other basic preventive care. After all, vaccines, deworming, and annual check-ups are essential for a healthy pet. However, it’s important to understand how insurers in the UAE actually treat these types of services.

Why Routine Care Isn’t Covered

Despite what many people expect, pet insurance coverage in the UAE generally excludes routine and preventive treatments. This includes:

• Vaccinations (such as rabies or feline distemper)
• Annual health check-ups
• Deworming or parasite control
• Flea and tick prevention
• Spaying or neutering
• Behavioral therapy and training
  

Even if a provider offers a “wellness” or “preventive care” add-on in other countries, this is rarely the case in the UAE. According to MooPet’s policy terms, these treatments are considered the responsibility of the pet owner and are not covered under standard or upgraded plans.

This means pet insurance for vaccinations is not available through most, if not all, UAE-based providers, even with optional add-ons.

What to Expect Instead

Instead of routine care, UAE pet insurance plans focus on medical needs that are unplanned or unavoidable. These include:

• Accidents and injuries
• Illnesses and infections
• Emergency surgery
• Diagnostic testing
• Chronic condition management

If you’re looking for help with everyday vet costs like vaccines or deworming, you’ll need to budget for those separately. Some vet clinics offer annual health plans that bundle vaccines and check-ups at a fixed rate, but these are not considered insurance.

So while pet insurance for vaccinations might sound like a helpful feature, it’s currently not something that most UAE pet insurance policies provide. If this changes in the future, it would likely be offered as a separate wellness package and not as part of the main policy.

Comparisons of Top Pet Insurance Providers in the UAE

Since a lot of pet owners are now thinking of insuring their beloved animals, naturally, there are a lot of companies now that cater to this rise in demand. While coverage varies, here are some of the key players offering pet insurance coverage and how they stack up.

MooPet vs Oslo vs Lookinsure

MooPet

• Offers 3 different plans: lifetime protection, time-limited policies, and accident-only coverage
  
• Covers surgeries, travel, third-party liability, and even advertising if your pet goes missing
• Includes online claims and optional add-ons for wellness

Oslo Insurance

• One of the most reputable providers in the UAE
• Offers installment payment via Tamara
• Offers up to 70,000 AED in annual benefits

Lookinsure

• Online-first provider with customizable plans
• Offers fast comparisons between different providers and a digital signup
• Offers installment payment via both Tabby and Tamara

Quick Comparison Table

This comparison should help you narrow down the right provider based on your pet’s needs and your budget.

Policy Structure: Limits, Exclusions, Waiting Periods, and Costs

Every insurance policy has fine print, which is a document, usually available as a PDF file on the company’s website, containing everything you need to know about your insurance policy. Understanding how your pet insurance coverage is structured will save you a lot of stress during claims.

Annual and Per-Condition Limits

Most policies come with either an annual limit or a per-condition limit. An annual limit is the total amount you can claim per year, while per-condition limits cap the amount you can claim for each illness or treatment type.

In the UAE, these limits usually range from AED 5,000 to AED 70,000, depending on the provider and plan type.

Deductibles and Reimbursement Levels

A deductible is the amount you must pay before your insurer starts covering the costs. In pet insurance, deductibles usually fall between AED 500 and AED 2,000. After that, reimbursement rates vary between 70% to 100%. 

Here’s an example to help you understand deductibles and reimbursement: 

Let’s say your vet bill is AED 10,000, your deductible is AED 1,000, and your reimbursement rate is 80%. You would first pay the AED 1,000 deductible. Then, the insurance company would reimburse 80% of the remaining AED 9,000, which is AED 7,200. That means you end up paying AED 2,800 in total (AED 1,000 deductible plus AED 1,800 of the remaining cost), and the insurer pays the rest.

While Oslo insurance includes both deductibles and reimbursements, MooPet only asks for deductibles. However, while deductibles for MooPet are charged in percentages (20% regardless of the plan), Oslo charges a set amount, which varies between 500 AED to 2000 AED.

Higher premiums often mean lower deductibles and more generous reimbursements, so it’s important to balance your budget with the level of coverage you want.

Waiting Periods and Pre-Existing Conditions

Most pet insurance plans in the UAE have a waiting period before you can make claims after your policy starts. This typically includes:

• 5 days for accidents
• 14 to 30 days for illnesses

NOTE: For some providers, such as Oslo, orthopedic conditions coverage starts after 6 months.
Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded, as are congenital issues or hereditary diseases, unless you specifically find a plan that covers them.

Breed, Age, and Other Exclusions

Some breeds are more prone to health issues and may be excluded or cost more to insure. Age is another factor. Most providers only cover dogs up to 8 or 10 years old and cats up to 10 years old.

Other common exclusions include:

• Cosmetic procedures
• Pregnancy and breeding
• Preventive treatments (unless covered by add-on)
• Behavioral therapy (in some cases) and parasitic conditions

Add-Ons and Extra Benefits: Liability, Travel, and More

If you want truly comprehensive pet insurance coverage, consider exploring the extras that go beyond basic health needs.

Third-Party Liability

Some insurance plans cover damage or injury caused by your pet (this usually applies only to dogs) to another person or their property. For example, if your dog bites a visitor or breaks something in a friend’s home, this coverage helps pay for the damages.

NOTE: Bear in mind that you are required to follow certain rules if you have a dog that is prone to attacking others, such as keeping them in an enclosure or leashed at all times. Any violation of these rules, which are agreed upon when purchasing this add-on, can be cause for dismissal of your claim.

Lost Pet, Theft, and Boarding

Policies may offer compensation if your pet is stolen or lost. This might include the cost of advertising for its return or even boarding services if you’re hospitalized and can’t care for your pet.

Travel and Overseas Emergency Coverage

If you frequently travel with your pet, look for a policy that offers overseas protection. This can cover:

• Emergency vet fees abroad
• Emergency repatriation
• Quarantine costs

Providers like MooPet offer travel add-ons that are particularly helpful for frequent flyers.

Final Takeaways on UAE Pet Insurance Coverage

Pet insurance coverage in the UAE is more accessible than ever, giving pet owners peace of mind in case of accidents, illnesses, or costly treatments. While basic plans cover emergency care and surgeries, wellness and dental care often require additional packages.

So, does pet insurance cover surgeries in the UAE? Absolutely—especially when medically necessary. And does pet insurance cover dental? Yes, but typically only for accidents unless you opt for a wellness add-on. As for pet insurance for vaccinations, you’ll need to choose a provider that offers preventive care coverage.

With a growing number of providers like MooPet, Orient, RSA, and Shory, it’s easier than ever to compare plans based on your pet’s age, breed, lifestyle, and healthcare needs. Take your time, read the policy details, and choose a plan that keeps both your pet and your wallet healthy.

Frequently Answered Questions