How to claim on a life insurance policy after a death in the UAE

Start by telling each insurer, in writing, and asking for its claim forms. Insurers set out what they need, and most of it comes from the steps that follow any death in the UAE.

How do you get a UAE death certificate?

Through the authorities who handle the death. For a death outside hospital, call the police on 999. For a death in hospital, the authorities fill out the initial report. The morgue issues a death certificate declaration, the police stamp it and issue a no objection certificate, and the official death certificate follows on that certificate.¹

Emirates Health Services issues death certificates. For a natural death in the UAE it asks for the burial permit from the district police and a valid passport or Emirates ID. For an unnatural death it asks for the forensic doctor’s report, a police no objection certificate and a letter from the Public Prosecution.¹

A certificate stamped by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Health Authority or Emirates Health Services is treated as equivalent to one stamped by the Ministry of Health and Prevention. It may also need attesting by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an embassy, depending on where it will be used.¹ If the person who died was an expatriate, the u.ae portal says to inform their embassy or consulate.¹

Ask for several original or certified copies. Each insurer and bank may want one.

What will the insurer ask for?

MetLife publishes its checklist for a death claim on an individual policy, and it is typical of what to expect.²

MetLife requires each claim form to be notarised, or signed in front of its claims manager. A guardian signs for a child beneficiary.²

Ask your insurer for its own list, because each one differs.

How soon must you claim?

Check the policy, and act quickly. Sukoon’s Term Protect key features ask for written notice by email to life.claims@sukoon.com, quoting the policy number, within 90 days of the death.³ Zurich asks the person claiming to notify it as soon as possible.⁴

Under the law in force from 1 June 2026, a policy condition that takes away the right to a payout because of a delay in giving notice or documents is void if the delay had a valid excuse.⁵ A claim against an insurer cannot be heard after three years; for the insured event, the period runs from when those concerned became aware of it.⁵

Write to the insurer within the policy’s notice period even if you do not yet have every document.

Who receives the money?

The people the policy names. The payout on death is not part of the estate.⁵ If the policy names “heirs”, they share by statutory shares and the insurer needs a succession certificate.⁵² A child’s share is paid to the guardian or tutor entitled by law or court order to receive it.²

Read naming beneficiaries and inheritance if the policy names heirs or no one.

How long does payment take?

Insurers publish their own figures. Zurich’s Middle East claims report gives an average of 72 hours to pay a claim, measured from receipt of all documents, and says 98% of life claims were paid in 2021 to 2023.⁶ On a death claim on its Futura whole of life plan, Zurich says it can pay an advance of USD 7,500 from the proceeds towards initial costs.⁷

Ask the insurer for a written list of anything still missing, and the date it expects to pay.

Why might a claim be refused?

The documents name the usual reasons. Zurich will not pay if the policy had lapsed, if facts were not disclosed or were misrepresented, for suicide in the first year, or for a claim due to alcohol or drug misuse.⁴ Salama’s Hemayati Plus brochure says a claim form will be sent and further evidence may be asked for.⁸

Under the law, if the person insured hid a fact or gave a wrong statement in bad faith, the insurer may ask to end the contract. Without bad faith, it must return the premiums, or the part for which it bore no risk.⁵ On a suicide, the insurer need not pay the sum insured but must return the value of the insurance reserve to the beneficiary. If the beneficiary proves the person insured was deprived of free will at the time, the full sum is due.⁵

If a claim is refused, ask for the reason and the policy clause in writing, then follow how to complain about a life insurer.