Fire Insurance Coverage in UAE

A home insurance plan is to protect you in several ways from unexpected fire-related damage. A house fire that is uncontrolled causes not only substantial destruction to your own home. But also its contents but can cause damage to your neighbor’s house. Fire insurance in UAE offers coverage for expenses of repairing the damage, renovating your home, for alternate living arrangements and third-party liabilities.

Whenever you file a claim for , the insurance adjuster will want to understand clearly the cause or source of the fire.

Accidental fires

The types of fires covered by home insurance include but aren’t limited to:

• Candle fires: An accidental knock of a candle that results in a fire is likely to be covered.
• Electrical fires: A fire from a short circuit or power spark that results in damage to the electrical system would be recoverable.
• Gas fires: Gas cylinder blasts, accidental cooking oil fires are covered under home insurance and help you recover the damage.

Intentional fires are not covered.

• The insurance will not cover for fire accident due to intention or by gross negligence under any home insurance plan.
• A fire set purposely to claim insurance would be outrightly denied. If proved with evidence can lead to a lawsuit against you for falsifying claims.

Fire insurance coverage is included in standard home insurance policies.

The destruction caused by fire to your residence is significant. This is including  damage elevated by smoke and ashes which mar walls, furniture, and other objects. Here is a breakdown of the insurance coverages:

Dwelling coverage: This covers the cost of repairs to the burnt portions of the house and other smoke related- damage. You will receive lump sum for repairs of the house. This is as per the limits specified in your policy. Payment offered is either for the actual cash value or replacement cost.

Personal property: This pays to replace your appliances, furniture and other belongings. They treat the high-value items differently. This is depending upon the limits set per-item.

Loss of use:  If the house is uninhabitable due to fire, the insurance company will pay you for additional arrangements that includes lodging and food cost during the evacuation period.

Liability protection: This covers expenses towards third-party liabilities and protects against lawsuits and repair expenses for unrestrained fires that caused damage to the neighbor’s property.

Some insurance companies sometimes exclude homes at a high risk of fire from standard fire protection under home insurance policy. This is  because the house is miles away from a fire department. Or is located near a canyon with large wildfires in the past. In such cases, homeowners who reside in areas at an elevated risk of fire may need to buy a separate insurance coverage to protect their property.

Can I buy a separate fire insurance policy?

Yes, in addition to coverage provided under standard home insurance policy, some insurers provide exclusive insurance policies. This primarily covers damage related to accidental fire, lightning, implosion or explosion. Buying a standalone insurance policy could be useful to you if you live in an area susceptible to forest fires or want extra peace of mind.

Speak to our insurance agent and they can help you find the best insurance policy that is most likely to offer you the desired coverage not just for your home but also your safety.