The recently introduced visa rules that allow expatriates aged over 55 to retire in the UAE could boost the life insurance sector in the country.
In September, the UAE government approved a law that will allow expats to stay in the emirates after they retire provided that they own a AED2m ($544,588) property, or have at least AED1m in savings, or an active income of at least AED20,000 per month. The law is set to be implemented in 2019. The visa is valid for five years with the possibility of renewal for retirees who still meet the eligibility criteria.
Mr Issam Kassabieh, senior financial analyst at Dubai-based financial services company Menacorp, said in an interview that the new arrangement could encourage insurers to design “life insurance products that will be like investment packages, with returns in exchange of monthly premiums”.
The new visa regulations are among a number of recent moves made by the government to encourage more expats – who make up a majority of the population – to stay longer in the country. Plans have already been announced for 10-year visas to be issued to certain individuals such as doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs and innovators. A temporary, six-month visa for jobseekers has also been announced to help more UAE residents find work while remaining in the country, without having to leave once their job-linked visa expires. The measures are aimed at boosting an economy that witnessed a slowdown in growth following a sharp drop in oil prices that began in 2014.
Impact on health insurance
Mr Georges Chidiac, UAE country manager and senior vice president of Saicohealth said, “It’s too early to gauge precisely what the new law will mean for insurance companies, although we can expect the law to be good news for healthcare providers and UAE residents as it will spur investment in the sector.”
“Whether health insurance for retirees will be mandatory remains to be seen, but either way, the new retiree law should drive innovation right across the healthcare insurance divide. An array of new services will be required to manage health cases and diseases management; we will see much more tracking between insurers and providers,” added Mr Chidiac. M
AED1 = $0.27