Critical Illness Protection
If you’re diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, a heart attack or organ failure during the term of your policy, we’ll pay out a lump sum amount to you. This helps you to cover your living expenses so you can focus on your treatment and recovery.
What’s covered
Protection if you get seriously ill
We’ll pay out a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness during the policy term.
Flexible length of cover
You can choose the length of cover you need - from 5 to 35 years.
Choose the type of cover
- Comprehensive critical illness covers 34 illnesses including cancer, heart attack, organ failure and others which are listed in the product documents below.
- Cancer cover which covers 3 types of cancer.
Benefits at no additional cost
- Child’s cancer or child’s critical illness cover of USD 15,000 per child - for up to 3 children aged between 1 to 18 years.
- Funeral coverage of USD 5,000 paid to the nominated beneficiary.
For a full understanding of the products, please refer to the policy terms and conditions.
What’s not covered
Unfortunately, we can’t cover all circumstances, including:
Not paying your premiums
If your payments stop, so does your cover.
Illness outside the policy term
You choose how long your cover lasts. Once the term ends, your cover will stop which means we won’t pay if you're diagnosed with a serious illness.
Claims that don't qualify
Claims that meet the conditions and definitions included in the Policy Terms and Conditions will be paid. We apply discretion to pay claims in as many circumstances as possible however conditions that are specifically excluded in our product literature will not be paid.
If you aren’t completely honest with us
As part of your application, we’ll ask you about your health and lifestyle. Your answers determine how much your plan will cost. If you're dishonest, we might not be able to pay your claim.
Leave your contact details and a dedicated Zurich Adviser will call you back.
You can also contact us on
ZurichAdvisoryNetwork@zurich.com
800 ZURICH
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Which one is it for me?
Here is a quick comparison of our life insurance solutions – take a look, this will help you make the right decision with your financial advisor.
| Criterion | Futura | Term Assurance | Critical Illness Protection |
| Type (life or term) | Whole‑of‑life, unit‑linked life insurance with investment component. | Term life insurance (pure protection). | Term critical illness insurance (pays on serious illness, not on death unless combined). |
| Key features | Lifetime cover, unit‑linked savings/investment, flexible premiums and benefits, life cover plus multiple optional riders (critical illness, PTD, waiver, accidental death, dismemberment, family income, hospitalisation). | Lump‑sum payout on death during term, optional critical illness, PTD, waiver of premium; flexible policy term up to around 35 years (per UAE comparison data). | Lump‑sum payout if diagnosed with a covered serious illness; choice of cover term; comprehensive CI list (around 34+ illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, organ failure). |
| Who it is best for | People wanting long‑term/lifetime family protection plus savings or wealth‑planning in one policy; suitable if you want flexibility to add/remove riders over time and can commit to higher, longer‑term premiums. | People needing high life cover for a fixed period at lower cost (e.g., income replacement, mortgage protection, kids’ education) without an investment element. | People mainly worried about serious illness costs and income disruption, who may already have life cover elsewhere or want to add CI to existing plans. |
| Policy term | Designed for lifetime cover; you select a benefit term and funding period but protection can effectively run for your whole life if adequately funded. | Fixed term (e.g., 5–35 years, with UAE comparison sources quoting up to 35 years). | Fixed term, typically 5–35 years depending on options chosen. |
| Life cover | Core benefit: lump‑sum on death of the life insured; also pays on terminal illness (diagnosed with <12 months to live, subject to timing rules). | Core benefit: lump‑sum on death during policy term; many variants also pay on terminal illness. | Not primary; main benefit is CI payout. Any life cover would be via another Zurich life/term policy or rider, not this standalone plan alone. |
| Critical illness cover available? | Lifetime cover, unit‑linked savings/investment, flexible premiums and benefits, life cover plus multiple optional riders (critical illness, PTD, waiver, accidental death, dismemberment, family income, hospitalisation). | Lump‑sum payout on death during term, optional critical illness, PTD, waiver of premium; flexible policy term up to around 35 years (per UAE comparison data). | Lump‑sum payout if diagnosed with a covered serious illness; choice of cover term; comprehensive CI list (around 34+ illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, organ failure). |
| Other common riders / benefits | Permanent and total disability, cancer cover, waiver of premium, accidental death, dismemberment, family income benefit, hospitalisation benefit, children’s critical illness; funeral/early claim advances often available. | Riders often include critical illness, total permanent disability, waiver of premium; some documents mention other optional benefits depending on distribution. | Options include different CI levels (e.g., “comprehensive” vs more limited), child CI/cancer and funeral cover for children; may be combined with life policies for broader protection. |
| Premium structure | Flexible premiums (you choose level and can adjust), linked to investment funds; need sufficient funding to keep cover in force; minimum monthly premiums apply (e.g., around USD 150 in some versions). | Typically level (or chosen structure) for the selected term; generally cheaper per unit of cover than Futura because there is no investment component. | Premiums depend on age, term, and sum assured; generally focused on CI risk only, so often used as an add‑on to term or whole‑life cover. |
| Flexibility | High: you can add/remove optional benefits, increase/decrease cover, and adjust premiums (subject to product rules and adequacy of fund values). | Moderate: you can choose term and cover amount; some flexibility to add riders at inception or on review, but overall it is a straightforward term contract. | Moderate: you choose term and level of CI cover; primarily flexible in benefit amount and length of cover rather than multiple riders. |
Tailor your plan to suit your needs
Pay monthly or yearly, whatever suits you
Insure your partner at the same time
Increase the amount insured during the policy term
Choose your preferred currency
FAQs
1. Which critical illnesses are covered under Zurich’s Critical Illness policy in Dubai?
Zurich covers all major cases except early heart attack, stroke, organ failure and over 30 additional conditions. For a comprehensive list, please refer to your key feature document.
2. Is individual critical illness coverage available in the UAE?
Critical Illness coverage is not available across all Zurich protection products in the UAE. It is currently provided under Critical Illness Protection and Futura only. Under these products, Zurich offers USD 150,000 child critical illness/cancer cover for children aged 1–18 years and USD 5,000 funeral benefit. These benefits are included at no additional premium.
3. What is the cost of critical illness insurance in Dubai?
Minimum premium starts at approximately AED 88 per month (actual premium depends on age and health) and AED 875 per year.
4. Does Zurich’s Critical Illness policy cover early-stage cancer in the UAE?
Zurich pays for some early-stage cancer, except for “less advanced cases”. Partial payment is provided for ductal carcinoma in situ.
5. What is the survival period for Critical Illness claims in Dubai?
A 30-day post-diagnosis survival period applies. Claims made within the 30-day qualifying period are excluded.
6. Can Zurich Critical Illness be combined with Zurich term or Futura policies in the UAE?
Yes, critical illness coverage can be taken as a standalone policy or as a rider on life insurance policies for enhanced protection.
7. Is Zurich’s Critical Illness coverage portable if I leave the UAE or GCC?
Yes, worldwide coverage remains in effect. Please ensure you notify Zurich of any address change.
8. Are Critical Illness payouts tax-free in Dubai?
Yes, critical illness insurance benefits from Zurich are tax-free in Dubai; there are no UAE taxes on these benefits.
9. What documentation is required to make a critical illness claim?
To make a claim, you’ll need a completed claim form and supporting medical documents, such as diagnostic reports and test results. Our claims team will guide you through the process to ensure everything is handled smoothly. (Refer to your policy for full details.)
10. Does Zurich offer support and guidance during the claim process?
Yes, Zurich’s dedicated claims team is available to provide step-by-step support and clarify any questions you might have, making your claim journey as stress-free as possible.
Compare your options
Use this quick overview to see how Futura, Term Assurance and Critical Illness Protection differ on the key points that matter most.
| Criterion | Futura | Term Assurance | Critical Illness Protection |
| Best for | Lifetime + investment | Mortgage, kids education | Serious illness costs |
| Term length | Lifetime | 5-35 years. | 5-35 years |
| Monthly cost | AED 400+ | AED 50+ | AED 100+ |
| CI rider | Optional | Optional | Core benefit |
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