International Term Assurance (ITA) and International Decreasing Term Assurance (IDTA)

If you pass away during the term of your policy, we’ll pay out a cash lump sum – it’s as simple as that.

The difference between the two? With ITA, the amount of cover is fixed for the whole term, whereas with IDTA, the amount decreases over the term by a rate that you choose. IDTA can be a better fit for loan protection where the amount you owe also decreases over time.

What’s covered

Protection if you pass away
We’ll pay out a lump sum if you pass away during the policy term.

Protection if you get seriously ill
ITA and IDTA offer a range of additional cover options, including critical illness cover which would pay out upon the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Flexible length of cover
You can choose the length of cover you need – from short-term up to 35 years.

Choose your beneficiary
The beneficiary of your life insurance policy is the person or party that we’ll pay the lump sum to when you pass away. This could be a loved one or a bank if you're paying off a mortgage.

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.

Death outside the policy term
You choose how long your policy lasts. Once it ends, your cover will stop and we won’t pay if you pass away after this time.

Suicide and self-inflicted injuries
You won’t be covered if you die as a result of suicide or intentional, self-inflicted injury within the first year of the policy.

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.

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

Add permanent total disability cover

Add waiver of premium cover

Choose your currency

How much cover do you need?

FAQs

1. Which is more suitable for a UAE mortgage, International Term Assurance (ITA) or International Decreasing Term Assurance (IDTA)?

ITA: Offers fixed coverage of AED 2 million and can be used for legacy planning and, with Critical illness protection, income replacement.
IDTA: Provides decreasing coverage from AED 2 million to zero, aligning more closely with mortgage repayment schedules for optimal protection.

2. What is the most affordable term life insurance in the UAE?

Zurich plans start from approximately AED 100 per month (subject to age and health).

3. What is the maximum term or coverage age for life insurance in the UAE?

Policies are available for up to 35 years or until the insured reaches age 70. This helps cover long-term needs such as children's education and retirement gaps.

4. Does Zurich term life insurance in Dubai include critical illness coverage?

Yes. Zurich offers optional critical illness riders covering over 35 conditions, including cancer, stroke, and heart attack.

5. Is my policy portable if I relocate outside the UAE or GCC?

Yes, Zurich provides worldwide coverage (subject to local laws). Simply notify us of your new address to maintain your policy benefits.

6. What are UAE bank requirements for mortgage life insurance?

Most banks require coverage equal to the loan amount. A decreasing term assurance policy is ideal, as it reduces in line with your outstanding mortgage balance.

7. Are term life payouts tax-free in Dubai?

Yes. Life insurance benefits are not subject to inheritance tax in the UAE.

8. Can expat couples in the UAE obtain joint life term insurance?

Yes. Joint life policies allow both partners to be insured under one plan, with the payout triggered upon the first claim event.

9. Can I increase or decrease my term insurance coverage after starting my policy?

Term insurance plans are designed to match your needs at the point of sale but can offer some flexibility if these change. Contact your Zurich adviser to explore your options.

10. What happens if I miss a premium payment?

If you miss a payment, your policy may stay active for a limited time. However, it’s best to contact us promptly to avoid any interruption in your coverage. However, if premiums are unpaid for more than 90 days, the policy will lapse as there is no policy value to provide ongoing cover.

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 100+	AED 100+
CI rider	Optional	Optional	Core benefit