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Most UAE expats have no income protection
| Published: | 28 Nov at 6 PM |
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Tagged: UAE, Study Abroad
Research by an international insurance company has revealed the vast majority of expat professionals working in the UAE have no protection against loss of income through incapacity or illness.
The study, carried out by Zurich International working with Oxford University’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, examines both regional and global income gaps. One important question asked respondents whether they knew how long their savings would keep them going should they lose the ability to work. The UAE’s result showed some 75 per cent of those surveyed had no provision protecting them from loss of salary by means of illness or incapacity. Of the 25 per cent who were covered, employers had provided the insurance for 72 per cent, but the rest were trusting to luck.
The global result was even more indicative of a lack of preparation for the unexpected, as six out of every 10 respondents admitted their meagre savings would last no more than around six months, with one in every five saying they’d be in financial trouble after just a few weeks. Expats in the UAE don’t have any state-sponsored back-up for loss of income, even although research has shown over 25 per cent of the global workforce will have periods when they can’t hold down a job due to illness or accident.
Meanwhile, incapacitated expats in Abu Dhabi who’ve got private healthcare insurance will be able to enjoy their rehabilitation at a new hospital providing comprehensive rehab services for acute, sub-acute and long-term cases. The new building is being designed specifically for rehab purposes, and will provide 166 inpatient beds plus support such as occupational, speech and physical therapy in state-of-the-art facilities.
Up until now, Abu Dhabi has had no specific facilities for disabled patients who’ve fallen victim to strokes, motor accidents or work related incidents, with those affected being forced to receive treatment at multi-disciplinary centres, private clinics or government hospital wards. As a result, many such patients choose to go overseas for their long-term care. In the new facility, ongoing problems such as chest infections, blood transfusions, MRI scans and more can simply be done in-house without having to transfer patients to another facility. The new Special Rehabilitation Hospital is expected to open early next year.
The study, carried out by Zurich International working with Oxford University’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, examines both regional and global income gaps. One important question asked respondents whether they knew how long their savings would keep them going should they lose the ability to work. The UAE’s result showed some 75 per cent of those surveyed had no provision protecting them from loss of salary by means of illness or incapacity. Of the 25 per cent who were covered, employers had provided the insurance for 72 per cent, but the rest were trusting to luck.
The global result was even more indicative of a lack of preparation for the unexpected, as six out of every 10 respondents admitted their meagre savings would last no more than around six months, with one in every five saying they’d be in financial trouble after just a few weeks. Expats in the UAE don’t have any state-sponsored back-up for loss of income, even although research has shown over 25 per cent of the global workforce will have periods when they can’t hold down a job due to illness or accident.
Meanwhile, incapacitated expats in Abu Dhabi who’ve got private healthcare insurance will be able to enjoy their rehabilitation at a new hospital providing comprehensive rehab services for acute, sub-acute and long-term cases. The new building is being designed specifically for rehab purposes, and will provide 166 inpatient beds plus support such as occupational, speech and physical therapy in state-of-the-art facilities.
Up until now, Abu Dhabi has had no specific facilities for disabled patients who’ve fallen victim to strokes, motor accidents or work related incidents, with those affected being forced to receive treatment at multi-disciplinary centres, private clinics or government hospital wards. As a result, many such patients choose to go overseas for their long-term care. In the new facility, ongoing problems such as chest infections, blood transfusions, MRI scans and more can simply be done in-house without having to transfer patients to another facility. The new Special Rehabilitation Hospital is expected to open early next year.
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