Insurance companies in the UAE are refusing to cover damage to vehicles caused by the heavy rainfall of the last few days, according to reports.
Insurance firms have dismissed claims on the grounds that the policyholder standard imposed by the UAE Ministry of Economy does not cover natural disasters, including the widespread flooding which has afflicted the Emirates this week, reported Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm.
According to the newspaper, only 40 percent of insurance policies in the country cover damage specifically caused by flooding.
One disappointed policyholder, Salam Al Suwaidi, told the newspaper that his insurance had failed to cover the damage caused to his car, which was left without electrics after being caught in flooding in Sharjah.
“Why pay Dhs5000 for comprehensive insurance?” he asked. “What is the difference between the damage to my car, whether caused by an accident or deterioration or from rain?”
