The Findings Challenge the Long-Held View That Life Insurance Is Only Necessary Later in Life.
Serious illnesses and life-altering injuries are affecting UAE employees earlier than many might expect. A new report by Zurich International Life reveals that most insurance claims are being made by people in their late 30s and 40s.
The People Protection Report 2026, which examined group life and disability claims paid in the UAE between 2023 and 2025, found that most claims involved people aged between 39 and 50. The youngest claimant was just 22, highlighting how health and financial challenges can arise during the years when careers, families and financial commitments are often at their most demanding.
“At a time when costs and salaries are under pressure, employees become a particularly important asset,” Matthew Whitehouse, Head of Corporate Life and Pensions at Zurich, said. He added that attracting and retaining the right talent was a strong indicator of a company’s success and growth.
The data
Zurich paid more than Dh140 million in group life and disability claims over the three-year period. Of this amount, over Dh100 million went towards group life claims, while Dh37 million supported employees dealing with illness and injury.
The findings challenge the traditional view that protection insurance is something people only need later in life.
Cardiovascular disease accounted for 36 per cent of life insurance claims, followed by cancer at 27 per cent. The youngest life insurance claimant was 24, while the average age of claimants was 50 for cardiovascular conditions and 47 for cancer.
For disability claims, the average claimant age was 48. Musculoskeletal conditions accounted for 21 per cent of cases, accidents for 14 per cent and mental health conditions for 15 per cent — together representing nearly half of all disability claims.
“People are claiming at an earlier age, dispelling the idea that protection is only necessary later in life,” Whitehouse said. He noted that such challenges were affecting employees at younger ages, when financial pressures could be particularly difficult to manage.
Companies need to take notice
Whitehouse said employer-provided protection plans had traditionally focused heavily on death benefits. However, the report found that 27 per cent of all claims paid were for ‘living benefits’, which provide financial support to employees dealing with critical illness, disability or injury while they are still alive and working.
He said this shift highlighted an important consideration for employers, who may need to reassess the coverage offered through workplace insurance plans.
“Living benefits are more likely and more usable,” Whitehouse said, adding that they could strengthen the case for employer investment in employee protection by demonstrating tangible value to both workers and businesses.
The report also highlighted the financial consequences of disability, finding that 79 per cent of disability claims were associated with Temporary Total Disability and Income Protection. This suggests that one of the most immediate impacts of an illness or injury is the sudden loss of earnings.
“If you had a machine in your house that paid you a salary every month, the first thing you would insure would be that machine,” Whitehouse said. “The loss of income is catastrophic.”
He added that businesses should prioritise prevention and early detection while integrating employee benefits with wider healthcare services, including private medical insurance.
Mental health
The report also highlighted significant concerns surrounding workplace mental health, with one in seven disability claims paid linked to mental health conditions.
Separately, research estimates that mental health-related absenteeism and reduced workforce participation could cost the UAE Dh17 billion in lost annual productivity by 2030.
“When you look at how mental health affects productivity losses and absenteeism, the numbers are pretty striking,” Whitehouse said. He added that failing to provide appropriate benefits could expose businesses to substantial costs associated with unforeseen employee health challenges.
The report urges employers to make mental health support a core component of employee benefits packages rather than treating it as an optional extra.
