Employees in their late 30s and 40s are accounting for the majority of life and disability insurance claims in the UAE, highlighting the growing need for employers to rethink how they structure workplace protection benefits, according to a new report by Zurich International Life.
The People Protection Report 2026, which analysed group life and disability claims paid in the UAE between 2023 and 2025, found that most claims came from employees aged between 39 and 50. The youngest claimant was just 22, challenging the perception that life and protection insurance are primarily relevant to older employees.
During the three-year period, Zurich paid more than Dh140 million in group life and disability claims. This included over Dh100 million in group life claims and Dh37 million in payments supporting employees affected by illness and injury.
“In a period of time where there's a lot of pressure on cost and salaries, your people become a really important asset,” Matthew Whitehouse, Head of Corporate Life and Pensions at Zurich, told Khaleej Times. He added that attracting and retaining the right employees remained a strong indicator of business success and growth.
Cardiovascular disease and cancer drive life insurance claims
The report found that 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 employees claiming for cardiovascular conditions was 50 and for cancer was 47.
Disability claims were made at an average age of 48. Musculoskeletal conditions accounted for 21 per cent of these claims, followed by mental health conditions at 15 per cent and accidents at 14 per cent.
“People are claiming at an earlier age, so the whole concept that protection is something you need later in life is being dispelled,” Whitehouse said, adding that such events were affecting employees at a particularly financially challenging stage of their lives.
Living benefits gain importance in employee protection plans
The findings also point to a shift in the types of workplace insurance benefits employees are using. Traditionally, corporate protection plans placed greater emphasis on death benefits. However, 27 per cent of all claims paid during the period were for living benefits, which support employees experiencing critical illness, disability or injury while they are still alive and working.
“Living benefits are more likely and more usable,” Whitehouse said, noting that these benefits could strengthen the employer value proposition and demonstrate the return on investment in employee protection programmes.
The financial impact of disability was particularly evident, with 79 per cent of disability claims linked to Temporary Total Disability and Income Protection. This highlights how illness or injury can disrupt household finances through the sudden loss of regular income.
“If you had a machine in your house that every month paid you your salary, the first thing you would insure would be that machine,” Whitehouse said. “The loss of income is catastrophic.”
The report also points to the importance of prevention and early detection, alongside integrating employee protection benefits with broader healthcare services, including private medical insurance.
Mental health accounts for one in seven disability claims
Mental health is another significant area of concern emerging from the findings. One in seven disability claims paid by Zurich during the period was linked to mental health conditions.
The report also cited separate research estimating 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 plays into productivity loss and absenteeism, the numbers are pretty punchy,” Whitehouse said, adding that employers faced significant costs when they failed to put appropriate support and benefits in place.
The findings underscore the need for organisations to treat mental health as an integral part of employee benefits and protection strategies rather than an additional offering, particularly as illness, injury and income disruption affect employees during their peak working years.