Aviva ties-up UAE PMI deal

Aviva has signed an agreement with a United Arab Emirates (UAE) insurer to provide expat private medical insurance in the gulf state.

The international PMI provider said the deal was the first in a series of moves to improve its customer proposition.

Its arrangement with Emirates Insurance Company, which is based in Abu Dhabi, will offer expats four compliant IPMI products.

As a result of the deal, Aviva clients will no longer need to purchase a separate local insurance policy to satisfy visa requirements.

A partnership with third party administrator Neuron, based in Dubai, has also been agreed to manage all claims for Aviva customers receiving treatment in the UAE.

It will also work closely with a network of hospitals to arrange treatment and the direct settlement of invoices.

The new Emirates' International Solutions product range will be available from March with full details of the products being announced early next year.

At renewal, existing Aviva customers based in the UAE will be invited to transfer to one of the Emirate's International Solutions policies.

Teresa Rogers, international business lead at Aviva UK Health, said: "Offering health provision in the UAE is complex due to different legislative requirements across each of the Emirates," she said.

"We've worked with a specialist international law firm to help us develop bespoke solutions for our customers based in the UAE and we believe that our four products will enable us to respond to changes in legislation and customer needs both now and in the future."