Emirates is now offering its Comprehensive Travel Cover, which includes medical cover for conflict-related incidents, backed by hotel accommodation and extended-stay support across a range of disruption scenarios.

“When itineraries include connecting on other airlines or Emirates services are unavailable, Emirates will also rebook disrupted customers to their destination at no additional cost, including where flights have been cancelled due to conflict-related disruption,” a statement from the airline reads.

The coverage also includes trip cancellation cover, compensation for baggage delay or loss, unlimited medical expense and emergency evacuation cover worldwide, among other benefits.

“Newly added conflict cover provides reimbursement for medical expenses of up to $25,000 and a free trip extension of up to 30 days. The cover is not restricted by government travel advice,” the statement adds.

The Emirates Comprehensive Travel Cover is available from June 17. It can be purchased on the airline’s website when booking a flight or added to existing bookings through the Manage Booking tab online.

Etihad announced on Friday that it is partnering with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi to provide free medical travel insurance. This will be offered with insurer Daman to all international visitors arriving in Abu Dhabi on Etihad-operated flights.

In a statement, Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad Airways chief executive, said: “Abu Dhabi is one of the most captivating destinations in the world, and our job is to make both getting here and being here as seamless as possible.

“Giving comprehensive medical insurance with every eligible Etihad ticket means our guests can focus entirely on experiencing the extraordinary Emirati hospitality Abu Dhabi has to offer. This is what it looks like when an airline and a destination truly invest in their visitors.”

The insurance offered by Etihad will be valid from July to December.

It will cover eligible visitors for up to 15 days in the UAE and no formal application is required. Instead, coverage is automatically given with every qualifying Etihad ticket.

Any guest flying to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad-operated service, with point of origin and point of sale outside the UAE, is eligible. This will also include travellers using Etihad’s complimentary stopover programme, who will be covered for the duration of their stay.

Last week, Emirates president Tim Clark told Reuters that the company was planning to offer “incentives other than price”.

“That could be a new means of ensuring their safety of operation, ​for instance,” Clark said. “We’ll take care of all of that, including flying them on other carriers, if necessary, ​to bring them home or get the kids into school.”

In an interview with the Financial Times, Clark elaborated on the plans to help stranded passengers, saying the airline would guarantee “we would get you back irrespective [of whether it is] on Emirates or not”.

Air travel in the Gulf is ramping up amid a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority announced the full resumption of air traffic operations in the country on May 2.

On June 9, Emirates and Etihad operated 435 and 247 flights, respectively, compared to 531 and 334 flights operated on February 27, the day before the war broke out.

Credits: Etihad Airlines

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The move reflects Etihad’s focus on high-growth African markets, where demand for passenger travel and cargo capacity is outpacing supply. The airline is positioning Abu Dhabi as a strategic transit hub, enabling one-stop connections between Africa and key markets in China, India and wider Asia.

The expansion builds on Etihad’s recent growth in China and its partnership with China Eastern Airlines, as well as its joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines. Together, these initiatives are designed to strengthen a new intercontinental corridor linking Africa and Asia via the Gulf.

Cargo is central to the strategy. Etihad aims to leverage rising trade flows in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture and pharmaceuticals, using both dedicated freight services and belly-hold capacity on passenger flights.

The airline cited increasing economic ties between the UAE and African countries, particularly in energy, infrastructure and mining, as a key driver behind the expansion.

Chief executive Antonoaldo Neves said the new routes respond to “structural demand” for connectivity, adding that Africa represents a “natural next step” in the airline’s network growth.

Overall, the expansion underscores intensifying competition among Gulf carriers to position their hubs as global connectors, with Africa emerging as a key battleground for future growth in both passenger and cargo markets.

Credits: Etihad Airways

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