Will your policy pay if your boat, outboard motor or jet ski is stolen?
Usually, if you met the security conditions. UAE wordings pay for stolen gear only after forced entry, and for stolen outboard motors only if they were locked with an anti-theft device or, under some wordings, after forced entry. You must report the theft to the police, and in Dubai to the maritime authority.
Your policy pays for theft only if you kept to its security conditions and reported the theft to the police.12
When is a theft covered?
When the thief forced their way in, or the item was locked as the wording requires.
| What was stolen | GIG Gulf, Sail Master handbook | Institute Yacht Clauses (Sukoon, Arabia) |
|---|---|---|
| The whole boat | Covered as accidental loss. On a trailer, only if the trailer has a wheel clamp when unhitched, between sunset and sunrise, and when parked unattended. | Theft of the entire vessel is a named cause. |
| Gear, equipment or machinery | Only if someone forced their way into or out of the boat or a locked storage place, or removed it by force. | Only following forcible entry into the vessel or the place of storage or repair. |
| Outboard motor | Only if fastened with an outboard motor lock as well as its normal fitting. "A padlock and chain is not sufficient." | Only if securely locked by an anti-theft device as well as its normal attachment, or after forcible entry. |
| Trailer | Only if secured by a hitchlock or wheel clamp. | Not named in the Institute clauses. Sukoon counts a trailer shown in your schedule as insured property. |
| Personal belongings | Only after forcible and violent entry. The first AED 1,250 or the excess is not paid. | Under the personal effects clause, where the policy includes it. |
The GIG Gulf terms are in its Pleasure Craft handbook,1 and the Institute Yacht Clauses in Sukoon’s and Arabia Insurance’s wordings.23 Al Buhaira excludes “Unattended theft”, meaning theft of removable equipment or personal effects where security requirements have not been met.4
Buy the lock type your wording names, keep the receipt, and use it every time you leave the boat.
What does a jet ski policy ask for?
GIG Gulf covers a jet ski carried with your boat, up to AED 50,000 unless a higher value is in your schedule.1 At its permanent storage place the jet ski must be in a locked building, secured to its trailer by a hardened steel chain or stainless steel wire cable with a hardened steel close shackle padlock, and the trailer must have a wheel clamp. Away from storage it must be locked to an immovable object with a wheel clamp, or locked to a road vehicle. The theft excess is 5% of its value or AED 2,500, whichever is greater.1
ADNIC’s jet ski leaflet lists theft among the covers.5 Sukoon’s standalone jet ski policy covers third-party liability and personal accident only, not theft of the jet ski.6
More is on jet ski insurance.
What must you do after a theft?
- Report it to the police. GIG Gulf requires a police report for any theft, attempted theft, vandalism or malicious damage, with a written acknowledgement or crime report: “We will not pay Your claim if You fail to do this.”1 Sukoon also asks you to tell the police about theft and malicious damage.7
- Tell the maritime authority. In Dubai the owner or master must immediately notify the authority of the loss or theft of a vessel and return the licence if possible.8
- Tell your insurer. Do it promptly and before you agree any repair or replacement. See how to claim.
For a Dubai Police certificate for your insurer, see the claims guide.
The small print
- Institute Yacht Clauses. Theft is clause 9.2.1.4. Clause 10.1 excludes an outboard motor dropping off or falling overboard.2
- GIG Gulf. The definitions of outboard motor lock, hitchlock and wheel clamp are in the handbook’s definitions section; the jet ski conditions are Endorsement C.1
- Dubai. Article 23(b) of Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2013.8
- Union Insurance. Its page says theft of machinery, fittings or equipment is covered after forcible entry and that outboard motors that drop or fall overboard are covered, which differs from the base Institute clause. Ask Union for the wording.9
Sources
9
1GIG Gulf, Sail Master Pleasure Craft, Policy Handbook, Code UAEPL15072022.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Sail Master Pleasure Craft, Policy Handbook
2Sukoon Insurance, Privilege Yacht Terms and Conditions, Comprehensive, Dated December 2023.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Privilege Yacht Terms and Conditions, Comprehensive
3Arabia Insurance, Yacht Insurance General Conditions (YI-GC-2021 V.1), 2021.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Yacht Insurance General Conditions (YI-GC-2021 V.1)
4Al Buhaira National Insurance, Yacht and Pleasure Craft Insurance. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Yacht and Pleasure Craft Insurance
5ADNIC, Jet Ski Insurance leaflet. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Jet Ski Insurance leaflet
6Sukoon Insurance, Privilege Yacht Insurance. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Privilege Yacht Insurance
7Sukoon Insurance, Privilege Yacht Claim Process. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Privilege Yacht Claim Process
8Dubai Maritime City Authority (published by PCFC), Licensing of Maritime Vessels in the Emirate of Dubai (Law No. 11 of 2010 and Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2013), English compilation, 2014.. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Licensing of Maritime Vessels in the Emirate of Dubai (Law No. 11 of 2010 and Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2013)
9Union Insurance, Yacht insurance. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Yacht insurance
- Owner
- Yachtinsurance.ae research team
- Last review
- Next review due
- 11 May 2027
- Status
- Published