How much will your policy pay for a lost, stolen or damaged bag, and what proof do you need?

How much will your policy pay for a lost bag?

Up to a total of USD 1,000 to USD 6,000, depending on the policy and plan, but each item has a much lower limit. Most policies set a total, a limit for each item and a separate limit for valuables. Salama and AIG add a limit per bag of USD 1,250 or USD 500, by plan.¹² Delayed bags are a separate benefit.

Sources for Table 1

Salama,¹ GIG Gulf,³ AIG,² Liva,⁴ Allianz Partners,⁵ Orient,⁶ Mastercard,⁷ Daman.⁸

GIG Gulf takes a USD 30 excess and Liva USD 50.³⁴ The Mastercard card limits children, the cardholder’s parents and a domestic helper to 25% of the cardholder’s limit.⁷ Daman’s amounts are in its Schedule of Benefit. Ask Daman for them.

Valuables carry conditions of their own. AIG excludes valuables in a carrier’s custody. Orient excludes valuables in suitcases unless they are on the person.⁶ Liva excludes valuables in transit that are not in your custody or control.⁴ Check where your policy expects you to keep valuables before you pack.

Will you get the price of a new item?

Usually not. Policies pay less than new in three ways.

• Market value after wear, tear and depreciation. GIG Gulf and Liva, which may also repair or replace the item.³⁴
• A fixed reduction. Allianz Partners takes 10% for each full year since purchase, up to a 50% reduction.⁵
• A scale for electronics. Orient deducts 0% up to 6 months, 20% up to 18 months and 40% up to 36 months. The wording shows no band above 36 months. Ask Orient.⁶

What proof do you need?

Proof of purchase, in four policies. Allianz Partners asks for original receipts or proof of purchase, and pays 50% of replacement cost without them.⁵ Liva’s claims checklist asks for proof of purchase.⁴ GIG Gulf’s general conditions say it may refuse to reimburse expenses with no receipts or bills.³ AIG’s baggage section states no receipt rule.²

Orient’s limits depend on proof of ownership or purchase. Without proof it pays 10% of the claimed value, up to USD 250, USD 125 or USD 50 in total by plan. The same section also lists items without a receipt among its exclusions.⁶ Ask Orient which rule applies to an item with no receipt.

For a checked bag lost in flight, Salama and Daman ask for a list of contents with an estimated price and purchase date, and the airline’s settlement.¹⁸ For other losses Daman asks for valid confirmation of the amount of the luggage or money.⁸

Keep receipts for anything valuable you pack.

How quickly must you report a loss?

Within 24 hours, in six policies. GIG Gulf, AIG, Liva, Allianz Partners, Orient and Daman each set 24 hours for at least some losses, usually a police report for theft or loss.³²⁴⁵⁶⁸

A bag lost by the airline needs the airline’s paperwork too. GIG Gulf asks for a property irregularity report and written notice within the carrier’s time limit.³ Liva accepts a written report or property irregularity report from the police or carrier.⁴ AIG asks for written proof from the hotel or carrier for a loss in its care.² Allianz Partners asks for a property irregularity report from the airline within 7 days, then a letter to the airline within 21 days to confirm essential replacement items.⁵

Ask the airline for a property irregularity report. These deadlines run alongside the airline’s own, which are in the lost baggage guide.

Does the airline’s payment count against your claim?

For a bag lost in the airline’s care, yes, in four policies. Salama and Daman top up the airline’s payment to a combined limit, and ask for the airline’s settlement with the claim.¹⁸ AIG and Mastercard pay in excess of what the airline pays.²⁷ Mastercard’s worked example deducts the airline’s payment from the full value, and its claims must be verified by the carrier.⁷ Salama and Daman set a waiting period of at least 21 days, as fixed by the carrier.¹⁸

The airline’s liability is set by the Montreal Convention. From 28 December 2024 the limit for destroyed, lost, damaged or delayed baggage is 1,519 SDR.⁹ That is a ceiling on proven damage, not a fixed payment. The Convention has been in force for the UAE since 4 November 2003.¹⁰

Claiming essentials from the airline while your bag is missing

Play: How to Get Paid for Lost or Late LuggageNothing loads from YouTube until you click. Plays through youtube-nocookie.com.

The small print

• Clause names. Salama, Section E, 2, Compensation for in-flight loss of checked-in baggage. GIG Gulf, Chapter O. AIG, Section 3. Liva, Section A, 4. Allianz Partners, D. Baggage Coverage. Orient, Section 2. Mastercard, Luggage Protection. Daman, Section 2, Luggage Assistance, items 1 and 5.
• Daman exclusions. Daman excludes luggage delayed or lost on flights returning you home, and, under item 5, personal luggage left in checked-in luggage.⁸
• Other insurers. The Central Bank’s register for September 2026 lists 54 insurance companies.¹¹ The limits here come from the published wordings of seven of them and the Mastercard World card terms, as of 4 November 2026. Your own schedule decides what you are paid.