From Editor-in-Chief
Need for confidence in Jordan's insurance market
Poised for a shake-up
Interview with the regulator: Strengthening the bases
Oman Insurance Company: Diversifying beyond the UAE
National General Insurance : Looking to better times ahead
Al Sagr National Insurance Co: Profitability is the priority
RAK Insurance on track to meet targets
Revamping SALAMA
DIFC: Turning 10 and looking beyond
Reinsurance: A market primed for change
Reinsurance:Building a successful (re)insurance hub: Lessons from Dubai and Singapore
Reinsurance: MENA reinsurance market: Trends and outlook
Aviation: Airline insurance: The flight to quality
Life & Pensions: Unlocking value with predictive modelling
Life & Pensions: Harnessing the retention power of gratuities
Financial lines: Protecting financial institutions in the Middle East
War & Terrorism: Could the Middle East dictate the future for insurers and reinsurers?
Responding to the changing face of political violence and terrorism
Takaful in Malaysia: Regulatory changes shaping growth prospects
MENA & GCC: Finalists of the Middle East Insurance Industry Awards
MENA & GCC: Trust Re announces expansion plans at 25th anniversary
MENA: GAIF may launch new reinsurer
MENA & GCC: IMF cuts Arab growth forecast, but sees GCC as still strong
MENA urged to do more about climate change
ACE launches reputational risk cover in MENA
Algeria: Insurance market grows by 5.2% in 1H
Algeria: Farmers' union sounds alarm over low insurance level
Jordan: Insurers see 50% rise in technical gains in 1H
Kuwait: Premiums in 1H increase 8%
Lebanon: Premiums up 9% in 1H to exceed US$800 mln
Morocco: Saham Insurance sees 46% jump in 1H profits
Morocco: CIH Bank buys 10% of Atlanta Insurance
Morocco: Wafa Assurance gains approval for Senegal units
Morocco: New life insurer Attamine Chaabi to enter market
Oman: New insurance regulations are credit positive for market - Moody's
Turkey: Premiums grow 6% to US$7.5 bln in first 8 months
Turkey: Aviva and Sabanci mulling over IPO of insurance JV
Turkey: Earthquake coverage in Turkey reaches 37%
Turkey: Government to tighten construction regulations
UAE: Dubai aims to have world no. 1 health insurance system
UAE: DMCC launches health cover for free zone members
UAE: AXA to speed up health portfolio growth
ADNIC opens 6th branch in the UAE
Hull war rates to "at least double" - FAIR Aviation Pool
Monte Carlo Rendez-vous: Cautious optimism sets tone for renewals
Global bodies like IUMI more relevant than ever
GCC & MENA: Strong prospects ahead for takaful in MENA
GCC & MENA: IFTI names Mr Younis Al-Sayed as Chairman
Egyptian Takaful to distribute US$1.6 mln in surpluses
Malaysia: Second Takaful Rendezvous to be held in Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia: Sun Life boosts bancatakaful tie-up
Malaysia: AIG Re-Takaful to take on larger risks
Oman: Al Madina Takaful's net profit down 39%
Saudi market rebounds following regulatory action - A.M. Best
Tanzania has big potential for Islamic finance, says expert
UAE: Takaful Emarat plans to double capital
UAE: AlHuda CIBE to hold takaful workshop
Diary of events
People on the move
COUNTRY PROFILE
The UAE insurance market, leading the GCC with US$8 billion in premiums in 2013, might see major changes when new regulations aimed at ensuring solvency come into effect by year-end.
COVER STORY
The region's reinsurance players continue to face difficult conditions, but there is still some anticipation that the market will correct itself before regulators step in. Some members of the MENA Insurance CEO Club (MICC) share their insights and...
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SPOTLIGHT
With the DIFC marking its 10th anniversary this month, Mr Mark Cooper of the DIFC Authority traces its growth and development over the last decade, and the Centre's strategy as it moves forward.
With the Insurance Authority (IA) ramping up its role to actively regulate the market, UAE insurers can expect more regulations essentially aimed at establishing the business on sound legal, technical, and supervisory foundations. HE Ebrahim Obaid...
Following its venture into Turkey, Oman and Qatar, Oman Insurance Company (OIC) is now looking to establish itself in the Saudi market, reveals CEO Patrick Choffel. By Wong Mei-Hwen
While Dubai and Singapore possess the same kinds of qualities that have helped them become successful reinsurance hubs, both are facing threats and challenges, says Mr Rainer Lehner of Asia Capital Re in a comparative study.
The regional reinsurance marketplace has become significantly more self-sufficient, even though international reinsurers still play an important role, says Mrs Yolla El Khoury of ACE Holding in an outline of the market's trends.
Insurers seem resolved to raise prices and premium volumes to be able to better withstand the cost of major accidents, says Mr Simon Knechtli of Willis in an overview of the global and Middle East airline insurance sector.
Mr Martin Houle of RGA Reinsurance Company Middle East Limited looks at how life insurance companies can use predictive modelling to optimise internal data, and the various techniques that may be utilised.
Mr Peter Cox of Zurich looks at how employers can structure a corporate savings plan that acts as a tool to recruit and retain the best talent.
Mr David McCarthy of Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP looks at the risks that war and terrorism present in the broader reinsurance coverage, and how events in the Middle East could prove decisive for the fortunes of insurers and reinsurers.
Ms Susan Dingwall and Mr Martin Schneider of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP discuss the key considerations for insurers writing political violence and terrorism in the light of changing threats.
Regulatory reforms are expected to enhance the takaful sector's competitiveness and spur M&A activity in the medium term, says Mr Thomas Ng of Fitch Ratings.
Forty of 200 entries have made it to finals of the Middle East Insurance Industry Awards (MIIA), held to recognise and salute excellence in the industry.
Trust Re has received an 'A-' rating from Standard & Poor's, it revealed at its 25th anniversary dinner party in Bahrain where it also announced key developments, including plans to raise capital and set up offices in China and India.
The General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF) is expecting to receive a proposal to create an Arab insurance firm with a capital of US$10 billion, said the newly appointed President of regional industry body, Mr Alaa El Zoheiry.
The attacks on Tripoli Airport and the downing of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 will double the hull war rate on most aviation programmes, if not triple it during the renewals this quarter, said Mr Tarik Brahimi, Director of the Federation of...
Despite observations such as increased risk retention by ceding companies, global reinsurers are still holding out hopes for moderate growth in P&C and Nat CAT cover in the medium term.
Organisations such as the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) which promote global cooperation are needed more than ever in the changing environment, delegates heard at the IUMI 2014 conference in Hong Kong.
The takaful industry in the MENA region is undergoing transformation and there is outstanding potential for the market to grow and thrive, said Mr Abdul Rahman Al Baker, Executive Director of Financial Institutions Supervision of the Central Bank of...
The International Federation for Takaful and Islamic Insurance Companies (IFTI) has named Mr Younis J Al-Sayed, Chairman of Bahrain Insurance Association (BIA) and CEO of Takaful International, as Chairman for a two-year term starting this year.
Egyptian Takaful (Egtak) will distribute EGP11.4 million (US$1.6 million) in surpluses to policyholders, said Mr Alsayed Bayoumi, General Manager of its investment department.