Catlin Group: A big, small step in the Middle East with Dubai office

Mr Stephen Catlin, Chief Executive of Catlin Group, speaks to Middle East Insurance Review about its plans for the region through its new office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Emirates International: Staying focussed on the Afro-Asian markets

With its new property facultative offering, Dubai-based Emirates International is looking to further diversify its business and be a significant player in the Afro-Asian region, says Chief Underwriting Officer Dermot Dick. By Jimmy John

Small market, big potential

Qatar's insurance market has been under-performing compared to its exponential economic growth. But that could change with a new regulated environment, under the guidance of a single regulatory body and its strategic plan for the industry.

Interview with regulator: A strategic vision of Qatar's financial sector

Mr Michael Ryan, CEO of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Regulatory Authority, gives details on the recently launched Strategic Plan for Financial Sector Regulation and provides an update of the Authority's continuing work.

Revving up for mega risks

Infrastructure and construction projects will continue to be a major driver of insurance and reinsurance demand in Qatar, says Mr Nabih Massaad of Q-Re in an overview of the country's large-risk sector.

Multaqa Qatar: Joining hands to deliver a world-class event

With the backing of the industry regulator and a line-up of decision makers from across the region, this month's Multaqa Qatar looks set to affirm itself as a leading insurance forum in MENA.

Asset management: Redefining investment portfolios to drive profitability

Mr Patrick M Liedtke of BlackRock looks at how insurance companies can respond to low rates, challenging insurance markets and tightening regulation by embracing new investment strategies.

Asset management: Alternative medicine for investors

With yields on conventional income-generating assets still far below historical averages, Mr Adam Rix of Aviva Investors provides an overview of those asset classes formerly labelled as alternatives that are now being employed by institutional...

Large risks: Exploring new frontiers in energy

The Middle East is one of the most attractive energy regions and all players within the upstream value chain are keen in playing a predominant role in the forthcoming envisaged Exploration and Production (E&P) projects. With most of the Gulf's...

Large risks: (Re)insuring large risks in the Middle East

Mr Rainer Lehner of Asia Capital Re traces developments in the way large commercial risks are placed in the Middle East and looks at why there is a need for more innovative approaches.

Salute to international women's day: Arab women on the rise

Though cultural challenges remain as barriers for Arab women, they are gradually marching ahead and becoming more visible in the business sphere, where leadership has traditionally been male-dominated.

Focus on innovation: Disrupting the insurance market

Ms Sara Zubair of Trust Re examines the disruption theory in innovation and how that has been applied to the regional insurance industry.

MEIF: Harnessing the potential of MENA

Enhancing regulatory framework, competing on customer service rather than price, making insurance more popular, and adopting international best practices are some ways for the region to reach its full potential, said speakers at the 10th MEIF.

Actuarial analysis: The retakaful dilemma

Is there a Shariah-compliant form of risk transfer, since takaful and retakaful are based on risk-sharing principles? Mr Tobias Frenz of Munich Re shares some ideas on approaching the dilemma from an actuarial perspective.

MENA & GCC: Four new members join MENA Insurance CEO Club

Four new members - including the first lady member - have been inducted to the MENA Insurance CEO Club (MICC), bringing the total membership to 17.

MENA & GCC: GCC pension fund assets to double, reaching US$5 tln by 2020 - PwC

Arabian Gulf pension fund assets are expected to double from US$2.4 trillion to $5 trillion by 2020, said a report by PwC.

MENA & GCC: EMEA insurance rates to continue to fall in 2014 - Marsh

Although insurance rates across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) remained largely stable throughout the first three quarters of 2013, rate reductions across most lines of business in the last quarter and for 1 January renewals marked a...

ACE increases environmental insurance capacity for global clients

ACE Global Markets, the London-based wholesale insurance division of ACE Group, will offer increased capacity of US$50 million for global clients seeking environmental liability insurance coverage.

Bahrain: Solidarity partners with Ithmaar Bank

Solidarity Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bahrain-based Ithmaar Bank to offer the Islamic retail lender's premier members exclusive insurance rates.

Brunei: Takaful sector scores double-digit growth in 9M13

Brunei's takaful contributions grew 11% y-o-y in the first nine months of 2013 to B$134 million (US$105.6 million), outpacing conventional premiums' marginal growth of less than 1% to B$112 million during the same period, figures from the regulator...

Pakistan: Pak-Qatar General Takaful to cover bank customers against hold-ups

Pak Qatar General Takaful Limited has joined hands with KASB Bank by signing a bancatakaful agreement that will protect the bank's customers against forced hold-ups during withdrawals from ATMs and KASB Bank branches throughout Pakistan.

Global takaful contributions to exceed US$20 bln this year - KFH Research

Gross contributions of the global takaful industry, estimated to have totalled nearly US$19.87 billion at the end of last year, are expected to surpass $20 billion in 2014, said a report by KFH Research.

Global sukuk prospects still promising - S&P

Despite some headwinds, long-term prospects for the sukuk industry remain promising as regulators continue to build and strengthen their frameworks to minimise barriers in the market and deepen liquidity, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P)...

Aon Benfield Middle East marks 1st anniversary

Aon Benfield Middle East celebrated its first anniversary on 28 January by holding a seminar for clients at the InterContinental Hotel in Dubai.

Diary of events

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