From Editor-in-Chief
Maturing with the market
Zurich projects high growth in Middle East
DIFC: Lloyd's and the DIFC - Making it a suitable match
Captives: The captive advantage
Captives: Captive reinsurance: A pragmatic approach
Strategic global view: Alternative capital and the future of reinsurance
At a critical juncture
Battle for share as construction booms
Financial lines - The next growth area
C&E: Insurance boom with growth in construction
C&E: Professional indemnity - Changes affecting Middle East projects
C&E: Construction and the need for long-term risk management
Motor: Keeping motor losses under control
Multaqa Qatar - A forum to bring the industry forward
Becoming champions in takaful
Conference report: International Takaful Summit - Focus on growth foundations
Conference report: 2nd Takaful Seminar - Takaful for tomorrow
Awards: Topping the takaful league
SAARC conference: South Asian market players to gather in annual forum
MENA & GCC: MICC welcomes Mr Mohamed Larbi Nali as 18th member
MENA & GCC: Zein Hawwari of Arab Re wins Multaqa's 1st ever Essay Contest
MENA & GCC: ACE's new business region to help drive growth in MENA
MENA & GCC: Eleven MENA countries have world's highest road fatality rates
MENA: Medical insurance profitability remains a challenge
MENA & GCC: GCC reinsurers limited in geographical diversity
MENA: Rising confidence as demand for insurance remains strong
GCC: Region's insurance market growing as fast as China's and Brazil's - A.M. Best
GCC: Telco launches covers for smartphones and tablets
Algeria: CASH Assurances to set up life specialist
Bahrain: BNH's profit rises 30% to US$8 mln
Egypt: Insurers allowed to outsource investment management
Jordan: Insurance Commission to merge with Ministry
Jordan: Gras Savoye sets up in Amman
Jordan: Regulator liquidates Arab German Insurance
Jordan: Arab Insurance Institute to open in Amman
Morocco: Wafa Assurance nets profit of US$96 mln
Oman: Premiums up 10% to US$946 mln in 2013
Oman: Minimum capital to be hiked
Ahlibank Qatar to offer bancassurance services
UAE: ADNIC's net profit up 25% to US$49 mln in 2013
UAE: Dubai gov't forms health insurance management committee
UAE: AXA eyes stake in Green Crescent Insurance
UAE: Union Insurance's profit up 562% to US$18 mln
UAE: Insurance House's net profit jumps 27% to US$2.6 mln
Global: Insurers start paying out for MAS plane
GCC: Sukuk issue volumes likely to be stable in 2014 - S&P
Brunei to introduce new takaful guidelines by June
Kenya's market overhaul eyes Islamic finance framework
Arab Loss Adjusters to launch in Malaysia
Takaful Malaysia sees higher payout
Malaysia plans ethical sukuk guidelines
Saudi Arabia: Health covers to be mandatory for foreign visitors
Tunisia: Takaful to command 10% market share in 5 years
UAE: Aman's ratings lowered to 'BB+' and placed on CreditWatch Negative
UAE: Abu Dhabi National Takaful sees 30% increase in profit
UAE: Watania grows 193% in 2013
Diary of events
People on the move
COUNTRY PROFILE
Last year was an exceptional one for Saudi Arabia's insurance market, which recorded unprecedented losses of SAR1.3 billion (US$347 million). Underlying the figures, however, are major market developments which are testing the survival of and strengthening various operators.
SPECIAL FEATURE
Lloyd's recently announced plan to set up in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) marked a great start to 2014 for the UAE insurance market. However, there may be difficulties which Lloyd's will encounter in pursuing this new venture, says...
INTERVIEWS
Following a reorganisation, Zurich's general insurance business expects to see "high double-digit growth" in the Middle East this year, says regional CEO Brian Reilly.
Mr David Austin of Visionary Underwriting Agency, the man to watch out for, looks at the DIFC's development as the new insurance capital of the Middle East, and what that means for the players in the market.
Buy Now
Mr Ronny Vellekoop of Marsh discusses the opportunities for captive utilisation across various sectors, as well as the unique features of Shariah-compliant captives.
Dr Paul Wöhrmann and Ms Adriana Scherzinger of Zurich Insurance Company look at the advantage of using reinsurance captives for businesses in the Middle East.
Last year was an exceptional one for Saudi Arabia's insurance market, which recorded unprecedented losses of SAR1.3 billion (US$347 million). Underlying the figures, however, are major market developments which are testing the survival of and...
Construction projects are on the rise in Saudi Arabia, but soft market conditions caused by absence of major NAT CATs and plentiful capacity are putting pressure on underwriters, says Mr Sanjeev Badyal of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty.
Evolving regulations, growing awareness and increasing corporate governance are boosting the demand for financial lines insurance in Saudi Arabia, says Mr Osama Abu Ghazaleh of ACE Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers.
Ms Cynthia Corby of Deloitte Middle East looks at the risks surrounding construction projects in the UAE and highlights the opportunities for the insurance sector.
Along with the many civil engineering projects awarded are changing insurance requirements, in particular to professional indemnity insurance (PII). Messrs Tony Meakin and Michael Earp of Aon provide the insights.
Construction has been emblematic of the Middle East's prospects, vigour, and travails. With parts of the region booming again, new risks demand more comprehensive insurance cover - and the industry is already rising to the occasion, says Mr John...
The 8th Multaqa Qatar last month was an overwhelming success, attracting some 700 senior insurance industry figures from the MENA region and abroad. Dr Kai-Uwe Schanz, Chairman of the Conference hosted by QFCA and QCB, brings the highlights.
Operators must step out of their comfort zones and explore rapid growth markets which will provide the best prospects, says Mr Brandon Bruce Sta Maria in a summary of EY's Global Takaful Insights 2013 report.
Takaful has a long way to go and operators should keep track of their customers' changing needs, besides adhering to the principles of mutuality and Shariah law, said speakers at this year's International Takaful Summit.
Jointly organised in Khartoum by three global groupings - GTG, ICMIF and IFTI - the 2nd Takaful Seminar highlighted the need for authenticity and strict compliance with Islamic insurance principles while seeking progress in takaful.
The annual International Takaful Awards, held on the sidelines of the International Takaful Summit, once again recognised the achievements of companies and individuals that have made significant contributions and demonstrated leadership in takaful...
The 2nd SAARC Insurance Regulators' Meet & International Conference this month in Karachi expects to draw some 500 delegates from South Asia.
The MENA Insurance CEO Club (MICC) has welcomed Mr Mohamed Larbi Nali, CEO of Société Centrale de Réassurance (SCR) of Morocco, as its new member, bringing the total to 18.
Mr Zein Hawwari, an R&D Analyst with Arab Re, has emerged as the winner of the inaugural Multaqa Qatar essay competition, with his essay on the role of regulators.
ACE Group has established a new business region, Eurasia & Africa, as part of its Overseas General division.
Germany's Allianz has started to pay compensations for the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370.
Growth in issue volumes in the Gulf's capital markets in 2014 will likely be steady compared to the 2013 rate, although low yields could ultimately push up issuance, said a report by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P).
Brunei will introduce new guidelines for its takaful sector by June to standardise the way agents are managed by firms, reported Reuters.
Kenya's financial regulator has proposed a separate regulatory framework for Islamic financial institutions as part of a 10-year strategy to boost capital markets.