From Editor-in-Chief

Concerted efforts to expand: Al Hilal Takaful

Al Hilal Takaful is bucking the trend by reducing its overall share in the medical insurance sector under its five-year plan whilst increasing its share in the general insurance sector. CEO Amer Daya explains. By Cynthia Ang

Positives push market forward

Credit positives such as new regulations are providing a solid backdrop to Oman's small but growing market, although natural catastrophes are more of a threat than in other GCC markets, says Mr Mohammed Ali Riyazuddin Londe of Moody's.

Interview with regulator - Restructuring the insurance market

Mr Ahmed Al Mamari, Director General, Directorate of Insurance Supervision with the Capital Market Authority (CMA), gives his perspective on the challenges facing Oman's insurance market and the measures being taken to shape its future.

Healthcare: Finding remedies for health

Rapid changes in healthcare are bringing unprecedented benefits and opportunities, but stakeholders need to align their business operations with changing market needs to thrive in the competitive market, said speakers at 8th Middle East Healthcare...

Healthcare: Underwriting shisha

Shisha - the practice of smoking tobacco or non-tobacco alternatives in waterpipes - is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Mr Devesh Anand of RGA Reinsurance Company Middle East Limited looks into the health risks of shisha and the...

Healthcare: Going social in health insurance

How can health insurers in the MENA region take advantage of social media and its mass appeal? Ms Amal Al-Kalla of National Health Insurance Company - Qatar lists the ways.

Personal lines: Personal lines for the high net worth

Mr Peter Ellen of Nexus Group provides insights on the different factors to consider when tailoring insurance products and services to meet the needs of high-net-worth individuals, and the challenges of approaching this segment.

Distribution: A market ripe for new distribution approaches

As the insurance market across the Middle East continues to grow, sustainable and product-differentiated partnership and distribution strategies that offer the ability to effectively balance price and profit will become more important, says Mr Mike...

Distribution: A bankable future for bancassurance in the GCC

Mr Amol Shah of First Gulf Bank discusses the forces shaping the distribution landscape in the GCC and the strategies needed to succeed in bancassurance.

Regulation: Regulatory prudence: How much is too much?

Regulators and insurance experts were cautiously optimistic about the industry's outlook as they gathered at this year's International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) Annual Conference in Amsterdam to discuss enhancing policyholder...

Takaful rendezvous: Takaful aspires towards greater goals

The Malaysian Takaful Association and Asia Insurance Review recently co-hosted The Takaful Rendezvous 2014 as takaful operators converged in Kuala Lumpur to renew ties and find new ways to further industry growth.

MENA & GCC: MENA Insurance CEO Club has key role to play - DFSA

The exclusive MENA Insurance CEO Club (MICC), with members comprising leaders from several markets in the region, is an influential group with a key role to play, and its inputs will be taken seriously, said Mr Ian Johnston, Chief Executive of the...

MENA & GCC: ERM catching on in MENA

Enterprise risk management (ERM) is becoming more important, especially with insurance companies' expenditures increasing and investment returns dropping, said Mr Fareed Lutfi, Secretary General of the Emirates Insurance Association (EIA) at a...

MENA: Diabetes growing rapidly in region

Seven of the world's top 20 countries with prevalence of diabetes are in the MENA region with the Gulf states leading in the statistics, according to a new research report released in conjunction with World Diabetes Day.

Consumers across the world trust insurers less than banks - EY survey

The level of consumer trust in insurance companies is lagging at just 70%, compared to 82% for banks, largely because of the low frequency of contact insurers have with their customers, said EY in a survey.

Bangladesh: Prime Islami Life sees 21% jump in 9M profits

Prime Islami Life Insurance Limited (PILIL) has recorded BDT397.7 million (US$5.1 million) in profits, dividends and rents for the nine months ended 30 September, up 21% y-o-y, said the company.

Malaysia: Contributions to hit US$3 bln in 2014

Takaful contributions in Malaysia are expected to hit US$3.02 billion in 2014 from $2.44 billion in 2013, said Mr Zainudin Ishak, Chairman of the Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA).

Pakistan: Conventional life players line up to enter takaful space

Jubilee Life and Adamjee Life, ranked among Pakistan's largest private-sector life insurers, are the latest in a growing line of conventional players to announce plans to set up takaful windows, reported the Express Tribune.

AIG partners with Cobalt Underwriting

AIG is teaming up with Cobalt Underwriting to market Shariah-compliant commercial insurance across a broad range of risks worldwide.

AAOIFI issues new standards

The Bahrain-based Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) has issued two new Shariah standards, revised three others and said it will review at least five more in the coming months.

JOIF dinner raises profile of marine conference

Jordan Insurance Federation (JOIF) hosted a dinner at the Ritz Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre last October as part of its ongoing preparations for the 5th International Conference on Insurance & Marine Transportation, which will take...

RGA hosts CEO dinner in Dubai

RGA hosted its annual CEO dinner in Dubai recently, attended by over 30 CEOs of leading insurance companies in the region.

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