Magazine

Read the latest edition of AIR and MEIR as an Interactive e-book

Jun 2014

News


MENA & GCC: GAIF Conference attendees surpass 700

Registered delegates at the upcoming General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF) Conference in Egypt have crossed the 700 mark, said organisers.

Buy Now


MENA & GCC: Gulf-based investors have higher risk appetite - Natixis

Gulf-based individual investors surveyed in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait are the world's most risk-tolerant, said Natixis Global Asset Management in a survey.

Buy Now


MENA & GCC: Brokers team up to serve MENA region

CCW Global, a Hong Kong-headquartered insurance broker, has partnered with Topsurance.com, a division of Dubai-based Millennium Insurance Brokers, to help its MENA customers receive local advice and services on their UAE health insurance and global life insurance products.

Buy Now


Middle East: Business continuity management essential to deal with risks

The increasing dependence on technology and the current state of political instability in the Middle East have made institutions in the region highly vulnerable to new and emerging threats, and it is no longer sufficient to rely on an emergency response plan or a small disaster management committee to deal with crises, said management consultancy Ventures Middle East.

Buy Now


Algeria: Premiums up 15% in 2013

Algeria's insurance market reported premiums of DZD113.9 billion (US$1.5 billion) for 2013, 15% higher than in 2012, according to data from the National Insurance Council (NIC).

Buy Now


Bahrain: 3 in 4 employees not saving enough - Takaud

A recent survey in Bahrain by Takaud, a specialist savings and pensions solutions provider, has found that 75% of those surveyed were failing to save enough to support themselves and their families in their later years.

Buy Now


Bahrain: War risk syndicate reports record profit

Bahrain-based Arab War Risk Insurance Syndicate (AWRIS) has reported its highest profitability since its inception, announcing profits of US$19 million for 2013.

Buy Now


Bahrain: LIC Int'l eyes 20% growth in policies

Bahrain-based LIC (International) is targeting a 20% growth in policy issuance this year, said Chairman S K Roy.

Buy Now


Iraq: Kurdistan to make motor cover mandatory

The local government in the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan Region has prepared a draft law to make motor insurance mandatory for all drivers, who would be covered for injury and damage claims.

Buy Now


Lebanon: Consumer confidence hits demand for life covers

A record 95% of Lebanese consumers polled said they did not wish to buy life insurance in 2013, according to a report published by Byblos Bank in cooperation with American University of Beirut (AUB).

Buy Now


Morocco: Microinsurance potential estimated at 6 mln people

The microinsurance market in Morocco has a potential customer base of at least six million people who, when targeted, could increase the country's insurance penetration rate, according to an industry expert.

Buy Now


Morocco: Gras Savoye expands network

The Moroccan operation of French insurance broker Gras Savoye has opened a fourth office in the country, with three more offices planned by 2015.

Buy Now


Oman: Premiums up 9% in 1Q

Robust growth in demand for medical insurance contributed to a 9% increase in total gross premiums in Oman's insurance sector to OMR114.6 million (US$298.1 million) for the first quarter of 2014, compared to OMR105.2 million for the corresponding period of last year.

Buy Now


Regional statistical centre launched in Oman

The statistics community in the Middle East has been boosted with the launch of a statistical centre, GCC-Stat, to serve as the official provider of national statistics and other data for the six GCC member states.

Buy Now


Oman: Lawmakers propose fund for hit-and-run accident victims

Members of Oman's Majlis Al Shura or lower legislative house have proposed several changes to the country's insurance laws, including a fund for hit-and-run accident victims.

Buy Now


Qatar: Good profitability and growth prospects for P&C insurers - S&P

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P) said it expects Qatar's growth prospects to remain favourable for its P&C insurance sector, which carries an intermediate industry and country risk assessment.

Buy Now


Qatar: Rail and airport projects awarded to local insurers

Qatar Rail - which is building the country's integrated railway network - has awarded the single project tunnelling and rail construction contract to a six-member consortium of national insurance companies led by Qatar Insurance Company (QIC).

Buy Now


Qatar: Q-Re rebranded as Qatar Re

Q-Re said it has changed its legal name to Qatar Reinsurance Company, and will trade as Qatar Re, going forward.

Buy Now


Tunisia: Nigerian reinsurer opens regional office in Tunis

Nigeria-based Continental Reinsurance has opened a regional office in Tunisia, as part of its regional expansion programme. The opening is coupled with the introduction of Continental Reinsurance's takaful offering, which will serve clients and partners from Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Buy Now


Tunisia: Regulator approves AMI Assurances' share issue

Tunisia's financial sector regulator, the Financial Market Council, has given the green light for AMI Assurances to issue a prospectus for a share issue in conjunction with the non-life cooperative changing its status to that of a limited company.

Buy Now


UAE: XL Group's reinsurance operations open in Dubai

XL Group's reinsurance segment has established new operations in Dubai to serve the MENA market and act as a regional hub for the business.

Buy Now


UAE: Oman Insurance offers travel insurance with terrorism cover

Oman Insurance Company (OIC) has launched a travel insurance product which includes war and terrorism cover, making it one of the first insurers in the UAE to do so. Typically, war and terrorism cover is excluded from travel and personal accident insurance products.

Buy Now


UAE: 4 in 5 pedestrians in Dubai need road safety education

Over 80% of pedestrians in Dubai are ignorant about how to cross a road safely, according to a senior Dubai Police official, as the police and the Labour Ministry launch a road safety campaign targeted mainly at the thousands of migrant labourers in the emirate where the number of jaywalking offences is surging.

Buy Now


Yemen: United Insurance increases capital

United Insurance Company (UIC) said it will raise its capital to YER1.5 billion (US$7 million), up from YER1 billion, making it the largest capitalised insurer in the country.

Buy Now