From Editor-in-chief

SCR seeks bigger regional role

Société Centrale de Réassurance (SCR) is well-positioned to continue as a leading reinsurer in Morocco, and looks to expand in Africa and the Middle East, says CEO Mohamed Larbi Nali.

Prospecting for life: Banking on life insurance

For bancassurance to contribute to the growth of life insurance in the Middle East region, there needs to be proper customer segmentation and an effective distribution strategy, says Mr Shyam Sankar of RAK Insurance.

Prospecting for life: The outlook for life

Mr Matthew Waterfield of Friends Provident International looks at how the life industry has evolved over the 10 years it has been in the market and what the future may hold for the next 10 years and beyond.

10th MEIF: 10 years on and going strong

The Middle East Insurance Forum (MEIF) celebrates its 10th anniversary of gathering decision makers from around the region and the world to discuss ways of unlocking new growth opportunities in the regional insurance markets. As leaders convene in...

10th MEIF: Work in progress towards a robust market

Regional trends spell good opportunities for MENA insurers, but more needs to be done to overcome the hurdles to prepare for the next stage of growth. MICC CEOs give their takes.

Regaining the momentum

While overall premium growth has yet to recover to pre-crisis levels, Bahrain's insurance market is revving up and regaining its momentum, with takaful giving a much-needed fillip. We assess the trends.

Interview with regulator - Building a sound framework for growth

Strong economic fundamentals and a developed regulatory infrastructure have underpinned Bahrain's growth and maturity as an insurance market. In an interview with Middle East Insurance Review, Mr Abdul Rahman Al Baker, Executive Director - Financial...

Trade credit: Making credit insurance work for you

Mr George Wilson of Halliburton evaluates credit insurance as a tool to access trade finance and looks at how the challenges in obtaining such coverage can be overcome.

Trade credit: GCC: A market ripe for credit covers

The GCC is very under-penetrated in terms of trade credit insurance, but has great potential to expand. Mr Massimo Falcioni of Euler Hermes examines the key growth drivers.

Business interruption: Filling the gaps in business interruption

With globalisation, the insurance industry increasingly needs to fill the gaps in traditional business interruption cover and provide coverage that addresses supply chain exposure, says Mr Hassan A Karim of Zurich Global Corporate.

ERM in the Middle East - Moving beyond compliance

Messrs Safder Jaffer and Mark Stephens of Milliman show the way for companies to move beyond box-ticking and derive greater value from their enterprise risk management (ERM) initiatives.

Bahrain: An enabling environment

Bahrain is moving full speed ahead to create a strand of regulatory reforms to build an enabling business environment for institutions offering Islamic finance and takaful solutions. Dr Hatim El-Tahir of Deloitte & Touche looks at the effects of...

Distribution: Enhancing channels for family takaful success

Family takaful operators need to take a holistic approach in enhancing and establishing channels that suit the nature of their products, says Mr John Bell of ACR ReTakaful Berhad.

MENA & GCC: MetLife and Citigroup sign 10-year deal in 15 markets

MetLife and Citigroup have entered into a 10-year distribution agreement that will allow MetLife to provide credit insurance products to Citi clients across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America through 2025.

MENA & GCC: Concerns about long-term impact of Arab Spring easing

Across the Middle East and Africa region, fears about the long-term impact of the events of the Arab Spring of 2011 appear to be receding, with concern about political/ social upheaval not as prominent as a year ago, the third annual Allianz Risk...

GCC: GDP to surge with World Expo and World Cup

GCC countries are expected to see significant economic growth following Dubai's successful bid for the World Expo late last year, and the World Cup tournament to be held in Qatar in 2022.

US$45-bln bill from 2013 Nat CATs - Impact Forecasting

Insured losses from natural disasters last year totalled US$45 billion, the lowest since 2009 and 22% below the 10-year average of $58 billion, said Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield's catastrophe model development centre.

Alternative funds impacting reinsurance, but not in EMEA - Guy Carpenter

The influence of alternative reinsurance capital grew in 2013, with new inflows of third-party reinsurance capital during the year at about US$10 billion, according to data released by Guy Carpenter.

MENA: Gulf sukuk issuance to pick up in 2014

Bank of London and The Middle East (BLME) expects sukuk issuance to pick up in the Gulf this year as companies refinance maturing debt in a strong economic climate, Reuters quoted its CEO as saying.

Bahrain: CBB issues guideline on sukuk issuance

The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has issued guidance on the issuance of securities and sukuk in the country, aimed at enhancing the Kingdom's capital market.

Egypt: Regulator to do away with sukuk law

Islamic bonds will be treated like other securities and regulated accordingly, a move which does away with the sukuk law passed by ousted President Mohamed Morsi last year.

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