From Editor-in-chief

Ilaf Takaful - A new brand with dynamic changes

Aggressive reforms of sales, underwriting, financial, claims controls and other processes are putting Kuwait's Ilaf Takaful Insurance Co - previously known as Al Safat Takaful - on the right track, says Mr Chris Steve Tragakis, General Manager.

A new chapter for Hansard

London-listed Hansard Global is looking to do more in the Middle East, one of the markets central to its revamped strategy, says Mr Graham Morrall, Global Sales & Marketing Director.Hansard Global is looking to raise its profile and heat up...

Returning to profits

Constant regulatory action and developments in liability insurance are among the main drivers of growth in Turkey's insurance market, which turned around to be profitable last year. Mrs Burcu Ayten of Milli Re looks at why the market is still a...

Strong growth, risky business

Despite the good results and strong growth prospects in Turkey's life and general sectors, there are still several impeding factors says Ms Clara Hughes of Fitch Ratings.

Life and pensions - A slower pace of growth

Growth may slow despite increased M&A activity this year, says Ms Evrim Koksal Arkut of Towers Watson.

Talent search - The secret weapon in the battle for talent

Companies need to understand the emotional drivers behind employer branding and their role in attracting and retaining talent, say Drs Sven Rohte and Nawal Khaled of the National Health Insurance Company - Daman.

Bancassurance - Managing risks in bancassurance

Mr Shyam Sankar of RAK Insurance looks at key risks affecting the bancassurance model, and suggests the steps needed to manage these risks.

NAT CATS - Enhancing CAT modelling in MENA

Ms Victoria Jenkins of Guy Carpenter assesses the ways to improve risk quantification and reduce uncertainty in catastrophe modelling for the MENA region.

London market - Next stop - emerging markets

With future business growth likely to come from emerging economies, there needs to be open access to global reinsurance markets and improvements in the regulatory environment, says Mr Dave Matcham of the International Underwriting Association.

Advancing the takaful movement

Notable developments are taking place in key takaful markets in the Middle East and Asia, especially on the regulatory front, which could potentially alter the takaful landscape. We look at some of these market-moving changes.

Pensions, the Islamic way

Mr Mohammad Ali Makani of FWU Global Takaful Solutions examines the growing need and demand for Islamic pensions and retirement schemes, and the ways of funding them.

Pensions - Shariah-compliant annuities - A possible solution

Mr Zainal Abidin Mohd Kassim of Actuarial Partners Consulting looks at the four building blocks to structure a Shariah-compliant annuity scheme.

Pensions - Addressing the needs of the ageing

Sheikh Faizal A Manjoo of Markfield Institute of Higher Education suggests ways of making pensions Shariah compliant.

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.

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.

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...

US$55 mln capacity for first African CAT pool

The African Risk Capacity Insurance Company (ARC) has launched the first-ever African CAT insurance pool, underpinned by US$55 million of index-based reinsurance capacity from international weather risk markets secured by Willis.

Device launched to mitigate electronic losses

Stasis, a provider of scientific and technological products for the disaster recovery and insurance industries, has launched an electronic loss mitigation device to protect equipment from corrosion and help insurers save billions of dollars.

Malaysia: AmMetLife Takaful brand launched

The AmMetLife Takaful and AmMetLife brands have been unveiled following the completion of the partnership between AMMB Holdings Berhad's (AmBank Group's) wholly owned subsidiary, AMAB Holdings Sdn Bhd and MetLife, Inc's wholly owned subsidiary,...

Malaysia: Takaful Malaysia to pay 40% dividend

Takaful Malaysia has announced a final single-tier dividend of 40% for its financial year ended 31 December 2013.

Morocco: Bill submitted, paving way for takaful

The Ministry of Finance and Economy has submitted a bill authorising the creation of Islamic insurers, which could see takaful launched in the country by the end of this year.

Global: Lack of integration keeps sukuk a local affair - S&P

Of the US$117 billion in sukuk issued in 2013, only 16% was truly "international" or listed on major exchanges, said a report by Standard & Poor's Rating Services (S&P).

Jordan: JOIF holds training in PA and medical insurance

Jordan Insurance Federation (JOIF) has concluded a personal accident and medical insurance training course, accredited by the German Jordan University (GJU) for Arab insurance professionals.

Diary of events

People on the move