New chapters opening up
News Snippets
Iran-US peace talks stir hope for regional renewal, but insurers assert confidence must be rebuilt
Insurers count cost of damage and trapping risks in Persian Gulf
GAIF Sec-Gen outlines economic and insurance possibilities in the GCC and beyond
Iran-US MoU: Implications for insurance and regional stability
Marine war risk normalisation to be gradual despite MoU
MoU a positive step, but uncertainty will remain in weeks and months ahead
New marine war risk insurance launched at Lloyd's for Strait of Hormuz shipping
UAE: War risks cloud UAE economic outlook despite Iran-US peace MoU
What business continuity really means when disruption is constant
Morocco
Moroccan insurers adapt to roles beyond mere compensation as risks evolve
Morocco's life insurance paradox: growth driven by savings, lagging in protection
Both the past and future are driving the non-life market in Morocco
Health
Future of individual medical insurance in MENA lies in personalisation, prevention and affordability
Cyber insurance uptake rises as ME firms strengthen risk management
Cyber coverage conversations in the boardroom have moved beyond just protection
Three shifts that are redefining how organisations must think about cyber protection
Touchless claims and instant payouts: innovations on the motor insurance wishlist
AIO 2026: African insurance leaders convene in Cairo to drive market integration and digital innovation
Turkiye's insurance association positions industry for growth and resilience
New Islamic insurer aims to shape Tanzania's takaful future
Central bank's directions offer additional grievance redressal forum in bancasssurance misselling
Egypt's Unified Insurance Law spells new players and market growth
MENA
GCC: Strong start to 2026 for listed insurers despite regional tensions
Algeria: UNDP to strengthen inclusive insurance capacity
Egypt: Insurance market rakes in total premiums of US$2.5bn in 2025
Oman: Insurers to maintain minimum EV insurance share in motor portfolios
Morocco: Insurance law reforms aim to accelerate digitalisation and enhance consumer protection
Saudi Arabia: Motor is still in recovery with medical leading the charge in 1Q
Tunisia: Insurance market grows by 10.5% in 1Q2026
Turkiye: Government to introduce eldercare insurance scheme
UAE: Comprehensive auto insurance keeps pace with demand and technology
Global
FIFA World Cup 2026 poses people risk challenge for insurers
Designing EVs for insurability
Agricultural insurance must expand beyond farmers
Takaful
Algeria: Alliance Assurances starts takaful window operations
Azerbaijan: First takaful ecosystem launched
Kuwait: Kuwait International Takaful assigned ratings on balance sheet strength and adequate operating results
IFSB outlines key regulatory priorities to resolve takaful's structural weaknesses
Malaysia: Takaful association unveils 3 strategic priorities to navigate cautious 2026 outlook
Malaysia: Takaful IKHLAS records continued progress
Qatar Development Bank and Italy's SACE ink milestone Shariah-compliant reinsurance agreement
Saudi Arabia: ICIEC reports stellar 2025 results as insured business surges by 38% to US$17.8bn
Products and alliances
People on the move
INSURANCE - Health
CYBER
With cyber crime becoming highly industrialised and AI enabling threat actors to scale phishing and impersonation, boardroom conversations are no longer about whether controls are in place, QBE’s Ms Sarah Hamlat told Middle East Insurance...
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NOTEBOOK
The Insurance Association of Turkiye (TSB) has unveiled its landmark “Turkish Insurance and Pension Sector Position Paper”, outlining a strategic roadmap designed to fundamentally transform the insurance industry. By the year 2030, the...
MetLife Gulf’s Messrs Elias El Azzi and Fazal Rabbi tell Middle East Insurance Review how customisable and digital-first health insurance is helping the sector transition from rigid, price-led purchasing to meaningful, lifelong wellness...
Has the Iran-US war come to an end? Despite the signing of a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal, uncertainty prevails as negotiations continue to address the underlying causes of the conflict and lay the groundwork for a lasting peace...
In News Snippets, Middle East Insurance Review provides a roundup of news on the Iran war, centring on developments since the announcement on 14 June 2026 of the US and Iran agreeing on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a peace deal.
The conflict in the Middle East and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz have resulted in significant damage to vessels, cargo and port infrastructure in the region, says Allianz Commercial.
Mr Chakib Abouzaid, the Secretary-General of the General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF), made a statement on 16 June soon after Iran and the US reached agreement on the MoU to end the Middle East war.
Driven by a stellar first quarter in 2026 and a decade of doubling revenues, Morocco’s insurance market is transitioning from mere claims compensation to promoting economic resilience. However, the industry must still address low penetration...
Morocco’s life insurance market continues to grow on the back of savings products and bancassurance, but industry leaders say closing the protection gap, strengthening retirement preparedness and managing solvency reforms will be crucial to...
Even as preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup trigger substantial demand for construction and engineering insurance in Morocco, the devastating 2023 Al Haouz earthquake has sparked a pivotal shift toward parametric coverage, moving the product...
While rising cyber threats are pushing Middle East businesses to rapidly adopt cyber insurance, a fiercely competitive insurance market is benefiting buyers with broader coverage, reduced premiums, and abundant capacity.
Digital risk has changed, shifting accountability from the IT department to the board. This article explores the three critical transitions redefining resilience in 2026—from technology investment to practical cyber hygiene, compliance to...
At the 52nd African Insurance Organisation (AIO) General Conference in Cairo, industry leaders mapped out a bold agenda to transition from traditional cooperation to a deeply integrated, tech-driven continental market, even as host nation Egypt...
In Africa, demand is increasing for Shariah-compliant financial solutions, including takaful, fuelled by the substantial Muslim population and the ethical nature of these products, says Mr Tarek A. Hayel Saeed, Chairman of Al Barakah Takaful...
With the notification of Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Responsible Business Conduct) Second Amendment Directions, 2026, bancassurance customers now get an additional grievance redressal forum. Now it is no longer “Buyer...
In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Middle East Insurance Review, we bring you retrospective stories highlighting, each month, a momentous event from the past two decades that has shaped the MENA risk landscape. In our seventh retrospective...
GCC insurers entered the ongoing regional geopolitical escalation from a position of relative strength, with 1Q2026 results continuing to reflect strong premium growth and profitability across most markets, according to a report by research and...
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Algerian Institute of Higher Financial Studies (IAHEF) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening national capacities in the field of inclusive insurance in Algeria.
The insurance industry in Egypt achieved strong growth in 2025, supported by the implementation of the Unified Insurance Law of 2024 and the expansion of the customer base, reflecting the growing role of the sector in supporting financial stability...