Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, continues to solidify its position as a global (re)insurance hub, with gross written premiums reaching $4.2bn in 2025, an increase of 20% year-on-year.
Since 2022, underwriting volumes have doubled, underscoring the sector’s sustained progress and DIFC’s role as a booking, structuring, and underwriting hub, according to a DIFC statement. Additionally, premiums brokered from the financial centre crossed $3.4bn in 2025, up by 14% from $3bn in 2024, reflecting the growing scale and maturity of the ecosystem, affirming DIFC’s role as the region’s leading platform for global risk transfer and specialist underwriting.
Growth in property and liability lines has been a key driver of this exceptional performance, supported by other lines such as marine, aviation and transport, amongst others. The sector has witnessed significant growth from the MEASA region as well as other markets, underscoring the DIFC’s ability to access (re)insurance opportunities globally. Today, more than 135 insurance and reinsurance firms operate out of the Centre, supporting underwriting, broking, captive management and specialist risk-transfer activities across the MEASA region and further afield.
During 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, 28 new insurance-related firms were authorised, representing significant growth in the ecosystem. These included Allianz Trade Middle East, Atradius Trade Credit (Re)Insurance (DIFC), BMS (DIFC), Howden Reinsurance Brokers (DIFC Branch), Manulife Middle East, QIC (DIFC), Ryan Specialty (DIFC), Sun Life (DIFC), and Transamerica Life (Bermuda).
In parallel, several global insurance players are growing their DIFC presence, reflecting confidence in the Centre as a long-term base. The firms deepening their footprint in the Centre include Gallagher Re, Manulife Middle East, Markel International Dubai, and MENA Re Underwriters.
As the region’s only financial centre operating at scale across all financial services, DIFC is uniquely positioned to support the continued development of the global insurance and reinsurance industry, offering regulatory clarity, predictability, professionalism and an environment that fosters innovation.