12^th Middle East Insurance Industry Awards 2025

HAYAH Insurance Company has established itself as a transformative force in the MENA region's life insurance sector. Following its 2022 rebranding from AXA Green Crescent, the company has achieved remarkable growth while maintaining its commitment to digital-first, customer-centric insurance solutions.

The company has demonstrated impressive market expansion, serving 4,466 individual life clients and 471 group life clients as of mid-2025, with year-over-year growth of 33% for individual policies and 17% for group coverage. HAYAH has generated AED69m ($18.7m) in total premiums written by July 2025, while maintaining an exceptional 92% retention rate for group life insurance. Its flagship product, Your Employee Protect, serves nearly 500 corporate clients, including major banks and family conglomerates.

HAYAH's technological innovation distinguishes it from competitors. The company's AI-powered underwriting engine delivers on-the-spot decisions for 76% of applications, dramatically reducing the industry-standard 3-7 day waiting period. Individual policies are issued in under three minutes, while group life onboarding takes just 15 minutes, setting new regional benchmarks for efficiency.

Operating with fewer than 50 employees, HAYAH competes effectively with insurers five times its size through technological agility and in-house expertise. The company retains a significant portion of underwriting risk internally, demonstrating confidence in its technical capabilities and building client trust.

HAYAH's commitment to inclusivity is reflected in pricing models that are agnostic to gender, age, nationality, and religion. Its Simple Life plan, starting at AED7 per month—less than the cost of three coffees annually—requires no medical checks, making life protection accessible to the UAE's diverse population.

Strategic partnerships amplify HAYAH's market reach, including collaborations with digital aggregators like Policybazaar and Shory, and global brokers including Aon, Marsh, and Willis. The company serves as the exclusive life provider with International Group Program in the region.

GIG Jordan has established itself as Jordan's most prominent insurer, maintaining market leadership for two decades through consistent growth, innovation, and financial excellence. In 2024, the company secured a commanding 16% market share while achieving 56% growth from 2018 to 2024—nearly double the overall market growth rate of 29%.

The company's financial performance stands out significantly, contributing 27% of total market profits while maintaining a combined ratio below 90%. GIG Jordan achieved a 19.15% RoE, 7% RoI, and a remarkable 246% increase in shareholder equity since 2017. GWP reached $178m in 2024, representing 10.8% growth, while net profit after tax rose to $14.2m.

GIG Jordan dominates multiple insurance segments, holding 27.7% of the medical insurance market and 12.1% of motor insurance. Despite entering life insurance only in 2021, the company has rapidly climbed to seventh position in that segment, demonstrating exceptional market agility.

Digital innovation distinguishes GIG Jordan's market approach. The company won the Fairfax 2022 Innovation Award for "GIG AutoParts," a pioneering digital motor claims platform. It launched Jordan's first fully in-house digital medical insurance solution, integrating onboarding, quotations, underwriting, e-consultations, and claims processing. The company's "Yalla GIG" loyalty programme represents Jordan's first comprehensive tech-driven rewards platform for insurance customers.

Strategic partnerships amplify GIG Jordan's impact, notably its collaboration with ZAIN Jordan creating the country's first telecom-operated InsurTech platform. This transformative initiative revolutionised digital insurance distribution across Jordan.

As part of GIG Group and backed by Fairfax Financial Holdings, GIG Jordan plays an increasingly strategic regional role, accounting for 6% of group premiums and 13.7% of profits in 2024, rising to 17.7% in 1Q2025.

Cigna Healthcare Middle East and Africa achieved exceptional performance in 2024, delivering 28% growth in top-line revenue and a remarkable 233% increase in earnings while maintaining strong client satisfaction across all product and service lines. This growth reflected strategic regional expansion, product transformation, and a sustained commitment to connected, purpose-led care experiences.

A significant leadership milestone occurred with Leah Cotterill's appointment as CEO for Cigna Healthcare MEA (excluding KSA), becoming the first woman to lead an international health insurer in the UAE. This appointment reinforced the organisation's focus on inclusive leadership and strengthened regional alignment.

SmartCare by Cigna, the UAE's first open-access health insurance solution launched in 2021, underwent comprehensive optimisation in 2024. The reimagined product features enhanced portfolio-level analytics, improved claims adjudication, and a substantially upgraded digital experience through the SmartCare app. Key features include UAE Pass integration, smart provider search, appointment booking, in-app claims submission, and telehealth consultations with e-prescriptions.

In Saudi Arabia, Cigna Insurance launched ClassicCare, a locally-tailored healthcare plan reflecting regulatory excellence and deep market understanding. The Saudi operation expanded to 71 team members, relocated to a state-of-the-art Riyadh facility, acquired 65 new clients, and renewed over 160 clients while maintaining a persistence rate above 90%. This growth aligns with Saudi Vision 2030's private sector development goals.

Africa witnessed transformative growth as Cigna shifted from commercial support to full-service healthcare operations. The regional team expanded from 85 to 408 employees, now anchored in Kenya and serving the continent from within. The operation expanded to 10 local insurance partners and launched localised claims, customer support, and clinical services, with a workforce representing over 60 languages.

Community engagement remained central to Cigna's mission. The Cigna Run & Fitness series attracted over 12,000 registrations across the UAE, while Connect for Health webinars provided free expert-led health education throughout the year. The Employee Benefits Plan roadshow in Dubai reached over 800 low-income and blue-collar workers, providing wellness checks, medical consultations, and multilingual support to enhance benefit literacy and healthcare access.

The 2024 Cigna International Health Study, launched in UAE and Kenya, provided detailed insights into employee well-being across five domains, informing strategic discussions with CEO and HR leaders throughout the region and positioning employee health as a strategic organisational lever.

Nas Neuron Health Services (NNHS) has established itself as one of the UAE's most forward-thinking third-party administrators since the landmark merger of NAS and Neuron in 2019. In June 2025, the company achieved a historic milestone of reaching 2m members, serving over 50 payers, 200 brokers, and 17 reinsurers whilst maintaining operational excellence and driving improved health outcomes.

The company demonstrated exceptional operational performance, processing and paying over AED5.85bn ($1.6bn) in claims during 2024, issuing more than 12m approvals across inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy services, and handling over 20m direct billing and reimbursement transactions. NNHS maintained a 100% client renewal rate and an 85%+ persistency ratio across its portfolio, with major clients including DEWA, Gems Education, RAK Bank, Landmark Group, Etisalat, Du, and Damac.

Customer satisfaction reached impressive levels, with NNHS achieving 89.3% C-SAT and 61.1% NPS year-to-date, placing the company in the top 10% of the industry. The organisation received over 110 documented appreciations from members, clients, and brokers, reflecting strong stakeholder trust.

Technological innovation distinguished NNHS's approach. The company integrated its first AI large language model for policy onboarding and configuration, upgraded rule engines for faster adjudication, and implemented UAE Pass and Multi-Factor Authentication. Enhanced reimbursement workflows resulted in a 25% improvement in handling time, whilst multiple aggregator and broker integrations significantly reduced onboarding turnaround time.

In 1Q2025, NNHS unveiled a comprehensive post-merger visual rebranding, creating a unified premium brand identity that received overwhelmingly positive market feedback. This transformation strengthened both external perception and internal unity.

The company's commitment to excellence extended to its workforce, achieving Great Place to Work certification in December 2024. NNHS grew its workforce by over 10%, invested over 8,800 hours in learning and development, and embraced diversity with 33 nationalities represented and a 48% female workforce whilst surpassing national Emiratisation targets.

NNHS achieved ISO 27001:2022 and ISO 22301:2019 certifications in January 2025, demonstrating robust governance and security frameworks. The company's wellness programmes created measurable impact, hosting over 450 events in 2024 that reached 35,000+ lives, including exclusive partnerships with key government entities such as The Executive Council of Dubai.

Qatar Islamic Insurance Group: Leading Takaful Innovation and Market Excellence.

Qatar Islamic Insurance Group (QIIG) has established itself as a pioneering force in the takaful industry, celebrating over 31 years as Qatar's first takaful company. The organisation's legacy has shaped the market, paving the way for six competitors who followed its lead, whilst maintaining its position as the benchmark for shariah-compliant insurance in the region.

The company leads the takaful sector in Qatar with approximately 29% market share, ranking amongst the best in the nation and broader region for insurance revenue and net profit. In 2024, GWP reached QAR551m ($151m), whilst combined equity grew to QAR708m ($194m).

The company's unwavering commitment to shariah principles is evidenced by its continuous distribution of surplus to policyholders since its first year of operation, with total declared surplus exceeding $100m since 1995. A dedicated three-member Sharia Supervisory Board oversees all operations, ensuring full compliance with Islamic principles across all business aspects.

QIIG's product innovation addresses diverse market needs through over 50 insurance products. Recent launches include a fully digitalised SME medical insurance platform enabling instant quotation generation, a critical illness product developed with MGEN VYV Group Reinsurance offering up to $2m coverage for treatment in Europe, and community-based life insurance providing accessible coverage for low to middle-income individuals. The company also introduced cyber insurance for SMEs, addressing the rising threat of cyberattacks with comprehensive, affordable, Sharia-compliant protection.

Digital transformation has become a key growth driver, with the company's digital platform now generating over 20% of revenue. The mandatory visitor health insurance portal, launched in response to government requirements in February 2023, enables instant, convenient policy purchases for travellers.

QIIG maintains strategic international presence through investments in takaful companies across Pakistan, Syria, and Morocco, extending its influence globally. The company maintains robust reinsurance partnerships with 'A' rated partners, including SCOR Paris (leading proportional treaties for over 28 years) and Swiss Re (leading non-proportional treaties).

The organisation consistently records amongst the highest technical profits in the market, demonstrating sound underwriting practices and prudent risk management whilst serving all segments of society and the comprehensive needs of Qatar's commercial sector.

Arma Underwriting has established itself as a leading MGA in the MENA region since its inception in 2017. Licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and headquartered in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the company has redefined underwriting excellence through outstanding results, data-driven decision-making, and industry-leading operational models.

Arma has achieved exceptional financial performance, writing over AED850m ($231m) in premiums to date whilst maintaining an impressive Gross Earned Loss Ratio under 40%. This consistent delivery of sustainable profitability has established Arma as a trusted platform for local markets seeking access to rated capacity and a preferred partner for reinsurance providers.

The company's market reach is unmatched, serving over 200 cedants and brokers whilst writing more than 3,000 policies annually. Arma operates across commercial and consumer lines including Energy, Property, Liability, and Accident & Health. The company has successfully processed over AED300m in incurred claims across 14,000+ claims, building a reputation for responsiveness and fairness in claims handling.

Industry recognition validates Arma's excellence, with the company becoming the first MGA outside the UK to be recognised as an international Professional Partnership Firm.

The recent acquisition by Nexus Underwriting, a Brown & Brown group business, highlights Arma's strong performance and reputation, strategically positioning the company to accelerate ambitious growth plans across the region.

Arma maintains elite capacity partnerships as an approved Lloyd's coverholder with long-term binder authority relationships with Hiscox, Allied World, Chaucer, Brit, Tokio Marine Kiln, Talbot, Canopius, MCI, and several A-rated markets. The company offers substantial capacity across key lines, including Property ($25m), Workers Compensation ($35m), Employers Liability ($35m), Public Liability ($35m), and Downstream Energy ($20m).

The company's innovative three-pillar business model—"The Arma Way"—distinguishes its approach. This includes providing facultative reinsurance capacity on a per-risk basis, offering advisory services to enhance portfolio profitability, and delivering a unique Client Services Suite providing value-added services free of charge to selected clients.

Arma's technological sophistication includes an in-house developed analytics platform built from the ground up, enabling data-driven underwriting decisions and real-time analytics dashboards providing insights into pricing adequacy, capacity utilisation, portfolio performance, and actuarial triangulations. This data-driven approach, combined with strong governance frameworks and actuarial expertise, positions Arma as a model MGA setting standards for the industry worldwide.

The Corporate Risk Management Institute (CRMI), established in 2019 through a partnership between Chedid Capital and London's Institute of Risk Management (IRM), has evolved from a focused education provider into a regional catalyst for risk education, strategic resilience, and governance capacity-building across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The Institute has expanded its mission beyond traditional Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) to encompass specialised areas in reinsurance, finance, ESG, and cybersecurity.

A transformative milestone occurred in February 2025 when CRMI was designated an Approved Professional Development Centre by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). Following a stringent qualification and credential assessment process, CRMI now delivers CII-accredited technical courses across Lebanon, Qatar, the UAE, and online, including core modules such as W01 and M92. The Institute has democratised access to accredited programmes for regional talent, offering flexible registration for individual courses or full-diploma paths through online or in-person learning.

In January 2025, CRMI entered a strategic partnership with Montpellier Business School, a leading French Grande École, to develop professional programmes ranging from undergraduate to Executive MBA levels for decision-makers in ministries, central banks, and corporations across MEA. These programmes combine European academic rigour with region-specific content addressing challenges including ESG, cybersecurity, climate-related risk, supply chain continuity, and GRC.

CRMI demonstrated thought leadership by organising the Lebanese Association of Actuaries (LAA) 2025 Conference in Beirut, themed "Advancing AI & Reinsurance in Risk Management." The Institute led both design and technical execution, creating dedicated registration platforms and managing complete event infrastructure whilst bringing together high-profile regional and international experts.

The Institute's flagship ESA-IRM certificate in Risk Management for Insurance and Reinsurance Professionals delivered its third cohort in May 2025, maintaining strong uptake and high participant ratings since launching in December 2022. CRMI expanded bespoke corporate training, delivering risk governance, insurance, and customised workshops for partners including Qatar Central Bank, Arab Bank, and the Consortium of Lebanese Enterprises.

CRMI developed a proprietary learning management platform accommodating multilingual cohorts and customisable learning profiles, now being prepared for external commercial offering. The Institute broadened consultancy services, offering GRC, Asset-Liability Management (ALM), and Risk-Adjusted Return on Capital (RAROC) advisory to public and private institutions.

Leveraging Chedid Capital's infrastructure of 82 subsidiaries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, CRMI launched its French-speaking African counterpart, A2GR (Académie de la Gouvernance et la Gestion des Risques), in 2020, now actively positioning itself amongst public institutions across 21 countries.

HAYAH Insurance Company has established itself as the UAE's digital life insurer, building its entire operating model around leveraging new technologies across front-end, back-end, and every operational step. The company demonstrates how a small, agile insurer can achieve substantial impact through intelligent digitalisation, competing strongly in a market dominated by legacy players whilst maintaining operational efficiency with fewer than 50 employees.

HAYAH's digital transformation delivers industry-leading speed and simplicity. Individual life products can be quoted, underwritten, and issued in under three minutes, whilst group life onboarding and policy issuance completed in as little as 15 minutes. These benchmarks directly support higher conversion and retention rates, contributing to impressive growth of 4,466 individual life policies, 5,663 health insurance policies, and 471 group life clients as of June 2025.

The company's AI-powered medical underwriting engine represents a transformative advancement, instantly processing 76% of applications on the spot—far exceeding the typical three-to-seven-day turnaround times in the local market. For complex cases, HAYAH integrates directly with medical partners, offering nurse home visits and direct billing to ensure seamless, cost-neutral experiences for customers.

HAYAH has deployed Manal, an advanced Natural Language Model chatbot, internally to support teams in retrieving product, process, and claims information instantly. This AI tool reduces time spent searching through static documents, enabling employees to respond faster, boost productivity, and focus on value-added human-driven tasks, with plans for broader customer-facing deployment in coming months.

The company's distribution portal provides partners with advanced, fully integrated functionality managing the entire onboarding journey from quotation to policy issuance. The portal verifies personal data through direct integration with the DHA platform, handles medical underwriting through automated AI tools, and finalises policy activation via TPA system integration. HAYAH is the only insurer in the UAE offering this level of real-time automation and cross-platform connectivity.

HAYAH's digital infrastructure includes secure electronic KYC for automatic identity verification, continuous due diligence, anti-money laundering compliance, and fraud prevention, whilst Magnati payment integration ensures secure, fast, and convenient transactions. The company extends its digital capabilities beyond protection through practical tools including an online pensions calculator, supporting long-term financial wellbeing planning.

Measurable results validate HAYAH's approach: a 92% retention rate for group life portfolios, 33% growth in individual life and 17% in group life, whilst maintaining cost-effective operations and trusted partnerships with major aggregators, global brokers, and internationally recognised partners.

ReTech Reinsurance Brokers Co. has established itself as a technology-driven platform revolutionising reinsurance transactions throughout the MENA region. The company enables insurers and reinsurers to interact through a unified digital ecosystem, integrating intelligent automation, regulatory compliance, and real-time data access whilst streamlining workflows and ensuring alignment with local and international standards.

A landmark achievement came with ReTech's swift implementation of a compliance solution addressing Saudi Insurance Authority Circular 296 in 2024. This regulation mandated that cedants offer 30% of each reinsurance placement to local reinsurers with comprehensive documentation and quarterly reporting requirements. ReTech's purpose-built compliance module enabled over 30 insurance companies to achieve full compliance within just two quarters, demonstrating tangible impact on enhancing regulatory adherence and operational efficiency across the Saudi market.

ReTech's comprehensive platform delivers measurable business impact, reducing placement cycle time by 45% whilst achieving 70% automation across core workflows. The integrated Enterprise Resource Planning system, marketplace matching engine, and automated accounting and claims processing provide speed, transparency, and operational control through structured stakeholder portals and client-specific dashboards.

The platform's end-to-end digital workflow capabilities cover treaty and facultative placements, from initial placement through renewal. The local capacity module automates offers to Saudi reinsurers, providing instant notifications and maintaining a complete digital audit trail for regulatory reporting. Cloud-based document repositories ensure secure storage and instant retrieval of all placement documentation, contracts, and correspondence. ReTech addresses critical industry gaps that have traditionally plagued reinsurance operations. By replacing manual workflows and reconciliation delays with automated processes, the platform eliminates fragmented reinsurer communication and provides comprehensive visibility with complete audit trails. The cloud-native architecture was specifically tailored to regional and international reinsurance nuances, effectively resolving legacy issues.

The platform features structured access portals providing role-based interfaces for insurers, reinsurers, and internal teams, alongside automated bordereaux and reporting capabilities generating real-time premium and claims bordereaux with minimal manual intervention. This comprehensive digital oversight ensures all stakeholders remain informed, capable of acting quickly, and compliant with regulatory requirements.

ReTech's strategic vision aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, positioning the company as a national enabler toward global expansion. Future roadmap initiatives include expanding presence across MENA regions with localised compliance modules, introducing blockchain-backed smart contracts for automated claims, and continuing enhancement of multilingual and cross-border placement capabilities. Through blending deep local market insight with global reinsurance access, ReTech delivers intelligent solutions built for a digital-first future.

BADRI Management Consultancy has evolved into a global consulting firm providing diverse services to clients across the Middle East and beyond. With over 200 talented staff spread across UAE, KSA, Pakistan, Egypt, and the UK, the company drives innovation and delivers cutting-edge solutions, specialising in actuarial services whilst integrating offerings in Financial Services, Strategic HR consulting, Data Management, and Business Intelligence.

BADRI serves as appointed actuaries for 27 clients across the GCC and has served more than 130 unique clients to date, with clientele spread across MENA including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Africa, and New Zealand. The company achieved turnover of AED22.2m ($6m) in 2024, representing growth from AED21.1m in 2023, whilst expanding staff strength from 156 to 206 professionals, and operational presence from five to seven cities.

The company's flagship innovation, ACE-17 Financial Reporting System, offers seamless, cost-effective solutions for generating IFRS 17 financials and disclosures, meeting PAA, GMM, and VFA requirements. BADRI proactively expanded ACE-17 with additional systems including PAA Eligibility Testing and Planning and Budgeting capabilities, demonstrating adaptability to evolving industry requirements.

BADRI's Risk Management Team helps clients implement Enterprise Risk Management Frameworks whilst delivering regulatory requirements for the UAE insurance industry including ORSA Reports and Recovery Planning Documents.

The company integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance advisory support aligned with IFRS S1 and S2, enhancing client sustainability practices. Business Intelligence solutions include actuarial technical pricing tools and ready-to-deploy dashboard solutions powered by Power BI and Qlik Sense.

BADRI demonstrates thought leadership through multiple channels. The Annual Conference 2024 attracted over 140 participants from more than 55 companies. The company served as platinum sponsor for the Society of Actuaries Regional Symposium in Riyadh and participated in the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Middle East conference.

Strategic alliances amplify service delivery, including partnerships with métier for Strategic HR Consulting, Qlik for business dashboards, addactis for pricing and capital modelling, and Limitless Consulting for Risk Management. BADRI publishes comprehensive research reports across multiple markets alongside "The Vitals" medical newsletter, now in its 26th edition.

Mr Majed Al Marzooqi, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) Vice President of Corporate Insurance, has demonstrated exceptional leadership across over 20 years in the insurance sector, specialising in energy, oil and gas, and nuclear insurance. His career trajectory reflects consistent achievement in managing complex, high-value insurance programmes whilst promoting safety culture and operational excellence.

Mr Al Marzooqi's early career saw him managing insurance profiles for ADNOC GAS from 2005 to 2012, supervising insurance risk engineering programmes at Das Island for three LNG trains and mitigating risks associated with LNG/ LPG shipments from the UAE globally. From 2012 to 2020, he led international insurance roadshows for the UAE's nuclear programme as Insurance Manager at Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, marketing the first Nuclear Power Plant in the Arab World valued at over $22bn across four nuclear units in Abu Dhabi.

His landmark achievements include establishing the UAE Nuclear Insurance Pool as the first nuclear insurance pool in the region, providing local nuclear insurance capacity whilst encouraging local insurance company participation and supporting In-Country Value initiatives. He successfully managed the construction insurance programme for the Barakah nuclear project, including risk engineering, nuclear fuel transportation and loading risk mitigation, and financial risk transfer during testing and commissioning.

Mr Al Marzooqi prepared and executed the first nuclear commercial operation insurance programme in the UAE and Middle East, encompassing nuclear property, marine cargo for fuel, and nuclear third-party liability.

Since joining ADNOC headquarters in 2020, Mr Al Marzooqi manages and drives development and implementation of corporate risk financing and risk engineering programmes across the ADNOC Group. He serves as a Board member on ADNOC Reinsurance Company and chairs the risk committee, leading insurance programmes for operational assets valued at over $300bn across more than 30 locations whilst handling insurance coverage for construction activities exceeding $31bn.

Mr Al Marzooqi established the ADNOC Group Insurance System on SAP, achieving digital transformation through IT platform integration across all ADNOC Group companies. He created and led the ADNOC Treasury Excellence Programme, a training and work placement platform engaging over 25 employees since 2022 with local and international insurance brokers, companies, and risk management consultants. His leadership of ADNOC's insurance transformation programme supports international expansion, managing assets across USA, Canada, Germany, Australia, Egypt, and the UAE whilst implementing long-term reinsurance agreements and construction insurance facilities to support profitability.

Clyde & Co has established itself as the leading insurance law firm in the Middle East, distinguished as the only firm ranked Band 1 for Insurance in the UAE by both Chambers and Legal 500. With insurance roots dating to 1933 and Middle East presence since 1989, the firm has invested over 30 years building market-leading practice tailored to the region's evolving needs.

The firm maintains the largest and most experienced insurance team in the region, with 10 partners and 15 lawyers in the UAE focusing exclusively on insurance. The team brings over 100 years of combined local experience, offering unique insight into regulatory and commercial market dynamics whilst serving global and regional insurers, reinsurers, brokers, managing agents, intermediaries, multinational corporates, and regulators.

Clyde & Co stands alone as the only law firm in the UAE and wider Middle East offering true subject matter expertise across every insurance class. The team includes dedicated specialists in P&C, Financial Lines, Cyber, Energy and Construction, Marine, Trade Credit and Political Risks, Medical Malpractice, Corporate and Regulatory matters, Transactional/Warranty and Indemnity, Health, (Re)Takaful, Life, and Subrogation.

Recent landmark achievements include leading all major insurance jurisdictional cases before DIFC Courts, shaping future claims litigation, and advising on authorisation of foreign insurance branches in Saudi Arabia. The firm maintains ongoing involvement in most DIFC, ADGM, and KSA insurance establishments whilst advising on numerous mergers and acquisitions transactions and portfolio transfers across the region.

High-profile matters include advising Zurich Insurance Group on its acquisition of AIG’s global personal travel insurance business across over 40 jurisdictions, advising Nexus Underwriting on its acquisition of Arma Underwriting Limited, and advising Abu Dhabi National Takaful Company on portfolio acquisition from Dubai Islamic Insurance & Reinsurance Company. The firm successfully defended insurers and reinsurers in the first Saudi Arabia precedent related to COVID-19 business interruption claims worth SAR287m ($76.5m).

Clyde & Co’s commitment to excellence extends beyond legal representation. The firm proactively adapts to evolving client needs through regional expansion with new offices in Jeddah and Cairo, offering no-win, no-fee subrogation recovery services, providing specialised debt recovery solutions for trade credit insurers, delivering end-to-end cyber response support, and offering fixed-fee structures for casualty and medical malpractice insurers. The team regularly contributes to industry publications and events, hosting regional forums including the Financial Lines Forum and Claims Manager Roundtable whilst maintaining recognition as Insurance Law Firm of the Year at multiple regional awards.

Howden Middle East & Africa (Howden MEA) has distinguished itself through consistent market-leading growth whilst maintaining a people-first culture that has transformed the regional broking landscape. The company's employee-owned structure enables colleagues to become shareholders, fostering a culture valuing trust over control, purpose over process, and impact over hierarchy.

The firm's commitment to workplace excellence has been recognised through multiple Great Place to Work certifications, with the Oman office joining Dubai and Abu Dhabi operations in achieving this distinction. This recognition reflects Howden MEA's success in attracting top talent from competitors, with professionals choosing an organisation where decisions are made close to clients and collaboration defines daily operations rather than remaining mere corporate rhetoric.

Howden MEA has positioned insurance as a force for good, actively building sustainability offerings supported by the company's global Climate, Risk and Resilience practice—now the largest in the market. The firm helps businesses navigate climate risk whilst supporting sustainable finance solution development, using insurance to drive real-world change.

Innovation at Howden MEA focuses on substance over show, designing products and services solving real client challenges. The firm launched bespoke cyber insurance specifically tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises, a historically underserved segment. The offering delivers broad coverage with minimal underwriting complexity and highly competitive premiums, achieving extraordinary uptake across various industrial sectors. Howden MEA served as strategic partner at the UAE Government Cyber Security Summit, affirming leadership in this critical space.

The company became the first broker in the region launching a dedicated Asset Management Division serving hedge funds, family offices, private equity, and venture capital firms. This sophisticated client base receives tailored, high-impact solutions reflecting deep sector knowledge and proactive advisory approaches, establishing Howden MEA as market leader in this segment.

International recognition came through invitation to join the Lord Mayor of the City of London's delegation on an official Middle East visit, acknowledging regional operations as outstanding examples of British insurance excellence abroad. As principal sponsor of the British and Irish Lions, Howden demonstrates global scale whilst maintaining local client focus.

Howden MEA's success stems from leading with empathy, building genuine partnerships with clients and insurers, innovating with purpose, investing in people, moving fast unburdened by bureaucracy, and bringing heart to operations. The firm recognises that culture and care remain as important as capital and coverage, redefining what winning means in regional insurance broking.

SHIELDS Reinsurance Brokers achieved exceptional performance over the past year, delivering 75% revenue growth whilst expanding into 21 markets and setting new benchmarks for client acquisition, retention, and satisfaction. Guided by the motto "Because we care," the firm has transformed from transactional broker into trusted strategic partner viewed by clients as extensions of their reinsurance teams.

The company's exceptional metrics demonstrate real results: a 58% facultative conversion ratio reflecting underwriting acumen and strong market access, over 90% client retention secured through consistent delivery and deep engagement, and multi-line expansion across Property and Marine, Engineering and Energy, Liability, Political Violence, Cyber, and Treaty business spanning 21 global markets.

SHIELDS' success stems from deliberate, forward-looking strategy emphasising proactive market engagement through weekly interactions and regular client visits, expert broking talent combining underwriting background with placement mastery, cross-selling synergy delivering consolidated service, and technical depth through in-house actuarial support enabling detailed financial analysis and optimal retention strategies.

The firm's client-centric innovation revolves around personalised solutions beginning with tailored exposure and goal analysis, integrated placement support through cross-functional teams, structured account management with formal portfolio reviews, dedicated claims advocacy ensuring early intervention and resolute support, transparent communication with clear documentation on structure and pricing, and robust compliance with multi-layered security protecting client data.

Technology and process excellence distinguish SHIELDS' operations. The proprietary "OMEGA" AI platform enhances workflow accuracy and performance monitoring, achieving 50% reduction in document review time, 40% improvement in quality control error rates, and 35% decrease in client pack turnaround time. Advanced risk modelling through RMS, Verisk, and CatRisk tools supports granular account-level analysis, whilst data-driven negotiation provides real-time insights supporting optimal pricing even in hard markets.

A landmark power plant construction project exemplified SHIELDS' cross-team collaboration capabilities. The engagement required multi-disciplinary reinsurance solutions spanning Professional Indemnity, Marine Cargo, Third-Party Liability, and Political Violence coverage. The Construction team led initial engagement whilst coordinating with Marine, Liability, and Political Violence specialists, resulting in unified placement strategy reducing friction between lines, streamlined client communication, comprehensive risk profiles improving market reception, and strengthened internal collaboration serving as blueprint for future infrastructure placements.

Team development remains central to SHIELDS' philosophy, with 50% male and 50% female workforce representing 12 nationalities. Ongoing professional training ensures teams remain at industry knowledge forefront, whilst mentorship programmes share expertise and instil highest professionalism standards. Client testimonials consistently praise SHIELDS' technical expertise, market access, proactive approach, and commitment to advocacy.

Reinsurance Group of America Middle East (RGA ME) has demonstrated exceptional achievement throughout 2024, building upon a remarkable 14-year legacy of sustained growth in the region. The reinsurer currently holds treaties with over 104 cedents and executed more than 120 new reinsurance agreements in 2024, representing record growth in new business value.

Globally, RGA has established itself as one of the world's largest and most respected life and health reinsurers, ending 2024 with $3.9tn of life reinsurance in force and $118.7bn in assets. The company's success is reflected in its ranking at #196 on the 2025 Fortune 500, having climbed 125 positions since its debut in 2010. RGA's mortality and morbidity databases rank amongst the largest globally, and the company achieved the #1 rating for risk appetite across all categories in NMG Consulting's 2024 Global Life & Health Reinsurance Study.

Within the Middle East specifically, RGA secured the number one ranking for business capability in NMG Consulting's 2024 survey of 46 insurers across GCC countries. The company achieved a 14% increase in underwriting volume whilst maintaining an impressive 24-hour turnaround in 91% of cases, demonstrating operational excellence alongside growth.

RGA ME's innovative achievements include becoming the first life reinsurer in the region to integrate video micro-expression recognition technology using remote photoplethysmography for risk assessment. The company successfully managed the UAE's largest government fully insured/reinsured scheme through a structured reinsurance treaty, alleviating significant solvency pressure on the cedant.

The company's AURA UWPal digital underwriting engine has continued expanding throughout the region, improving partners' underwriting efficiency. RGA ME has also developed comprehensive solutions including preunderwritten health insurance plans, financing solutions for long-term products, and insurance plans specifically designed for parents and retirees.

Educational initiatives have been particularly successful, with RGA ME's 12th Annual Underwriting Seminar attracting participants from across the GCC region and Egypt. The Global Underwriting Manual received 695,000 unique logins in 2024, whilst the Global Claims Manual expanded with 11 new courses and launched a comprehensive Claims Mental Health Toolkit.

These achievements collectively demonstrate RGA ME's position as a pioneering industry leader, combining operational excellence with client-centric innovation and meaningful contributions to regional industry development.

Saudi Re, the Kingdom's home-grown reinsurer, achieved exceptional performance in 2024, demonstrating robust growth and strengthened financial position whilst forming strategic partnerships with the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The company achieved Gross Written Premiums of SAR2.3bn ($613m), reflecting 48% year-on-year increase and maintaining a strong compound annual growth rate of 24% since 2019. Net profit reached an all-time high of SAR475m, supported by solid RoE of 41%. Saudi Re's share price reached its highest level to date, establishing the company amongst top-performing entities on the Saudi Stock Exchange.

This performance reflects stakeholder confidence in governance, disciplined execution, and contribution to Saudi Arabia's economic diversification. The company successfully increased paid-up capital to SAR1.15bn through strategic subscription securing 23.08% stake from PIF, with board recommendation for further 46.6% capital increase to SAR1.698bn via bonus shares.

Product innovation distinguished Saudi Re's market approach. Through strategic PIF partnership, the company launched Surety Bond insurance unique to the region, providing viable alternatives to bank financial guarantees for major national projects and generate significant new premium streams. The reinsurer has complemented this with a nationwide surety bond education campaign and specialised seminars for the industry.

Saudi Re also pioneered Employer Default Insurance in collaboration with the Ministry of HRSD, protecting financial rights of over 7m foreign workers and reinforcing labour market stability. Inherent Defects Insurance protected thousands of buildings across the Kingdom, boosting construction quality standards.

In 2025, Saudi Re earned Great Place to Work certification, reflecting commitment to becoming the best workplace in Saudi Arabia's insurance sector. The Future Leaders Programme provides structured one-year training for fresh graduates, whilst the Internship programme achieved 29% conversion rate from interns to full-time roles. The company's reinsurance placement platform, esnad, enables insurers and brokers to connect with capacity more easily, streamlining placement processes whilst supporting higher local cession and contributing directly to sector growth and resilience.

Ms Gracita Aoa-De Gracia, Head of Insurance & Reinsurance at DIFC Authority, has demonstrated exceptional leadership over 20 years, playing vital roles in developing the largest and deepest reinsurance market in the MEASA region. Her efforts contributed to DIFC market GWP reaching $3.5bn, representing a staggering 35% growth from the previous year.

Ms De Gracia led establishment of DIFC as a leading reinsurance hub, notably bringing A-rated capacity including Lloyd's—the world's oldest insurance market—to the centre after a decade of perseverance. Her determination attracted additional company market players, service companies, coverholders, brokers, and InsurTechs, supporting growth of existing firms within DIFC whilst promoting use of DFSA regulatory framework for start-up entities.

She played pivotal roles in initiating collaboration between prominent financial centres, spearheading the Memorandum of Understanding between DIFC and Guernsey Finance to promote advancement and innovation. Her efforts strengthened DIFC's position as preferred domicile for regionally owned Captives, culminating in successful completion of the first Captive re-domiciliation from Guernsey to DIFC.

Ms De Gracia founded the DIFC Insurance Association, consulting on its blueprint, securing approval, and incorporating the non-profit organisation. The association enhanced DIFC re/insurance market standing by providing effective representation and becoming influential voice for the insurance community.

She partnered with GR establishing the annual Dubai World Insurance Congress, commencing in 2017. Now in its eighth year, the congress has welcomed 1,700 delegates from 82 countries, becoming recognised global platform for re/insurance transactions providing valuable opportunities for reinsurers, cedants, and brokers to convene and cultivate business relationships.

Ms De Gracia placed significant emphasis on talent development, facilitating and managing the Memorandum of Understanding between DIFC Academy and Lloyd's Academy, leading to Al Muntadah launch. She mentors management associates and interns whilst assisting educational institutions through organising field trips and participating in career awareness initiatives.

Her extensive expertise enabled engagement with distinguished institutions including The Wharton School, Financia Business School, American University of the Emirates, and McGill-HEC, promoting DIFC market and attracting emerging talent. Ms De Gracia shaped thought leadership through published articles, interviews, industry conference participation, and hosting insurance-focused podcasts reaching 115,000 views. She maintains membership in DIFC Sustainable Finance Working Group and Women in Insurance, supporting various women-focused initiatives beyond insurance panels whilst effectively managing professional responsibilities alongside motherhood commitments.

Mr Khalid Jishi, CEO of Arab Loss Adjusters (ALA), has demonstrated exceptional leadership before age 40, transforming the only Arab-owned loss-adjusting firm spanning 16 countries through commercial acumen and compassionate grit. His career trajectory from AIG portfolio analyst to CEO navigating post-blast Beirut and AI-driven motor claims exemplifies forward-thinking leadership

Mr Jishi's expansion strategy replaced ALA's associate office model with fully owned, locally led branches. He personally registered, licensed, and staffed operations starting with Oman, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, followed by Malaysia, Cambodia, Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt, and Algeria. This transformation resulted in unified brand standards, faster response times, and elevated brand image from local to regional player.

The defining leadership test arrived on 4 August 2020 when the Beirut port explosion devastated the city. Within hours, Mr Jishi coordinated with local offices, assembling a task force of fresh graduates who became administrative backbone. Over 13 intense months, his team closed 1,648 files, securing timely settlements despite currency devaluations and political paralysis. Insurers praised consistent, detailed quantification outlined in reports at early stages, effectively controlling claim leakage whilst restoring livelihoods and reputations.

Following his father's passing, Mr Jishi stepped into the CEO role, guiding a grieving workforce across multiple jurisdictions whilst modernising governance and articulating the "One ALA" strategic vision. He rebuilt senior teams around diverse thinkers, championing soft skills and customer experience as central objectives.

Mr Jishi negotiated ALA's partnership with Bdeo, launching ALA Mobility—the first fully digitalised FNOL-to-settlement motor workflow piloted in the Gulf. Early results demonstrated 50% reduction in average claim-handling time and 30% cost savings through triage accuracy. He digitised low-value homeowner inspections whilst overseeing in-house build of ALA's first enterprise-wide claims-analytics platform, turning 20 years of reports into predictive insight.

Under his stewardship, ALA earned AM Best accreditation and was named Regional Technical Service Provider of the Year, with the Beirut team receiving special commendation for post-disaster excellence. His medium-term goal transforms ALA into the largest boutique, full-service, indigenous technical-insurance partner in the region, spanning loss adjusting across all business classes, third-party administration, risk engineering, and data-driven consulting, proving home-grown expertise can match and often out-innovate imported models.

Mr Mohammed Mazhar Hamadeh has demonstrated exceptional dedication to regional insurance development over five decades, shaping growth of Al Ain Ahlia Insurance Company (AAAIC) whilst significantly influencing development and integration of the Arab insurance market. Since assuming General Manager and Chief Executive Officer roles at AAAIC in 1994, Mr Hamadeh has led the firm through consistent growth, operational resilience, and constant profitability, maintaining strong UAE market presence renowned for financial stability.

As AAAIC approaches its 50th anniversary, Mr Hamadeh remains key pillar in company development, working relentlessly to reinforce technical and humane capabilities. His career spanning over five decades represents a commendable success story built from modest regional market beginnings. His unwavering commitment to industry collaboration and regulatory advancement promoted cooperation in motor and energy insurance lines whilst enhancing regulatory frameworks supporting prudent underwriting, loss prevention, and risk management strategies.

Mr Hamadeh holds prestigious positions across key regional and international insurance organisations. As Rapporteur of the Motor Technical Committee, Orange Card – General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF), he exerted greater efforts developing the Orange Card system and promoting it across Arab countries. Within his capacity as technical committee head, he worked on progressive vision modernising the system and building technological capabilities, benefiting from international experiences such as the European Green Card to upgrade Orange Card standards.

Additional leadership roles include Chairman of the Federation of Afro-Asian Insurers & Reinsurers (FAIR) Oil and Energy Insurance Syndicate, Chairman of Arab Insurance Laws League (GAIF), Chairman of Investment Committee for Arab War Risks Insurance Syndicate, Vice Chairman of The Arab Insurance Institute, and Board Member positions across Gulf Insurance Federation, FAIR, Aviation Pool, and AWRIS Technical Board.

Within the UAE, he chairs the Emirates Insurance Federation's Motor Insurance Technical Sub-Committee and Higher Technical Committee, playing instrumental roles maintaining market balances and addressing technical concerns including underwriting and market performance. He chairs the Insurance Business Group at Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr Hamadeh earned his Bachelor’s degree in Law in 1981 through distance learning—remarkable accomplishment for that era—followed by diplomas in criminal law and international law from Egyptian universities. He remains strong advocate for talent development, encouraging professional certifications, technical workshops, and training in underwriting and claims management. His vision for an integrated Arab insurance market promotes economic diplomacy through insurance cooperation, believing the industry possesses unique potential to lead regional transformation through cross-border relationships and shared economic interests.