Special Reports

RENEWED CALLS FOR CONSOLIDATION AT INSUREX

Insurex 2011 witnessed renewed calls for consolidation in an increasingly fragmented regional insurance market, going back to the basics of sound underwriting, adopting global best practices, increased focus on training and local involvement, harmonisation of regulation and product innovation.

A Sophisticated But Crowded Market

Despite the current buzz of excitement surrounding the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as it hosts this month’s GAIF Conference by the Dead Sea, most of the kingdom’s insurers will nonetheless return to their offices once the event is over still resigned to the probability of their business proving little easier in 2010 than it was last year. Intense competition and government regulation together continue to constrain premium rates while costs rise due, for example, to increasingly steep increases in health care expenses, and steadily rising staff bills as insurers pay more and more to prevent their best employees moving abroad to work in burgeoning GCC insurance markets.

Meeting The Challenges Of ERM

With the establishment of the Institute of Risk Management’s (IRM) first UAE chapter, Carolyn Williams, IRM head of thought leadership, discusses the benefits enterprise risk management (ERM) can bring to the region.

A New Era Of Consolidation?

RSA’s acquisition of Al-Ahlia, Oman’s third-largest insurer, may signal the start of a new wave of long-sought-after M&A activity in the Middle East insurance sector.

GCC Bourse Review

Thomas Schellen, head of insurance opportunities at ABQ Zawya, casts his eye over share price performances across the GCC and assesses how listed insurance companies fared in 2009.

Tentative Steps From The UAE Regulator

Alfred Thornton, a lawyer in Clyde & Co’s insurance team, considers developments related to the UAE Insurance Authority.

GAIF 2010 Preparations Underway

The 28th General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF) conference will take place on May 17, 2010, in jordan. Speaking at a press conference, Jawad Hadid, chairman of the Jordanian Insurance Federation (JOIF), outlined what delegates can expect from the most important industry event on the calendar