From Editor-in-Chief

Reinsurance: Cat focus - Floods: Containing the deluge

With growing urbanisation in the region, insurers in the Middle East should pay close attention to mitigating the worst effects of flooding which has been so expensively illustrated in other developing areas.

Reinsurance: Cat focus - Post-Thai Floods: Arab reinsurers forge ahead in the Far East

The catastrophes of 2011 - particularly the floods in Thailand - saw some reinsurers reassess their strategies for Asia. But despite the difficult operating environment, Asia remains an essential draw for many Arab reinsurers.

Still a land of opportunities

Qatar's strong economic performance, largely driven by its thriving hydrocarbons sector, coupled with regulatory development, infrastructure expansion and upcoming compulsory health coverage reflect bright prospects for the insurance sector.

The fab five

The "big five" local insurance groups look set to grow further on the back of government spending and infrastructure development.

Peak risks in a dynamic country

The growth in Qatar's energy sector and the developing risk profile provide exciting risk transfer opportunities but also significant exposure, says Mrs Shazia Aslam Rafique of Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe.

Grooming future financial leaders

Dr Abdulazziz Al Horr of Qatar Financial & Business Academy looks at what training institutes and organisations are doing to prepare financial sector leaders of the future.

Building competency in the GCC insurance industry

Regulators around the world are increasingly prioritising training and competency requirements for licensees to ensure financial services markets that are stable, sustainable and above all, fair to the consumer. Mr Silvan Said of Gulf Insurance...

Women in insurance - Cracking the glass ceiling

To commemorate International Women's Day on 8 March, members of Women in Insurance UAE give their take on the progress made by women in the UAE workforce and the obstacles they face.

The Back Page: MENA's talent conundrum

The high turnover of top-level executives and the shortage of local talent in many MENA markets could be the result of poor training strategies. Urgent action is needed to prevent the negative effects on the insurance industry in the long term.

MEIF tackles industry concerns

MENA insurers are still grappling with market realities in their quest to balance growth with profitability. Issues such as enhancing regulatory frameworks, achieving consolidation, and creating the best outcomes for takaful have yet to be resolved....

Takaful in Indonesia - Spinning off windows

The future for Shariah-compliant insurance in Indonesia is promising, but competition will get tougher as companies look to spin off their window operations into full-fledged entities, says Mr Joachim Wessling of Allianz.

Takaful in Indonesia - Regulating takaful: Lessons from Malaysia

Mr Zainal Abidin Mohd Kassim of Actuarial Partners Consulting looks at Malaysia's approach to regulating takaful and the possible lessons for Indonesia and other markets.

Shariah Speaks - Clearing potential red flags

wo scholars review trends in the insurance and takaful sector that may have major Shariah implications in the long run.

Judicial co-operation in enforcing money judgments

Ms Susan Dingwall and Mr Steven Hadwin of Norton Rose LLP outline the key features of the Memorandum of Guidance signed between DIFC Courts and the Commercial Court of England and Wales.

Running the healthcare trail

Dr Michael Bitzer has been a driving force behind the growth of the UAE's first state-backed health insurance company, Daman. As the newest member of the MENA Insurance CEO Club (MICC), he shares his insights on the industry.

MENA & GCC: Business confidence in Gulf dampened by risks

Continued uncertainty stemming from events both within and outside the Middle East looms large on the minds of the 157 senior executives polled by Oliver Wyman and Zogby Research Services.

MENA: M&A deals up 42% to US$45 bln in 2012

The aggregate value of M&A deals in the region increased 42% to reach US$44.8 billion in 2012 compared to $31.6 billion a year earlier, according to figures compiled by Ernst & Young.

MENA: Foreign investors face growing expropriation risks in MENA

Foreign investors face greater expropriation risks in countries across the MENA region attempting to drive regime changes, Marsh and Maplecroft said in a jointly released Political Risk Map 2013.

Demand for trade credit insurance on the rise in 2013

Demand for trade credit insurance (TCI) and surety bonds is on the rise as a result of increasing trade flows, mostly from high-growth markets, in an overall deteriorating risk environment, said the International Credit Insurance & Surety...

Market model now more focussed on consumers - Ovum

The insurance market is moving from a model of one-to-many - particularly in mass media - to a framework where consumers are gaining more power in the business transaction, according to a new research by Ovum.

MENA & GCC: GCC needs more consistent application of rules - A.M. Best

Consistent application of regulations in the GCC has the potential of providing sufficient policyholder protection, and thus safeguard the long-term viability of the takaful industry in the region, said A.M. Best in its latest report.

MENA & GCC: Turkey and QFC seen as most friendly tax systems for Islamic finance in MENA

Turkey and the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) have been identified as having the most Islamic Finance-friendly tax systems out of eight countries in the MENA region, according to a recent study supported by the International Tax and Investment Centre...

Bahrain: Takaful outpaces market growth

Bahrain's takaful sector grew 24% to BHD41.9 million (US$111.2 million) by the end of September 2012, outpacing that of the overall insurance sector.

Sukuk rating crucial for investor confidence - Fitch

Strong demand for sukuk is expected to continue in 2013 after record sales in 2012, but a sukuk rating is an important element in "improving confidence in this growing instrument", said Fitch Ratings in a report.

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