Howden Re Granted License to Operate From Dubai International Financial Centre

Howden Re, the global reinsurance brokerage arm of Howden Group, announced it has secured a full reinsurance license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to operate from Dubai International Financial Centre, the leading global financial center in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region.

This license, along with Howden Re’s office expansion, marks a significant milestone in the business’s long-term commitment to the Middle East and other key growth markets. Howden Re’s expanded Dubai operations in the United Arab Emirates will build on its current broking services, with a focus on its treaty, facultative and MGA reinsurance offering and reinforcing its regional growth strategy.

The Dubai operations will be co-led by Julian Samengo-Turner, head of IMEA, who continues to oversee facultative and MGA broking, and Attilio Tornetta, newly appointed head of Treaty & Regional Retro, MEA.

Sheena Kotecha, head of Operations IMEA, has been appointed senior executive officer to ensure that Howden Re aligns with the highest regulatory and governance standards, in line with the DIFC’s internationally recognized framework.

Tornetta, who joined Howden Re in 2023 as managing director for the Middle East and Africa, will focus on developing the firm’s treaty proposition and expanding its footprint across the Middle East and Africa.

Howden Re already has an established facultative presence serving clients across the IMEA region under Samengo-Turner’s leadership. Samengo-Turner will continue to focus on facultative growth and supporting clients across both established and start-up MGAs with reinsurance broking, strategic, and capital advisory services.

Howden Re said its Dubai license further strengthens its rapidly growing presence across major growth markets. Recently, Howden announced its entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a dedicated reinsurance operation offering comprehensive treaty and facultative services, as well as strategic advisory capabilities in data, analytics, and capital markets.

Additionally, Howden Re has expanded in South Africa under the leadership of Gary Ankorn and deepened its presence in India under Minesh Jani, head of Reinsurance India.

“The Middle East is a rapidly evolving market, where demand for sophisticated reinsurance support is booming. We appreciate DIFC’s ongoing confidence in Howden and their partnership in enabling our growth through this license,” commented Mario Baotic, head of International Growth Markets, Howden Re.

“This development clearly demonstrates Howden Re’s continued international expansion, our ambition to deepen our regional presence, and our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our clients globally,” Baotic added. “It marks a significant step forward in strengthening our global footprint and reinforcing our long-term strategy in key markets.”

“We are delighted to expand into Dubai through DIFC, a strategic gateway to growth across the UAE and the wider MEASA region, supported by a robust regulatory framework,” said Attilio Tornetta, head of Treaty & Regional Retro, EMEA, Howden Re International. “Our enhanced reinsurance operations in Dubai mark a significant milestone in our strategy.”

Founded in 1994, Howden operates in 56 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, employs 22,000 people and manages premiums totalling US$47 billion on behalf of its clients.

Source: Howden Re