Middle East and North Africa (MENA) News

Berkshire Hathaway General Reinsurance Unit Launches Mideast Office in Dubai

DUBAI — The General Reinsurance unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc has set up a Middle East office in Dubai, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) said on Monday. Gen Re will provide life and health reinsurance services across the …

Willis Re Launches Flood Model for MENA Region

Willis Re has launched a new flood model for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which enables re/insurers to quantify their flood risk using a catastrophe model. Currently the model covers Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and the …

Lockton MENA Promotes Khatib to CEO

Lockton MENA Ltd. has appointed Ata Khatib as its new chief executive officer. Based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Khatib will lead the broker’s subsidiaries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, said a statement from …

Lloyd’s Coverholder, Arma Underwriting, Launches in Dubai with MENA Focus

Asta, the Lloyd’s third party managing agent and specialist MGA investor, announced that Dubai-based Arma Underwriting Ltd. has received full approval from all regulators and commenced operations last month. Asta-backed Arma is an approved Lloyd’s coverholder that writes multi-line re/insurance …

Global Insurance Industry Set to Grow by 4.5% in 2017-2018: Munich Re

The global insurance industry is set to grow more strongly at 4.5 percent per annum on average (3.0 percent in real terms, or adjusted for inflation) during 2017 and 2018, according to Munich Re. While premium income is likely to …

StarStone Partners with Dubai-Based MGA; Swiss Re’s Hussey Appointed

StarStone, the global specialty insurer and subsidiary of Enstar Group Ltd., announced a joint venture partnership with Malakite Underwriting Partners Ltd., a managing general agent in Dubai, subject to regulatory approval. Led by managing partner Giles Hussey, Malakite will target …

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Names Schmaler as Head of MENA

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions has appointed Falk Schmaler as head of Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In his new role, Schmaler will be based in Dubai and responsible for driving the company’s business strategy and market presence in the …

ACE Appoints Wazen as Head of North Africa

ACE Group has appointed Ghassan Wazen, currently regional business development manager for ACE in MENA, to the new role of head of North Africa, as it continues to build its management capabilities within Eurasia and Africa, its newest geographical business …

A.M. Best: Sanctions Removal to Attract Re/Insurers to Iranian Market

The lifting of trade restrictions placed on Iran may present significant opportunities for the Middle East and North African (MENA) re/insurance market, with European participants also expected to re-engage and seek a foothold in the country, according to research published …

QBE Europe to Grow Middle East Casualty Business; Parfitt Appointed

QBE European Operations has announced plans to grow its casualty business in the MENA region. Laetitia Parfitt joined the team in Dubai this week as senior casualty underwriter. Parfitt will be responsible for developing QBE’s casualty portfolio in the region …