OECD Cuts 2026 Outlook: What the Middle East Shock Means for Insurers
OECD 2026 economic outlook bifurcates global GDP at 2.8% vs 2.1%. We translate the OECD's Middle East scenarios into an insurer stress test: reserve…
Region
MEA
Saudi Insurance Authority: End of SAMA’s Dual Mandate and What Comes Next
Saudi Arabia Insurance Authority is now sole regulator, replacing dual SAMA oversight. RBC parallel run begins 2026; mandatory Jan 2027.
3IF Ventures Closes $12m First Round to Back Africa’s Inclusive Insurance Infrastructure Layer
3IF Ventures closes $12m first round — anchored by FSD Africa ($6m), Swiss Re Foundation ($5m) and Zep Re — to fund embedded insurance…
Nigeria’s NAICOM Issues First Insurtech Licence, Opening Africa’s Largest Insurance Market to Digital Operators
Nigeria's NAICOM grants first insurtech licence, confirming NIIRA 2025 operational and opening Africa's largest market at 0.5% GDP penetration to digital operators.
GCC Insurers Post $714M Net Profit in Q1 2026 as Regulatory Mandates Drive 13.6% Revenue Growth
GCC listed insurers posted $10.75B revenue (+13.6%) and $714M net profit (+14.7%) in Q1 2026, driven by Saudi Arabia's mandatory cession rules, UAE health…
Africa Re at Kigali CEO Forum: 80% of African Disaster Losses Go Uninsured
Africa Re: 80%+ of Africa's catastrophe losses are uninsured and $32 billion in economic damage went uncovered between 2019 and 2023, per Kigali CEO…
Nigeria Ends Takaful-Conventional Coinsurance, Forcing Africa’s Largest Insurance Market to Choose Sides
Nigeria's NAICOM banned Takaful-conventional coinsurance effective January 2026, forcing structural market separation in Africa's largest insurance economy before domestic Retakaful infrastructure exists.
Iran Launches Bitcoin-Backed Maritime Cover to Bypass Western Sanctions in Hormuz
Iran maritime insurance platform Hormuz Safe offers bitcoin-settled tanker coverage in Hormuz, bypassing SWIFT and OFAC after war-risk premiums spiked 40x.
Munich Re Books €106M in Iran War Provisions as Hannover Re Reports Zero Exposure
Munich Re's €90M Iran war provisions vs Hannover Re's zero reserve reveals how specialty book concentration amplifies geopolitical tail risk in Q1 2026.
Egypt’s FRA Decision 70 Sets New Governance Floor for Takaful Across North Africa
Egypt's FRA issued Decision No. 70 in May 2026, introducing three takaful operating models and mandatory Sharia boards — a governance overhaul for a…