Middle East
SARS-like virus kills five in Saudi Arabia
Five people have died and two are ill in Saudi Arabia after contracting a SARS-like virus.
International motor policies should cover political violence says Clements
Car owners need to be alert to the threat political violence poses to their vehicles, according to Clements Worldwide.
Zurich extends HSBC bancassurance deal to GI products
Zurich has extended its distribution deal with HSBC in the Middle East to include general insurance personal lines products.
Brokerslink launches employee benefits practice group
International broking network Brokerslink launched a a Global Employee Benefits Practice Group on Thursday.
M6.3 earthquake hits Iran's southwest coast
An magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck 55 miles southeast of Bandar Bushehr near Iran’s southwest coast on April 9.
Diversified economy helps Kuwaiti insurers but challenges remain
Kuwait’s bid to balance its revenue sources through the development of non-oil sectors, along with more stringent regulation of the insurance market, will have beneficial consequences for the nation’s insurers, according to research by Timetric.
Kidnap & Ransom: Forewarned is Forearmed
With instances of kidnapping for ransom on the rise in certain parts of the world, it’s more important than ever for firms to ensure they have adequate cover.
E&Y welcomes long term financing consultation
Ernst & Young has joined Insurance Europe in welcoming the green paper on long-term investment issued by the European Commission yesterday.
New risks threaten emerging market progress
Despite resilient growth, estimated at 5.1% in 2013, and improved sovereign and external fundamentals, emerging country risks have not disappeared altogether, according to Coface.
Emerging market megacities will be "gamechanger" says Swiss Re
Eight of the top megacities in the world will be in emerging markets by 2025, according to Swiss Re.
Middle East enters 'new order' after Arab Spring
Political risk across 13 countries has eased in the post-Arab Spring world according to Aon’s annual political risk map.
Clements opens Dubai office
Clements Worldwide has launched an operation in Dubai, its first on-the-ground location in the MENA region.
Overseas buyers behind surge in transactional risk insurance
Demand for transactional risk insurance grew by 41% globally in 2012 as firms increasingly turned to the insurance market to protect large deals and cross-border acquisitions or sales.
Top five Asian news stories
The top five Asian news stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
GCC eyes common motor insurance policy
A single motor insurance policy could be enforced across the Gulf before the end of 2013 after gaining support from a key insurance body.
JLT could sell geopolitical cover in ME and Africa
JLT chief executive Dominic Burke said the broker plans further geographical expansion, after its 2012 profits were boosted by strong performance in emerging markets.
Kennedys hires Clyde & Co energy and construction partner
Kennedys has grown its international energy team with the hire of Graeme Baird from Clyde & Co.
Willis promotes Wemyss as Pickering exits
Tony Wemyss will become broker Willis's regional CEO of the group's Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa operations from 1 April.
Singapore looks to remove contract uncertainty
As the London reinsurance market discovered in the last decade, contract certainty sounds simple, but isn’t. Andrew Tjaardstra finds out the latest developments as Singapore edges closer to becoming the first Asian reinsurance market to introduce…
Q-Re names CEO
Gunther Saacke has been appointed chief executive officer of Q-Re, a subsidiary of Qatar Insurance Company headquartered in Doha, Qutar.
Middle East blog: Poacher turned game keeper
After a stint as an insurance broker, returning to an insurance company position in January of this year was momentous home coming for me.
Argo's head of aerospace to become underwriting director
Lloyd’s insurer Argo International has promoted Bruno Ritchie, pictured, to underwriting director.
Aviva to sell Turkish unit say market sources
British insurer Aviva has tasked Barclays with selling its Turkish unit Aviva Sigorta, according to Reuters.
AIG hires EMEA large limits exec
AIG has appointed Sami Sayegh as large limits executive, property for Europe, Middle East and Africa.