U.S.-Iran conflict reshapes airline insurance renewals across Middle East
WTW says U.S.-Iran tensions are driving aviation insurance pricing pressure, with hull war and liability rates set for tougher renewals in 2026
đȘ Middle East & North Africa Insurance News
Latest insurance news from MENA insurers and regulators. Explore auto, home, life, P&C, pet and health insurance, including insurance rates, insights, trends, and breaking insurance news from Middle East and North Africa.
Ethiopia opens insurance market to foreign investors under draft law
Ethiopia plans to allow foreign insurers for the first time in decades, aiming to boost competition, capital, and coverage
Cyera acquires Ryft for up to $130 mn to expand AI data security
Cyera buys Ryft to strengthen controls over AI-driven data access as enterprises face rising risks from autonomous systems
Digital insurance growth in Africa meets reinsurance capacity gap
Digital insurance expands across Africa and the Middle East, yet weak reinsurance capacity and rising motor losses raise pressure on sustainability
India plans sovereign backing for Gulf shipping insurance cover
India is preparing sovereign support for marine insurers as Gulf war-risk premiums surge, with proposed backstops worth $1.8 bn to keep cover in place
DFC and Chubb expand Hormuz maritime insurance facility to $40 bn
DFC and Chubb added six US insurance partners, doubling maritime reinsurance capacity to $40 bn to support trade through the Strait of Hormuz
April reinsurance renewals extend softer pricing despite Middle East tension
Reinsurance rates eased again at April 1 renewals as strong capital, low cat losses, and surplus capacity outweighed geopolitical stress and economic uncertainty
Fitch flags Iran conflict risk for Lloydâs and specialty insurers
Fitch warns Iran conflict could hit marine, aviation, and energy lines, with indirect risks from inflation, asset declines, and defaults
Gulf war-risk insurance withdrawal raises pressure on marine specialists
Fitch Ratings expects the withdrawal of hull war-risk marine insurance in the Persian Gulf to carry negative credit implications for U.S. property and casualty insurers
Iran conflict unlikely to trigger major insurer rating changes, Fitch says
Fitch says global insurers face manageable earnings pressure from Iran conflict unless escalation damages energy infrastructure or prolongs market volatility
DFCâChubb $20 bn reinsurance plan targets Hormuz shipping risk
U.S. DFC and Chubb launch $20 bn maritime reinsurance framework to support oil and LNG shipping through the Strait of Hormuz
Hormuz war-risk insurance premiums jump 12x as $20 bn US backstop emerges
War-risk rates in the Strait of Hormuz climb to 3% of hull value as DFC launches $20bn reinsurance plan amid tanker strikes
Gulf hull war rates may jump 50% as marine insurance cover pulled
Marsh and Aon warn marine hull war premiums in the Gulf could rise 25â50% as underwriters cancel policies and reprice transits
Morningstar DBRS warns Gulf conflict may tighten reinsurance
Morningstar DBRS says Iran conflict could push reinsurers to raise attachment points, cut capacity and heighten volatility in marine and aviation lines
Marine insurers halt Gulf war risk cover as premiums near 1%
Marine insurers cancel war risk policies in the Gulf after tanker strikes push premiums toward 1% of hull value and strand 150 vessels
War insurance risk cover pulled as Hormuz conflict jolts shipping
Marine insurers are cancelling war risk cover for vessels operating in the Middle East Gulf as the United StatesâIsraelâIran conflict disrupts tanker traffic
S&P sees reinsurance capital steady despite Middle East shock
S&P says reinsurers enter 2026 with strong capital buffers despite expected losses from Middle East conflict across marine, aviation and specialty lines
Kennedys flags multi-line insurance threat from US-Israel-Iran conflict
Kennedys warns escalating US, Israel and Iran hostilities threaten simultaneous losses across political violence, marine, aviation, energy and trade credit lines
Insurtech Policybazaar launches garage-backed motor plan with Watania Takaful
Policybazaar has introduced Watania Takaful â PB Auto Care Advantage (Pitstop P360), a comprehensive motor plan developed with Watania Takaful and Pitstop Automotive Services
MS Amlin partners with MSI on UAE political risk reinsurance
MS Amlin launches a political risk reinsurance partnership with Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance in the UAE, expanding contract frustration cover via Dubai
Willis adds Dubai and Madrid to global D&F reinsurance placement hub network
Willis expands its direct and facultative placement network with new hubs in Dubai and Madrid, extending global market access through a single coordinated platform
Cargo theft shifts online as insurers warn of rising digital freight fraud
IUMI and TAPA EMEA warn cargo crime is surging worldwide, with digital fraud replacing physical theft as losses reach billions across supply chains
đłđ”Nepal arrests Everest rescue officials over $20 mn insurance fraud
Nepal detains six rescue agency officials accused of staging helicopter evacuations near Mount Everest to extract nearly $20 mn from global insurers
Sanctions sideline 79 Russian oil tankers and drive up insurance costs
More than 79 sanctioned tankers involved in transporting Russian oil halted operations in 2025, while freight and vessel insurance costs jumped by 40-50%
Insurers brace for Arctic tension, regime shifts, nuclear risk in 2026
BMIâs Yoel Sano flags Arctic disputes, regime change, and nuclear uncertainty as top political risks insurers face heading into 2026 and beyond
Greenland tensions raise geopolitical risk stakes for insurers and reinsurers
Tariff threats tied to Greenland sharpen geopolitical risk, forcing insurers, reinsurers, and brokers to reassess political violence, SRCC, and supply chain exposure
Santam launches Lloydâs policy administration system with Alchemy and Buckhill
Santam, Alchemy Technology Services, and Buckhill delivered a new Lloydâs PAS for Syndicate 1918 in under three months, replacing legacy systems with a cloud-based, ecosystem-led model.
War insurance rates spike for Black Sea shipping after tanker drone attacks
Premiums for vessels heading to Russian and Ukrainian ports jump toward 1% of ship value as insurers reassess rapidly escalating risks in the region
Saudi insurer Walaa deploys CoverGoâs digital health insurance claims platform
Saudi insurer Walaa deploys CoverGoâs digital health claims platform to bring claims in-house, cut costs, and support growth in its health portfolio
Turkey property-CAT reinsurance rates fall 15% as Jan renewals soften
Gallagher Re says Turkiyeâs Jan 2026 property-CAT renewals saw 15% rate drops, heavy oversubscription, and easing pressure on parametric covers
Drone attack hits Russia-bound tanker in Black Sea, shipping insurance rates are expected to rise
A Palau-flagged tanker bound for Russia reported a drone attack in the Black Sea and diverted to Turkey
Africa Specialty Risks renews Baobab Lloydâs Consortium, lifts capacity to $26 mn
Africa Specialty Risks renews the Baobab Consortium at Lloydâs, increasing per-risk capacity to $26 mn for Africa and Middle East exposures
Geopolitics and climate strain global marine insurance – Kennedys warns
Kennedys warns geopolitical tension, climate volatility, trade disputes, and post-Brexit rules are reshaping risk and claims pressure in marine insurance
Swiss Re, RIQ team up on AI-driven reinsurance platform in UAE
Swiss Re and Abu Dhabi-based RIQ sign an MoU to develop AI-native reinsurance capacity and risk solutions across the UAE market
Oil tanker shipping costs set to stay high into early 2026
Aging tankers, sanctions, and tight capacity are keeping oil shipping rates elevated into 2026, with relief unlikely before new vessels arrive
La Niña returns, driving floods, snowstorms, and rising global losses
A renewed La Niña is fueling floods in Asia, early US snowstorms, and mounting economic losses, with insurers and commodity markets bracing for impact
Insurtech bolttech buys Kenyaâs mTek to scale embedded insurance across East Africa
bolttech acquires Kenyaâs mTek, expanding its East African footprint and boosting global embedded-insurance capabilities with a proven digital platform
Insurtech Neutrinos unveils venture studio and global “Reimagining Risk” challenge
Neutrinos launches a venture studio and a global risk-focused startup challenge to speed AI-native innovation for insurers and financial institutions
Black Sea sanctioned tanker attacks push war risk premiums higher for shippers
Ukrainian drone strikes on two tankers near Novorossiysk drive up Black Sea war risk rates, widening exposure for vessels calling at Russian ports
ASR launches digital cyber insurance cover with $5 mn limits for African businesses
Africa Specialty Risks rolls out a Lloydâs-backed cyber policy via ASR 24-7, offering digital quote-and-bind access for companies across key African markets
BlueFive Insurance launches GCC platform for consolidation and expansion
BlueFive launches a GCC insurance platform targeting consolidation, digitisation, specialisation and regional expansion, backed by a new Oman legal entity
Africa Specialty Risks launches Lloydâs Syndicate 2454 to expand underwriting in South Africa
Africa Specialty Risks opens Lloydâs Syndicate 2454 to write local South African risks, deepen specialty capacity and expand on-the-ground underwriting
Kenyaâs Insurance Regulator drafts tighter digital insurance rules as insurtech accelerates
Kenyaâs IRA readies new cybersecurity and data rules, aligning with Africaâs broader insurtech push while supporting digital insurance for underserved groups
FSD Africa sets up $30 mn 3iF fund to back early African insurtech startups
FSD Africa launches a $30 mn Inclusive Insurtech Fund to boost early-stage African insurtech, expand access and spur climate, health and financial inclusion
AXA partners with Old Mutual and EHS to expand international health cover in Africa
AXA teams with Old Mutual Kenya and EHS to grow East Africaâs IPMI market through local underwriting, exclusive distribution and portfolio transfers
Insurtech Policybazaar launches reinsurance across Sri Lanka, Qatar, Oman, UAE
Policybazaar expands into Sri Lanka, Qatar, Oman, and UAE with a tech-led reinsurance model built to speed placements and modernize emerging markets
Omnix Medical secured $25 mn Series C to advance antibiotic resistance therapies
Jerusalem-based Omnix Medical raises $25 mn Series C, led by Harel Insurance & Finance and the EIC Fund, to push Phase II trials of its lead drug OMN6
Egyptâs SehaTech secures $1.1 mn seed to expand AI-powered health insurance
SehaTech raises $1.1 mn seed round led by Ingressive Capital to scale AI health insurance platform, expand regionally, and improve access to coverage
Syria receives $7.9 mn drought payout from Humanity Insured and Allianz
A $7.9m parametric payout will aid 120,000 Syrians hit by severe drought, showing how pre-arranged insurance can deliver fast relief in fragile states
Insurtech Cyata exits stealth with $8.5 mn seed round to secure enterprise AI agents
Cyata, an Israeli cybersecurity startup, has launched publicly with $8.5 mn in seed funding led by TLV Partners. The company targets a growing blind spot in enterprise security: AI agents
Insurer Santam received approval from Lloydâs to establish Syndicate 1918
South Africa-based Santam has received in-principle approval from Lloydâs to establish a London-based syndicate, part of its strategy to expand international operations
InsurTech & FinTech expansion drive growth of Dubai International Financial Center in 2025
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) recorded its strongest half-year performance to date, led by significant momentum in the insurance and FinTech sectors
Startup Hourly is merging with business insurance provider WeSure Digital
Hourly, a startup providing workersâ compensation, time tracking, and payroll solutions, is merging with small business insurance provider WeSure Digital
Insurance costs for Red Sea shipping soar amid renewed houthi attacks
The cost of insuring vessels transiting the Red Sea has more than doubled over the past week as Houthi forces resumed attacks on commercial ships
Mergers and acquisitions insurance claims reached record levels in 2024-2025
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) insurance claims reached record levels in 2024, with the highest total payouts ever recorded
Middle East conflict lifts marine insurance war risk rates
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has prompted many marine insurance underwriters to withdraw coverage for vessels with perceived links to the U.S., U.K., or Israel
Israelâs government-backed insurance scheme absorbs the majority of war losses
S&P has reported that Israelâs government-backed insurance scheme is expected to absorb the majority of losses linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran
Reinsurance strength and risk management key for insurers amid Iran-Israel War
Morningstar DBRS has warned that insurers with strong reinsurance protection, conservative investment portfolios, and active enterprise risk management (ERM) frameworks
United Risk Global finalized its acquisition of Pinnacle Underwriting
United Risk Global has finalized its acquisition of Pinnacle Underwriting, an Australian managing general agent specializing in facultative reinsurance
EMEA insurers maintain strong capital positions and buffers
Insurers based in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) maintain strong capital positions and buffers, enabling them to absorb external shocks effectively
U.S. cyber insurance premiums rose nearly 11% in 2025 as policy volume jumped, but weaker pricing, higher losses, and AI-driven threats added fresh pressure
Finding affordable health insurance in California can be overwhelming. Youâre faced with dozens of plan options, unfamiliar terms and questions about whether you qualify for subsidies through Covered California
Insurers enter 2026 with longer settlement cycles, rising volumes, and slow AI adoption, increasing costs and operational risk, AutoRek finds
Global insurance M&A stabilised, as insurers and brokers took a more strategic approach to acquisitions amid falling interest rates and a realignment of strategic priorities