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MarketConfirmedUAEOmanQatarBahrainKuwaitSaudi Arabia
Gulf war-risk premiums stay elevated as Hormuz tensions whipsaw
War-risk rates for Strait of Hormuz transits remain at multiples of pre-crisis levels despite on-and-off talk of a reopening deal, with Howden Re putting potential war, terror and political-violence claims at $2bn-$3bn — more than the segment's annual global premium. For GCC marine, energy and aviation books the practical read-across is dearer reinsurance and tighter facultative capacity rather than any quick easing.
RegulationConfirmedUAE
CBUAE and World Bank to upgrade UAE insurance dispute resolution
The Central Bank has signed a cooperation agreement with the World Bank Group covering financial inclusion, consumer protection and, notably for insurers, the enhancement of banking and insurance dispute-resolution mechanisms — work that flows through to the ombudsman unit, Sanadak. Carriers should read it as a signal of a more demanding, better-resourced consumer-redress regime as the sector beds in under the new Central Bank law.
CompanyCorroboratedQatar
Qatar Insurance turns the QIC App into a travel ecosystem
QIC has folded hotel booking, an events calendar, Avios loyalty conversion with Qatar Airways and complimentary Ooredoo eSIMs into its app, sitting alongside the mandatory visitors' health cover it already sells digitally. It is a clear attempt to keep policyholders inside one ecosystem and lift engagement well beyond the annual renewal.
People movesConfirmedSaudi Arabia
Lockton puts Al Rowais in charge of its new Saudi reinsurance arm
Broker Lockton has appointed Mohammed Al Rowais to lead the facultative and treaty reinsurance business it is standing up in Saudi Arabia, having secured a local reinsurance licence earlier this year. It is another marker of international brokers building on-the-ground capability to chase the Kingdom's fast-growing premium base.
Each item is a short editorial summary with a link to the original source. Items marked Rumour · unverified are unconfirmed and should be treated with caution. Compiled automatically; corrections welcome.