Gulf Insurance Forum issued ten recommendations as pan-Gulf insurer idea returned

In context: this report covers a source published on 2 Nov 2026.

The 21st Gulf Insurance Forum, organised by the Emirates Insurance Federation and the Gulf Insurance Federation and held in Dubai on 26 and 27 October, issued ten recommendations at the event, Middle East Insurance Review reported on 2 November. About 200 chief executives and insurance and reinsurance specialists from 25 countries attended. The theme was risk, capital and trust in a systemic world.

Most of the recommendations concern technology. Insurers are asked to set clear strategies for AI in risk assessment and decisions, to build governance frameworks that cover data protection, fairness, model reliability and human accountability, and to replace fragmented systems with integrated processes across underwriting, claims, reinsurance and compliance. Regulators are asked to adopt AI-based supervisory tools for reporting, monitoring and early warning.

On risk and capital, the forum calls for capital-market tools such as catastrophe bonds and insurance-linked securities for systemic risks, stricter cyber underwriting with clearer wordings and new cover for technology liabilities, and stronger enterprise risk management, including solvency self-assessments and stress tests for climate, cyber and emerging risks. It also asks the industry to turn new technology into products that close protection gaps.

Khalid Mohammed Al Badi, chairman of both federations, called for harmonised GCC insurance laws and regulation and encouraged mergers to create larger companies, the report said. Discussions also covered a possible GCC insurance bloc and a revived proposal for a pan-Gulf insurer with all GCC states taking part. Al Badi acknowledged that earlier attempts to establish such an entity had not succeeded.