WTW wins UAE and Bahrain central bank approval to take full ownership of Al-Futtaim Willis
WTW has received approval from the Central Bank of the UAE and the Central Bank of Bahrain to own all of Al-Futtaim Willis, after Al-Futtaim sold its 51% stake in the broking joint venture, Middle East Insurance Review reported. WTW called the move part of its long-term growth strategy in the region.
GCC desk AI-assisted summary · Source checkedReported by Middle East Insurance Review on Summary published 9 October 2026
Illustration. Not a photograph of the event.
The approvals allow WTW to wholly own the insurance broking and risk management advisory business in both the UAE and Bahrain, Middle East Insurance Review reported. WTW first disclosed its purchase of Al-Futtaim's 51% holding in May 2025. The Al-Futtaim Group and WTW founded the joint venture in 1976.
WTW described the transaction as a further step in its long-term growth strategy for the region, alongside recent expansion in Saudi Arabia. Pamela Thomson-Hall, WTW's Head of International, said full ownership will let the group run its Dubai and Bahrain operations directly and give clients more consistent access to its specialist and global placement capabilities.
