The different regulatory environments along with a number of other factors, account for the contrasting performances

The sense of uncertainty across the region is creating increased levels of economic risks for many companies

The new investment rules for the insurance sector represent a significant step forward for the UAE. However, given the substantial changes many companies will need to make, there is the potential for deadlines to slip and for implementation and enforcement to fall short of the letter of the new rules

Although takaful operators in the GCC are considered to operate in a niche area, generally they are in competition with conventional companies for the same target market

The Middle East offers no easy route to profit as competitive trends, an evolving regulatory landscape and cultural sensitivities all require careful consideration