UAE Insurance Premiums Rise 15.1% in First Quarter, Central Bank Says

The Central Bank of the UAE reported that gross written insurance premiums in the country rose 15.1% year on year in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring robust momentum in one of the region's fastest-growing insurance markets. The regulator said the sector remains well capitalised, with solvency and capital buffers comfortably above requirements, positioning insurers to absorb shocks even as regional geopolitical risks, including the Iran conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, cloud the broader outlook. Growth has been supported by expanding health and life coverage, a rising population, mandatory insurance requirements and broader economic diversification across the Emirates. The central bank, which supervises the insurance sector following the merger of the former insurance authority into its mandate, has continued to strengthen prudential standards and consumer protections. Strong premium growth reflects both rising demand and rate increases in some lines, though insurers face pressures from higher reinsurance costs and claims inflation. The data signals continued expansion in the UAE's financial services sector, reinforcing the country's ambition to serve as a regional hub for insurance and wider financial activity, while regulators watch geopolitical developments that could affect risk and pricing.