The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the global financial hub for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), has reported a 20% increase year-on-year in gross written premiums (GWP), reaching $4.2 billion in 2025.
Moreover, premiums brokered from DIFC have crossed $3.4 billion in 2025, a rise of 14% from $3 billion in 2024.
Additionally, since 2022, underwriting volumes have doubled, underscoring the sector’s sustained progress and DIFC’s role as a booking, structuring, and underwriting hub.
The hub explained that growth in property and liability lines has been a key driver of this exceptional performance, and was supported by other lines, including marine, aviation, and transport, amongst others.
Currently, over 135 insurance and reinsurance firms operate out of DIFC, supporting underwriting, broking, captive management, and specialist risk‑transfer activities across the MEASA region and other markets, underscoring its ability to access re/insurance opportunities globally.
Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), DIFC Authority, commented, “DIFC’s insurance and reinsurance sector continued to gain global relevance, with gross written premiums advancing to $4.2 billion in 2025, generated through a diverse ecosystem of more than 135 firms.
“This growth reflects the confidence international markets place in DIFC as a jurisdiction that enables sophisticated risk transfer, underwriting and innovation. With Dubai ranked among the top 10 financial centres globally for insurance, DIFC remains focused on deepening market capacity, attracting long‑term institutional players, and supporting sustainable growth across regional and international markets.”
During 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, 28 new insurance-related firms were authorised, representing significant growth in the ecosystem.
These included Allianz Trade Middle East Limited, Atradius Trade Credit (Re)Insurance (DIFC) Ltd., BMS (DIFC) Limited, Howden Reinsurance Brokers Limited (DIFC Branch), Manulife Middle East Limited, QIC (DIFC) Limited, Ryan Specialty (DIFC) Limited, Sun Life (DIFC) Limited, and Transamerica Life (Bermuda) Ltd.
The firms deepening their footprint in the Centre include Gallagher Re Ltd and Manulife Middle East.
