The mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape in the UAE and GCC insurance sector is set to push smaller firms out of the market if they fail to secure buyers, according to a global rating agency.
The UAE and broader Gulf region's insurance industry has been consolidating, and this trend is expected to persist in the coming years as larger players continue to dominate the market. According to Moody’s Ratings’ analysis, 10 M&A transactions have been completed or are in progress over the past 12 months.
“Consolidation will create winners and losers, with smaller insurers that are unable to find acquirers being forced out of the market over time,” said Mohammed Ali Londe, vice president and senior analyst at Moody’s Ratings.
The GCC insurance market remains highly fragmented, with the region’s $40 billion annual premium revenue distributed among approximately 190 insurance companies. Around 50 per cent of the premium volume is earned by the top five insurers in each market, which are typically larger and more sophisticated players, with the remaining revenue spread across numerous smaller companies.
“This concentration of small and sometimes sub-scale insurers contributes to intense price competition as companies vie for market share. This has led to earnings' volatility and pressure on capital adequacy for some insurers. Competitive pressure is further intensified by a concentration of demand around compulsory insurance such as motor and medical cover,” said Moody’s Ratings.
GCC insurers are also increasingly attracting interest from strategic investors such as banks, sovereign wealth funds, or wealthy individuals. Moody’s analysts added that stake-building by such investors can provide insurers with additional capital and improve their overall financial flexibility, while, in some cases, also expanding their distribution and enhancing their brand recognition.
“Consolidation allows GCC insurers to diversify their product range, distribution network, and customer base, while also unlocking synergies across various operational areas. M&A typically allows these groups to enter new markets and increase their sales more quickly than organic growth would permit,” said the global rating agency.
Moody’s added that consolidation is credit-positive for the GCC insurance sector as it enables firms to achieve economies of scale, enhancing solvency and profitability. However, the positive impact on creditworthiness may take time to manifest due to short-term challenges such as operational integration, customer retention, and alignment of strategies and cultures.
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