This quarterly legal and regulatory update focuses on the insurance market in the GCC region published by MENA Insurance Review, and written by Clyde & Co LLP's Insurance & Regulatory team. The review has been updated to 27 May 2015.
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Title | Status | Summary |
| Resolution No. 8 of
2015 |
27 May 2015 | On 27 May 2015, His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai,
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE issued Resolution No.
8 of 2015, which extends the implementation of Dubai's Health
Insurance Law on health-care service providers licensed within
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC). The resolution defines the DHCC authority as the government entity responsible for the implementation of Law No. (11) of 2013 pertaining to health insurance on the health-care facilities registered in Dubai Healthcare City. The Resolution is soon to be published in the Official Gazette. |
| Insurance Authority | ||
| IA Financial Reporting Electronic Forms | In force | On 24 May 2015, the
Insurance Authority (IA) issued the electronic financial forms
(E-forms) related to the financial instructions for the traditional
and Takaful insurance companies, which were issued by the IA by the
end of 2014 to ensure optimum application of the instructions and
boost supervision and oversight over the insurance sector according
to the best practices applicable worldwide. The electronic financial forms represent an essential element in determining capital solvency requirements, minimum indemnity amount, and minimum capital that should be maintained by the companies. They include forms to measure the capital required to face the underwriting risks, investment risks, credit risks and operational risks. |
| The Dubai Health Authority | ||
| IA Financial Reporting Electronic Forms | In force | The DHA's General
Circular Number 3 of 2015 issued on 16 April 2015, specifies that
no market participant is allowed to transact any new health
insurance business with any intermediary not holding HIIP
Conditional Compliance status. All intermediaries who submitted their HIIP and PHIR registrations have been granted 'Conditional Compliance' status, which allows them to continue transacting health insurance business until their applications are validated by the Health Funding Department (HFD). Applicants will be given a deadline of 30 June 2015 to comply with any clarifications from the HFD. |
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Standards Notice Number 1 of 2015 | In force | On 17 April 2015, the
DHA published a Standards Notice, discussing the roles and
responsibilities of the Single Point of Contact (SPoC). In the General Circular Number 1 of 2014, the DHA indicated that all of their communications would be sent by email to the listed SPoC that they hold for insurers, TPAs and intermediaries and to nominated/registered persons at healthcare providers. The DHA's Standard Notice Number 1 of 2015 requires that the role of the SPoC should be undertaken by a senior member of management who is experienced enough to understand health insurance and related regulatory matters. The Health Funding Department (HFD) will monitor all communications and will instruct a company to replace a SPoC if the appointed person is not fulfilling his or her responsibilities. The response performance of a company will be taken into account when assessing Permit renewal applications. |
| Health Authority Abu Dhabi | ||
| No updates | No updates | |
| The Dubai Financial Services Authority | ||
| Conduct of Business Module (COB) Instrument (No.149) 2015 | Effective from 1 April 2015 | On 11 February 2015, the
DFSA issued an updated version of the COB Module, in which it
published its changes to the client classification regime contained
in chapter 2. Authorised firms will need to comply with the new client classification regime from 1 April 2015, with the exception of the increase of the asset test for "assessed" professional clients from US$500,000 to US$1 million, which will come into effect on 1 April 2016. The new client classification regime requires Authorised Firms, before providing Financial Services to clients, to classify such clients as:
Professional clients will fall within one of the following three sub-categories:
The introduction of the new client classification regime does not trigger the need to re-classify existing clients. The DFSA also made some minor amendments to the glossary module and the collective investment rules to reflect the abovementioned changes. |
| Amendments to the Application Forms and Notices Module (AFN) | In force | During March 2015, the DFSA announced updates and amendments to the majority of forms found in the Application Forms and Notices Module (AFN). |
| Qatar | ||
| QCB | ||
| Draft implementing regulations to the QCB Law. | Draft | We understand that the QCB has circulated draft implementing regulations for the insurance sector pursuant to Law No. 13 of 2012 on the Issuance of the Law of the of the Qatar Central Bank and the Regulation of Financial Institutions. It is anticipated that the implementing regulations will form a detailed rulebook for the insurance regime in Qatar (outside of the QFC) addressing a range of issues, including licence requirements for insurers, reinsurers and service providers, prudential and risk management requirements, conduct of business requirements, reporting requirements etc. Further details of the draft regulations will be addressed in a future update. |
| Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority | ||
| No updates | ||
| The Qatar Financial Centre | ||
| No updates | ||
| The Supreme Council of Health | ||
| No updates | ||
| Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | ||
| Cooperative Council of Health Insurance (CCHI) | ||
| No updates | ||
| Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) | ||
| No updates | ||
| Sultanate of Oman | ||
| Capital Market Authority | ||
| Draft Circular of the Guidelines for the Operations and Administration of Investment | Consultation | On 12 March 2015, the
CMA issued a draft Circular which establishes design parameters for
investment linked products and sets guidelines for the operations
and administration of investment linked business of
Life/Takaful/Composite insurance companies operated under laws
prescribed by the CMA. Life/Takaful/Composite insurers will be required to obtain the approval of the CMA prior to conducting any investment linked business, issuing any investment linked plans or establishing any investment linked sub fund. The draft Circular also addresses requirements for approval, post authorization requirements and guidelines for minimum filing requirements. |
| Code of Corporate Governance | Consultation | The CMA has recently sought the opinion of public companies, audit firms, law firms and the public on the draft amendments to the Code of Corporate Governance for Public Joint Stock Companies to develop corporate Governance practices in the Sultanate. |
| Draft Insurance Brokers Regulations | Consultation | A new draft regulation
for insurance brokerage firms was unveiled by the CMA, and
insurance brokers in Oman were given two weeks to provide
feedback. The major highlights of the new regulation include minimum capital requirements, management of credit facilities between client and brokerage firms, and the separation of direct brokerage businesses from re-insurance businesses. |
| Kuwait | ||
| Ministerial Resolution No. 149 of 2015 | In force | Resolution No. 149 of
2015 Regulating the Profession of Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers
issued in the Official Gazette on 22 March 2015, repeals
Ministerial Resolution No. 81 of 2012 Regulating the Profession of
the Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers and Insurance Agents. The new legislation repealing Resolution No. 81 has stipulated new minimum capital requirements amongst other requirements for operating as an Insurance Broker. |
| Kuwait Cabinet Decision 158 of 2015 | In force | On 19 April 2015, the
Kuwait Cabinet issued Decision 158 of 2015 easing requirements in
respect of branches of foreign insurance companies. Article 1 of
this law exempts branches of foreign insurance companies from
applying Cabinet Decision 511 of 2011 regarding the Rules of
Incorporation of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies. In terms of this decision, foreign insurers operating in Kuwait are not required to establish a stockholding company with a capital of KWD5 million for non-life and life operations, and KWD15 million for reinsurance business. Other regulations relate to requirements for proof of licensing in the country in which they are headquartered, submission of financial information to the Ministry and the appointment of a branch manager or managing director. |
Originally published in the MENA Insurance Review.
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