BMI's Executive Summary for the Saudi Arabia Insurance Report

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This report differs from its predecessors in that it includes BMI's Insurance Business Environment Rating (IBER). The rating brings together a number of pieces of relevant quantitative data, together with BMI's Country Risk Rating (CRR). It is now much easier to consider the business environment for the insurance sector in any one country relative to the business environment for other industries in that country that are surveyed by BMI, and the business environment for the insurance sector in other countries.

Saudi Arabia's IBER is 51.6. Relative to other countries in Middle East and Africa, it is a moderately attractive insurance market for foreign insurers. Within the region, Saudi Arabia stands out for the country structure. However, the IBER is held back by the underdevelopment of the life segment and nonlife premiums. It is also held back by the legal framework in Saudi Arabia and GDP volatility.

Over the forecast period, we anticipate that non-life premiums will grow by 18% annually in local currency terms and by 18% in US dollar terms. Life premiums are expected to increase by 26% annually in local currency terms and by 25% in US dollar terms. In the non-life segment in 2007-2012 the anticipated rise in nominal GDP from around US$363bn to US$396bn is low. However, there is a better relative increase in non-life penetration from 0.67% of GDP to 1.40%. The key driver of growth in the life segment is the envisaged rise in life density from US$3.8 per capita in 2007 to US$10 per capita in 2012. Saudi Arabia's total population is expected to rise from 24.7mn to 28.02mn.

The non-life market is fragmented, but will likely become less so. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) has indicated that it will not be issuing new licences for five years. Many of the newlyestablished firms may find that Saudi Arabia is not the bonanza for health and auto insurers that they expected it to be. Massive competition may cause a compression in premiums. Consolidation and/or exits from the market may result. NCCI will remain a dominant force in the non-life segment. Erosion of its market share will not necessarily mean an erosion in its profitability.

Saudi Arabia's non-life segment is relatively small but is rapidly growing. A larger contributor to the nonlife segment is health insurance, which is expected to grow significantly in coming years, in response to policy changes. However, this sector may be more competitive than anticipated by other commentators. The legal framework is a significant drawback on IBER and looks likely to worsen.

Contents of the Saudi Arabia Insurance Report

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Chapter 1 - The Sector At A Glance

Table: Saudi Arabia Insurance Sector Overview (Amounts In Millions Of Currency Specified)

Key Features Of This Report & Likely Future Changes

Chapter 2 - Latest News

Recent Developments

Chapter 3 - Evolution Since The Mid-1990s

Table: Evolution Of The Saudi Arabian Insurance Sector (In Millions Of Currency Specified)

Evolution

Chapter 4 - Projections And Forecasts

Table: BMI Projections For Saudi Arabia Insurance Sector (In Millions Of Currency Specified)

Projections And Drivers Of Growth

Chapter 5 - Macroeconomic Outlook

Economic Outlook

Table: Saudi Arabia - Economic Activity

Chapter 6 - Country Update

Political Risk Iran Issues

Economic Risk Oil Output

Business Environment Pro-Market Reforms

Chapter 7 - Analysis Of Competitive Conditions

Table: Middle East And Africa Non-Life Segment Rankings of Markets

Table: Middle East And Africa Presence Of Cross-Border Insurers Non-Life Segment

Table: Middle East And Africa Selected Local Non-Life Insurers

Country Overview Saudi Arabia - Life Segment

Table: Middle East And Africa Life Segment Rankings Of Markets

Table: Middle East And Africa Presence Of Cross-Border Insurers Life Segment

Table: Middle East And Africa Selected Local Life Insurers

Chapter 8 - Regional Context

Table: Middle East And Africa: Regional Context 2004 Premiums

Table: Middle East And Africa Regional Context Total Premiums 2004

Chapter 9 - Methodology And Objectives

Introduction

Background

Forecasts

Chapter 10 - Appendix

Table: Latest Estimates / Actual Figures For 2005

Table: Latest Estimates For 2010

Table: Latest Estimates For 2005-2010 (Growth In US Dollar Terms)

Competitive Landscape for The Middle East and Africa Insurance
    Reports: Sample of Companies Ranked

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A cross-border overview of key players and their insurance market share across the Middle East and Africa. Tables and graphs show country presence of multinationals across the region. Comparative company analyses and rankings by premium income (life and non-life). Company SWOTS for leading life and non-life insurers, covering network of offices, presence of foreign stakeholders, strategic relationships, joint ventures; portfolio of clients; diversity of product range; profit growth, investment strategy and risk exposure.

Network of Insurance Sources

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BMI's Middle Eastern and African Insurance Reports are based on an extensive network of multilateral organisations, government departments, insurance industry associations, chambers of commerce and company reports. Information sources include:

Read about our other Insurance Reports