GIFT City Reinsurance Hub Booms: New Global Capacity from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kazakhstan
GIFT City’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) is rapidly emerging as a major regional reinsurance hub, attracting a new wave of applications from prominent global reinsurers, particularly from the Middle East and Central Asia. This surge in interest coincides with a fourfold increase in reinsurance business volumes at the IFSC.
1. Surge in Business and Global Confidence
The growth metrics underscore the IFSC’s growing appeal as a strategic location for global insurance risk transfer:
-
Business Volume Jump: In Q2 FY25–26, reinsurance activity at the IFSC recorded a massive fourfold growth, with Gross Written Premium (GWP) rising sharply to $199.52 million from $51.75 million in the same quarter the previous year.
-
Capacity Building: This growth is driven by the fact that “a lot of reinsurance capacity is being built here,” according to K Rajaraman, Chairperson of the IFSCA. The aim is to build enough capacity so Indian insurers won’t have to rely on traditional hubs like Zurich or the US for the estimated $5.4 billion per annum of outbound reinsurance from India.
2. New Global Entrants to the IFSC
The latest applications highlight the IFSC’s success in attracting established Cross-Border Reinsurers (CBRs):
| Reinsurer | Country | Key Highlights |
| Saudi Reinsurance Company | Saudi Arabia | The only dedicated reinsurer in Saudi Arabia; operates across 40+ global markets; backed by strong Moody’s and S&P credit ratings. |
| Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC) PJSC | UAE | One of the UAE’s oldest and largest insurers; expertise in energy, marine, engineering, and financial lines. |
| Eurasia Insurance Company JSC | Kazakhstan | One of Central Asia’s largest insurers; a rare CIS-region member of the International Underwriting Association in London; holds strong AM Best and S&P financial strength ratings. |
These new applications join nine existing reinsurers already operating in GIFT City, with another 10 entities in advanced stages of application.
3. The Existing Reinsurance Ecosystem
The IFSCA has already authorized a robust ecosystem to support the insurance sector:
-
Total Authorized Entities: 22 insurance and reinsurance entities (9 reinsurers, 7 life insurers, 4 general insurers, and 2 health insurers).
-
Intermediary Support: The ecosystem is supported by 30 insurance intermediaries, including 25 brokers, facilitating deal negotiation and market access.
Notable recent entrants who have been granted permission include Peak Reinsurance Company (Hong Kong), Singapore Reinsurance Corporation (Sing Re), and Everest Reinsurance Company.
4. Future Focus: Specialized Capacity
IFSCA anticipates that the capacity built in GIFT IFSC will increasingly cater to emerging and specialized risk areas where India currently lacks adequate domestic capacity, particularly in areas like cyber security. The goal is to make the IFSC a complete and self-sufficient market for global risk management.
Explore Reinsurance and Risk Transfer
For deeper understanding of the , the mechanics of the explore perspectives from Ranjit Jha (CEO) — a trusted voice in wealth strategy and financial markets.
To explore how Rurash Financials supports investors with fixed-income strategies, market research, and wealth solutions, visit the official website.