BMI View: The Bahraini insurance sector is small by global standards but it is relatively well developed when compared to its regional counterparts. The market is also home to a variety of indigenous and multinational insurance providers. ...The market is also home to a variety of indigenous and multinational insurance providers. The larger non-life segment, in particular, is highly diversified and competitive, and is consequently likely to see some degree of market consolidation as this market remains an attractive destination for foreign direct investment. Moreover, with the high income levels among Bahraini households as well as the expanding and sizeable expatriate population, both the life and non-life should see robust demand over the next five years. Transport lines in particular, however, will see limited growth due to their heavy reliance on the country s oil economy. Table: Headline Insurance Forecasts (Bahrain ---------) ---- ---- ----e ----f ----f ----f ----f ----f Gross life premiums written, BHDbn -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- Gross life premiums written, BHD, y-o-y -.- --.- -.- -.- -.- -.- -.- -.- Gross life premiums written, USDbn -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- Gross life premiums written, USD, y-o-y -.- --.- -.- -.- -.- -.- -.- -.- Gross non-life premiums written, BHDbn -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- Gross non-life premiums written, BHD, y-o-y -.- -.- -.- -.- -.- -.- -.- -.- Gross non-life premiums written, USDbn -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.-- -.--
...Accounting for only -- of total premiums written in ----, we expect Bahrain s life insurance segment to expand by -.- in this year to USD---mn. Over the long term, life insurance should grow at an average annual rate of -.- to USD---mn in ----. ...Over the long term, life insurance should grow at an average annual rate of -.- to USD---mn in ----. Critical growth drivers over the coming five years include the ongoing expansion of the expatriate community, which constitutes a major customer base to both life and non-life providers. As the Bahraini government is moving towards including expats in the compulsory health insurance scheme, especially providers of these policies will see a strong uptick in demand. ...As the Bahraini government is moving towards including expats in the compulsory health insurance scheme, especially providers of these policies will see a strong uptick in demand.
...Over the medium term to ----, much will depend on how companies in Bahrain react to the sharp fall in oil (and other energy) prices through ---- and ----. If this is seen as a lasting and negative factor for the economies of Bahrain and the broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, it could well be that companies retrench workers and, in particular, expatriate personnel. ...
