4 October 2026
Total assets of insurance companies operating in the UAE reached AED 178 billion at the end of June 2026, up 20.5% from AED 147.4 billion a year earlier, according to Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) data reported by Al Bayan on 3 October 2026. Gross written premiums for the first half of 2026 rose 11% to AED 45.4 billion, led by property and liability insurance, which grew 16% to AED 17.2 billion. Claims paid increased 18.7% to AED 25.5 billion, and the number of licensed insurers reached 59: 23 conventional national companies, 10 national takaful companies and 26 branches of foreign insurers.
Key figures at a glance
The CBUAE data covers all insurance companies licensed to operate in the UAE as of 30 June 2026. Year-on-year changes compare with the end of June 2025.
| Indicator | End of June 2026 | Change, year on year |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | AED 178 billion | +20.5% |
| Invested assets | AED 99.2 billion (about 56% of assets) | not published |
| Technical provisions | AED 107 billion | +6.8% |
| Gross written premiums, January to June | AED 45.4 billion | +11% |
| Claims paid, all lines | AED 25.5 billion | +18.7% |
| Net profit to gross written premiums, Q2 2026 | 13.3% | increased |
| Return on average assets, Q2 2026 | 0.9% | increased |
| Licensed insurance companies | 59 | not published |
Where the AED 178 billion sits
About 56% of the sector’s assets, or AED 99.2 billion, are invested assets: the portfolio insurers build from premiums and capital to meet future obligations. Technical provisions, the reserves insurers must hold to pay claims on policies already written, rose 6.8% year on year to AED 107 billion.
Assets grew faster than technical provisions over the twelve months to June 2026: +20.5% against +6.8%. The CBUAE figures reported by Al Bayan do not break down the asset growth by source, so the data does not show how much came from new capital, investment returns or premium inflows.
Premiums and claims by line of business
Gross written premiums of AED 45.4 billion for January to June 2026 split across three lines. The claims ratio in the last column is our calculation: claims paid divided by premiums written in the same period.
| Line of business | Premiums, H1 2026 | Growth | Claims paid | Claims to premiums |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health | AED 23 billion | +11.4% | AED 13.2 billion | about 57% |
| Property and liability | AED 17.2 billion | +16% | AED 9.3 billion | about 54% |
| Life and fund accumulation | AED 5.2 billion | +28.8% | AED 2.9 billion | about 56% |
| Total | AED 45.4 billion | +11% | AED 25.5 billion | about 56% |
Health insurance remains the largest line, with about half of all premiums written. Property and liability insurance, which covers buildings, equipment, goods and claims from third parties, was named by the CBUAE as the main driver of premium growth in the period. Life and fund accumulation products, a smaller line, grew fastest at 28.8%.
Claims paid rose faster than premiums: +18.7% against +11%. Health claims of AED 13.2 billion were the largest component, followed by AED 9.3 billion for property and liability and AED 2.9 billion for life and fund accumulation.
Profitability in the second quarter
The ratio of net profit to gross written premiums rose to 13.3% in the second quarter of 2026, and the return on average assets increased to 0.9% in the same quarter. Al Bayan, citing the CBUAE data, also points to growth in written premiums, technical provisions, property and equity, and to strong capitalisation in terms of capital adequacy ratios and return on assets.
Who operates in the UAE insurance market
As of the end of June 2026 the CBUAE counted 59 licensed insurance companies:
- 23 conventional national insurance companies;
- 10 national takaful (Shariah-compliant) insurance companies;
- 26 branches of foreign insurance companies operating in the UAE.
The number of licensed insurance-related professions, the CBUAE category that covers intermediaries and other service providers around insurers, reached 528. For comparison, the CBUAE annual report for 2025 counted 58 insurers and 515 insurance-related professions. We covered that report in our article on the UAE insurance sector results for 2025.
What this means for companies in the UAE
The CBUAE data is market statistics: it does not change rules, rates or procedures for companies. It does show where the market is moving in the lines that touch most businesses here, health cover for staff and property and liability cover for premises, goods and contracts.
Health insurance is part of employing staff in the UAE. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi employers are required by law to provide health cover to employees, and a valid policy is part of the residence visa process. Property and liability policies are often required by office and warehouse leases and by client contracts.
A practical checklist for a company owner:
- align the renewal dates of staff health policies with residence visa renewals, so that no visa application is held up by an expired policy;
- check which lease agreements and client contracts require property or liability cover, and what amount of cover they specify;
- confirm that your insurer is licensed by the CBUAE, which supervises insurance companies in the UAE;
- compare renewal quotes from more than one insurer: the market has 59 licensed companies, including 26 branches of foreign insurers;
- pay premiums from the corporate bank account rather than from a personal card.
How Atlant Capital can help
Insurance is one of the steps that follows the core setup: a licence, a corporate bank account and visas for owners and staff. We handle company setup in the UAE in a free zone or on the mainland, and work visas and residency for founders and employees, where health cover is one of the required documents. Premiums for staff and property policies are paid from the corporate account, so it makes sense to open one early: our guide to opening a bank account in the UAE explains the documents and timelines, and the bank account opening service covers the process with the bank.
Conclusion
By the end of June 2026 the UAE insurance sector held AED 178 billion in assets, 20.5% more than a year earlier, with AED 45.4 billion of premiums written in the first half of the year and AED 25.5 billion of claims paid. Property and liability insurance led premium growth at 16%, health remained the largest line at AED 23 billion, and the number of licensed insurers rose to 59. For companies, the figures are a reference point when budgeting staff and property insurance, not a change in the rules.
Source: Al Bayan.
FAQ
How big is the UAE insurance sector in 2026?
According to CBUAE data, total assets of insurance companies operating in the UAE reached AED 178 billion at the end of June 2026, up 20.5% from AED 147.4 billion a year earlier. Gross written premiums for the first half of 2026 were AED 45.4 billion, and 59 insurance companies held a licence.
How many insurance companies are licensed in the UAE?
As of the end of June 2026 there were 59 licensed insurance companies in the UAE: 23 conventional national companies, 10 national takaful companies and 26 branches of foreign insurers. The CBUAE also counted 528 licensed insurance-related professions, such as intermediaries.
Which line of insurance is the largest in the UAE?
Health insurance is the largest line. In the first half of 2026 health premiums rose 11.4% to AED 23 billion, about half of all premiums written, and health claims paid reached AED 13.2 billion. Property and liability premiums grew fastest among the large lines, by 16% to AED 17.2 billion.
Do the new CBUAE insurance figures change anything for UAE companies?
No. The figures are market statistics published by the Central Bank of the UAE and do not introduce new rules, rates or documents. Existing requirements stay the same, including employer health cover for staff in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and insurance clauses in leases and contracts.
