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Best's Market Segment Report: AM Best Maintains Stable Outlook on Insurance Markets of Gulf Cooperation Council

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best is maintaining its outlook for the insurance markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at stable.

In its new Best’s Market Segment Report, “Market Segment Outlook: Gulf Cooperation Council Insurance”, AM Best notes that while GCC insurers remain vulnerable to second-order effects from the Middle East conflict, strong performance and healthy risk-adjusted capitalisation leave many of them well-positioned to withstand geopolitical headwinds, although the impact of an extended conflict in the region could pose significant challenges.

Also noted by AM Best’s analysts is the segment’s reliance on reinsurance, primarily to support specialty, commercial property and engineering lines of business. Should attempts to de-escalate the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran prove unsuccessful, reinsurance renewals will be a critical inflexion point for the sector, with reinsurers possibly looking to re-evaluate their risk appetites. This could lead to a reduction in available capacity, higher pricing, and changes to terms and conditions, exclusions and event limits.

To access the full copy of this market segment report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=366926.

To view current Best’s Market Segment Outlooks, please visit here.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Saad Abbasi
Financial Analyst
+44 20 7397 0316
saad.abbasi@ambest.com

Jessica Botelho-Young, CA
Director, Analytics
+44 20 7397 0310
jessica.botelho-young@ambest.com

Edem Kuenyehia
Director, Market Development & Communications
+44 20 7397 0280
edem.kuenyehia@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc.


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Contacts

Saad Abbasi
Financial Analyst
+44 20 7397 0316
saad.abbasi@ambest.com

Jessica Botelho-Young, CA
Director, Analytics
+44 20 7397 0310
jessica.botelho-young@ambest.com

Edem Kuenyehia
Director, Market Development & Communications
+44 20 7397 0280
edem.kuenyehia@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

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