IHC and RIQ snnounce strategic 10-year alliance anchored by over $500mln in reinsurance premiums
Partnership accelerates Abu Dhabi's rise as a global hub for reinsurance and intelligent risk management.
Abu Dhabi, UAE – RIQ, the AI-native reinsurance platform purpose-built for the future of global risk transfer, has entered into a preferred reinsurance partnership with IHC, anchored by a targeted allocation of over USD 500 million in risk coverage within the coming decade.
Based in ADGM and launched earlier this year by IHC in partnership with BlackRock and Lunate, RIQ will offer a full suite of reinsurance solutions, working closely with IHC and its portfolio companies to structure capital-efficient coverage across complex Specialty and Property and Casualty (P&C) risk classes. Leveraging advanced data modelling and AI-augmented underwriting, the platform is purpose-built to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving risk environment.
This partnership represents IHC's commitment to pioneering intelligent capital deployment and transformative risk transfer solutions. By leveraging RIQ's AI-powered infrastructure, IHC aims to enhance the resilience and operational agility of its group companies. The collaboration also aligns with Abu Dhabi's ambition to lead globally in structured reinsurance and financial innovation.
RIQ is currently advancing through its regulatory journey with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, as it moves toward formal authorization as a reinsurer. In parallel, final preparations are underway for the execution of the reinsurance transaction between IHC and RIQ, which remains subject to regulatory clearance. This transaction will mark a foundational step in RIQ's operational rollout.
Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, said: 'This partnership reflects IHC's conviction in the transformative power of intelligent capital and data-driven risk transfer. By aligning with RIQ, we are catalyzing the next chapter of Abu Dhabi's evolution as a global center for reinsurance innovation. This is not just a financial commitment, it is a strategic investment in the future of resilient infrastructure and industrial agility.'
Mark Wilson, CEO of RIQ, noted: 'We are proud to collaborate with IHC in this milestone partnership. RIQ's platform is engineered to deliver intelligent risk solutions at pace, fusing advanced analytics, underwriting discipline, and strategic capital. This announcement marks a defining step in our mission to reshape global reinsurance from Abu Dhabi outward.''
Additional strategic updates are expected in the coming months, as RIQ executes on its global buy-and-build strategy. With over USD 1 billion in equity commitments from IHC and strategic partners BlackRock and Lunate, and anchored in AI-native infrastructure, RIQ aims to ultimately write USD 10 billion per year, redefining the future of reinsurance through intelligence, scale, and strategic discipline.
About IHC
Established in 1999, IHC has become the most valuable holding company in the Middle East and one of the world's largest investment firms, with a market capitalization of AED 879.6 billion (USD 239.3 billion). Since then, it has transformed to represent a new generation of investors. IHC's commitment to sustainability, innovation, and economic diversification spans over 1,300 subsidiaries, driving growth across industries like Asset Management, Healthcare, Real Estate, Financial Services, IT, and more.
IHC continually looks beyond the stand-alone value of its assets for opportunities, stepping outside of traditional approaches and artificial barriers to unlock opportunities across its portfolio, enabling sector-agnostic Dynamic Value Networks and creating results that are often much greater than the sum of their parts.
At IHC, we take our responsibility to shareholders, customers, and employees seriously. Our commitment to responsible investment ensures that we create sustainable value by staying connected to the communities we serve, making a positive difference with every investment.
www.ihcuae.com
About RIQ
Established in 2025, RIQ is a next-generation, AI-native reinsurance platform launched by IHC, in partnership with BlackRock and Lunate. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), RIQ is designed to serve global markets with an initial focus on high-growth regions across the Middle East, Asia, and select international jurisdictions.
With deep capital backing, advanced analytics capabilities, and a long-term commitment to innovation, RIQ will provide reinsurance solutions across Property & Casualty, Life, and specialized segments. By integrating intelligent risk assessment with global capital, RIQ aims to help shape a more resilient and responsive future for reinsurance worldwide.
Media Contacts
Simon Hailes
Managing Director, Head of Edelman Smithfield Middle East
IHC@edelmansmithfield.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
6 minutes ago
- Zawya
Chestertons MENA reveals Dubai's top 6 residential hotspots
Backed by market intelligence and investor trends, the renowned global property consultancy has pinpointed the top six communities redefining Dubai's residential market, each offering strong capital growth potential and attractive rental yields Dubai, UAE: Founded in 1805, Chestertons is one of the world's most established and trusted real estate advisory firms with a strong presence in the UAE since 2008. Empowering both end-users and investors to make informed property decisions, the respected consultancy has shared key insights on the top six emerging residential communities in Dubai: Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), DAMAC Island, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Meydan City, and Dubai South. The findings show that while central areas remain in demand, suburban master-planned communities are delivering strong rental yields and attracting growing interest from both local and international investors. Data Snapshot Among the top six residential communities, JVC, DAMAC Island, Downtown Dubai, Meydan City, Dubai Marina, and Dubai South have all recorded rising transaction volumes, boosted by a combination of well-priced inventory, improving infrastructure, and increasing rental yields. As the most affordable of the six, DAMAC Islands averages at AED 823 per sq. ft., with a yield of 7.38%, largely driven by attractive off-plan pricing and high-return early investment opportunities. Dubai South follows at AED 1,035 per sq. ft. and a rental yield of 6.77% while JVC prices average at AED 1,238 per sq. ft., with strong rental yields around 7.39%, making it particularly popular among younger tenants and first-time buyers. Meanwhile, Dubai Marina offers a more central location at AED 1,757 per sq. ft. and returns close to 6.24%. Downtown Dubai commands the highest average price at AED 2,504 per sq. ft., delivering a solid 6% return in a sought-after, high-profile location. In contrast, Meydan City presents a compelling option for value-seekers, averaging AED 1,915 per sq. ft. and yields of 7.14%, supported by ongoing infrastructure upgrades and spacious layouts. Positioned for Growth Behind the rise of these communities is a larger shift in Dubai's urban planning, with limited central land giving way to the development of more suburban master-planned zones. Developers like Emaar and Binghatti continue to launch high-appeal projects, while government entities such as the RTA and Dubai Land Department work together to ensure long-term viability. Additionally, recent updates across the property market have helped increase access for different buyer profiles. Notably, first-time buyers are benefiting from initiatives like reduced down payment requirements and easier mortgage approvals through developer-bank partnerships. Mania Merrikhi, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Chestertons MENA, shared, 'At Chestertons, we've seen Dubai evolve into a powerhouse for real estate investment, and initiatives like the D33 agenda are set to drive even greater economic and urban growth over the next decade. At the same time, attention is shifting towards other emirates, particularly Abu Dhabi, where high-profile developments and infrastructure projects are opening up exciting new opportunities for investors.' Mohamed Mussa, Executive Director of Chestertons MENA, added, 'Government support continues to play a vital role in shaping the UAE's real estate market, with various entities rolling out buyer-friendly regulations and initiatives that make it easier for first-time buyers to enter the market. Notably, these developments are attracting a new wave of international and family-oriented investors. Looking forward, we anticipate particularly strong demand for full-service, master-planned communities that deliver on lifestyle, convenience, and value.' As Dubai's residential market continues to evolve, the spotlight is shifting towards communities that combine value, lifestyle, and long-term potential. With deep market insight and a legacy of trust, Chestertons MENA remains a reliable partner for those looking to navigate this shifting landscape with clarity and confidence. About Chestertons With a legacy spanning over 220 years, Chestertons is one of the world's most established and respected real estate advisory firms. Founded in London in 1805 by Charles Chesterton, the company has built a reputation for trust, integrity, and expertise, offering tailored advice to clients across the globe. As a founding member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chestertons combines its rich heritage with a forward-thinking approach, providing a full suite of services including residential and commercial brokerage, valuation and advisory, building consultancy, property management, and market research. In the UAE, Chestertons has been active since 2008, with its regional headquarters now based in Marina Plaza, Dubai Marina. The firm is home to a dynamic team of over 90 experts who bring together international experience and local insight to support developers, investors, landlords, and occupiers. With a history of success built over generations, Chestertons delivers intelligent, personalised solutions that generate long-term value.
Zawya
6 minutes ago
- Zawya
Over 40,000 apply for Saudi Premium Residency in 18 months as benefits attract investors
RIYADH - Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency platform has received 40,163 applications from both local and international applicants between January 2024 and July 2025, signaling a sharp rise in demand for the scheme designed to attract global talent and investors. According to official statistics, 8,074 Premium Residency permits were issued in 2024 alone. The largest share went to the 'exceptional competence' category with 5,578 permits, followed by 'talent' with 348 permits, alongside other categories including real estate ownership, entrepreneurship, and business investment. The Kingdom expanded the scope of Premium Residency in early 2024 from just two to seven categories. These now include Exceptional Competence, Talent, Business Investor, Entrepreneur, Real Estate Owner, and both Limited and Unlimited Duration Premium Residency. The expansion is part of broader reforms aimed at enabling high-value individuals to live, work, and invest in Saudi Arabia without the need for a sponsor. Premium Residency holders enjoy a wide array of benefits, including permanent or time-limited residency for themselves and their families, freedom of entry and exit without a visa, exemption from expat levies, the ability to invest, own property and vehicles, work in the private sector without a sponsor, recruit domestic workers, and issue family visit visas. Notably, the program allows residents to obtain usufruct rights to properties in Makkah and Madinah for up to 99 years and use citizen-designated airport lanes. The surge in applications reflects the growing global appeal of Saudi Arabia as a hub for talent, innovation, and investment. The Premium Residency system is considered a key pillar in the Kingdom's strategy to enhance its global competitiveness by creating a more attractive living and business environment. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The National
6 minutes ago
- The National
Data centre storage games: Winning the AI race
The UAE is known for meeting ambitious development goals, and this certainly applies to the country's digital transformation and its goal of becoming an AI leader. The region, which appointed the world's first minister of AI in 2017 and established the world's first university dedicated to AI research in 2019, has attracted international interest, with initiatives such as the UAE-US AI Campus or the MGX Fund to mobilise up to $100 billion investment in AI infrastructure. When building these AI ecosystems, the focus is on generative AI models (GenAI), graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), fast data storage, and highly skilled workers. However, fundamental IT infrastructures such as hard disk drive-based storage are often undervalued, even though they store huge unstructured data sets cost-effectively. To tap into the full potential of AI and keep the region at the forefront of technological advancements, regional CIOs and IT decision-makers need to look beyond processing power and rethink their storage approach to AI data workflows. The importance of HDDs for AI AI revolves around unstructured data — from ingestion and data preparation (including vectorisation, labelling) to training, interference, content generation and monitoring – and every step needs and creates more data. Given the global AI boom, the amount of information is exploding. According to IDC, the annual volume of data generated is expected to more than double to 527.5 zettabytes in 2029. To illustrate: if this data were to be stored on an HDD with 32 terabytes, 16.48 billion drives would be required. Stacked, they would build a 438.5km tall tower, stretching nearly eleven times around the Earth. To store this unimaginable amount, there is one technology that performs this task cost-effectively and energy efficiently while remaining powerful at scale. Maintaining a share of 80 per cent in the cloud by 2028, according to IDC, high-capacity HDDs with up to 32TB are becoming indispensable in AI data centres just like GPUs and CPUs. To fully enable effective storage systems for these data-hungry pipelines, IT decision makers and CIOs should consider: Highly Dense Architectures HDDs with innovations such as energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR), shingled magnetic recording (SMR), and helium-sealing are fuelling capacity increases without expanding the physical footprint of data centres. This saves on server racks or storage enclosures and can decrease cooling and power consumption costs. In fact, HDDs are approximately six times more cost-efficient than flash solutions. Moving from 26TB to 32TB drives to deploy one exabyte of storage, for example, can lead to 18.7 per cent fewer racks, 18.8 per cent fewer drives, and 18.8 per cent lower total power consumption, including a boost in cooling and power usage effectiveness. While results vary depending on workload requirements and setup, such efficiencies can reduce the total cost of ownership, helping IT teams meet performance demands without building more or bigger facilities and increasing costs. Energy efficiency and sustainability With AI systems scaling up, so does the environmental cost of working with unstructured data. Modern technologies consume enormous amounts of energy when processing and storing the constantly growing information volumes. According to current estimates, the electricity demand of data centres worldwide will more than double to around 945 terawatt hours (TWh) by 2030 – roughly equivalent to the total electricity consumption of the UAE between 2017 and 2023 (952 TWh). While this may sound bleak, it can be an opportunity to lead the way in sustainability and help meet regional net-zero targets. Again, HDDs can play a pivotal role in this transformation. To help reduce power consumption and emissions, IT decision makers must improve hardware efficiency. As high-capacity HDDs are the foundation of today's cloud environments, any effort to consolidate more capacity in the same 3.5in footprint can go a long way. Over the past years, HDD manufacturers have constantly innovated the technology to enable even lower energy use per TB (kW/TB). Drives from Western Digital with up to 32TB, for example, leverage the latest generation of HelioSeal technology. This innovation helps to reduce the total power consumption (including energy and cooling costs) of these HDDs by up to 28 per cent compared to standard air-filled drives. Ultimately, this can contribute to greater sustainability in the data centre and extend the hardware lifespan. Disaggregated storage In addition to HDD-based storage, disaggregated storage based on Non-Volatile Memory Express over Fabric (NVMe-oFTM ) is a transformative approach to modern data centres. The concept is no longer confined to hyperscalers; it's rapidly gaining traction to help support AI and accelerate workloads. Disaggregated infrastructures enable right-sized, independent scaling of compute, storage, and networking, eliminating the need for costly overprovisioning. Unlike traditional storage architectures that require adding entire servers when only one element needs expansion, disaggregated storage separates the GPU, CPU, and storage servers to better meet the different power, cooling, and space requirements. This gives customers better flexibility, unlocks further efficiencies, and lowers the overall TCO compared to tightly coupled HCI environments. The future of the UAE IT infrastructure is about building and using resources smartly. CIOs who embrace innovative HDD storage solutions and disaggregated storage architectures today will be best positioned to scale effectively without waste, unlocking the full potential of their AI investments for the future.
