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Abu Dhabi, UAE:The Insurance Authority (IA) and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have today (Monday, 23 November 2015) jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance mutual cooperation on areas including supervision of insurance business and the exchange of relevant regulatory information and oversight.
The signing ceremony took place at the Insurance Authority's headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The MOU was signed by HE Ibrahim Obaid Al Zaabi, the IA Director General for the Insurance Authority and by HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of ADGM, and Mr. Richard Teng, CEO of the ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority, in the presence of and a number of senior officials from both parties. HE Ibrahim Obaid Al Zaabi expressed his pleasure for signing the MOU with ADGM to achieve the vision and strategic objectives of the IA in the field of control, development of the local insurance market and promote the competitiveness of the UAE insurance industry at the global level.
He confirmed that the signed MOU would contribute to the consolidation of the IA's efforts to establish the UAE insurance market on the latest legal, technical and financial foundations and ensuring the continued integrity of the conditions of the insurance sector in a manner that best serve the interests of the national economy.
AlZaabi said, "It is through the framework of cooperation which will be provided by the MOU will promote the exchange of information mechanisms that would support the supervisory and regulatory instruments for the sector and the companies involved; and thus, would help achieve the common objectives in line with the economic and development trends in the United Arab Emirates."
He explained that the IA has been constantly working to develop the laws and regulations governing the insurance sector of the UAE and coordination and cooperation with all partners and competent authorities, including the ADGM, to enhance the systems, procedures and controls in order to ensure the regulation and supervision of the insurance sector according to the best legal basis used in the insurance industry.
In this regard, the IA Director General pointed out that the IA issuance of the financial instructions governing the financial, investment, technical and accounting activities of the companies operating in the conventional and Takaful insurance sector aimed to make the UAE the first country in the Middle East in adopting the latest financial solvency requirements, to be on the same footing like the European model. At the same time, the issuance of these instructions would contribute to upgrade the credit rating of the companies and strengthen the positive outlook of the rating agencies and the global financial and investment institutions for the UAE.
Richard Teng, CEO, FSRA of ADGM, said, "This MOU reinforces the commitment of the IA and ADGM in collaborating closely to regulate and supervise the reinsurance industry in our marketplace. By leveraging our regulatory expertise and strengths, we can jointly promote our common objective in providing and maintaining the highest standards and practice of insurance-related services in Abu Dhabi and beyond."
The MOU establishes a framework for IA and ADGM to continually strengthen and improve mutual cooperation in, and supervision of the insurance industry. This will also enable both parties to achieve their objectives through exchange of information and greater collaboration. The framework seeks to foster greater open communication, exchange of relevant regulatory and supervisory information to foster and ensure compliance with laws, regulations and regulatory requirements, within the laws governing the work and functions of the two parties. The scope of collaboration includes sharing of experiences in insurance supervision, control and inspection techniques, setting up discussion groups, organize and participate in joint inspection tasks in accordance with the law, participation in industry conferences and training and others.
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About Abu Dhabi Global Market
Abu Dhabi Global Market ("ADGM"), an international financial centre in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, was established by Federal Decree in 2013.
A natural next step in Abu Dhabi's role as a dependable and responsible participant in the global financial community and in line with the Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision, ADGM, a financial free zone, will play a pivotal role in positioning the city as a global centre for business and finance, connecting the economies of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
ADGM's three independent authorities, the Registration Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and ADGM Courts, will enable registered companies to transact business within a zero-percent tax environment and operate within an international regulatory framework with its own independent judicial system and legislative infrastructure based on English Common Law.
Established as a broad based financial centre, ADGM's foundation stage centres around three anchor sectors - private banking, wealth management and asset management, but will retain the flexibility to expand its activities over time according to market demand.
Abu Dhabi Global Market is located on Al Maryah Island, a 114 hectare mixed-use residential, retail, leisure, hotel and commercial development.
For more information from ADGM, please contact:
Mirna Hijazi
Tel +971 2 3338 888
Mirna.hijazi@adgm.com
Joan Lew Kwan
Tel +971 2 3338 888
Joan.Lew@adgm.com
© Press Release 2015
