Award winning Insurance Group actively targets Construction and Engineering segment in growth regions

Dubai- 22nd April 2007: The booming property development, real estate and construction market in the GCC presents sizable potential for Construction & Engineering (C&E) insurance. Recognizing this potential, Royal & SunAlliance has begun an expansion of their insurance capabilities for Middle East and Asia.

With an excellent treaty capacity provided by a panel of reinsurers of world-class repute, Royal & Sun has recently appointed a leading Construction and Engineering expert based in Hong Kong. Dr. Zhou Hao Ming, who will spearhead regional development for the Middle East and also for Asia. He is currently hiring teams of expert underwriter and claims handlers and will be appointing people at a senior level across the Middle East.

Zhou Hao Ming says, "With the announcement of ambitious new construction projects in the UAE alone, we are confident of the profitability of our expansion plans. From commercial and residential buildings, luxury hotels and resorts, hospitals, schools, shopping malls, airport expansions and theme parks, we see the value of UAE's current property development projects to be over US$ 10 billion. With upcoming initiatives, this value will increase tremendously.

In an environment where there are plans to build the largest shopping mall in the world and the tallest structures in the world, it is a great benefit to have a full-fledged, technically proficient Risk Management Team. However, the strongest benefit we offer is that we have adequate capacity available to lead major risks. For risks that are able to meet our criteria, we are usually prepared to insure up to USD 100 Million on EML basis."

He further stressed that such rapid development has been contagious for the region, with further boom in KSA, Bahrain, Oman and Egypt where Royal & SunAlliance sees further growth opportunities in the insurance market.

"As for Asia, with rapidly growing economies like India and China, again we are confident that we will be able to deliver on our extensive targets for this year and have sustained growth for many years to come."

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About RSA
Royal & SunAlliance is a FTSE 100 company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Writing insurance for almost 300 years, today the core group consists of three regions UK, International and Emerging Markets, with operations in 27 countries worldwide.

As one of the few multinational insurers in the region, R&SA offer Middle East wide presence through their network of offices. Currently the operations include the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain & Egypt. The Group has been represented in the region since 1956 when Royal Insurance set up the first local agency in Dubai.

For more information, please go to http://www.royalsunalliance.com

© Press Release 2007