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International General Insurance Holdings
Wasef Jabsheh launched International General Insurance Holdings in 2001 as a Dubai-based specialty insurer, drawing on decades of family and regional...
International General Insurance Holdings
Wasef Jabsheh launched International General Insurance Holdings in 2001 as a Dubai-based specialty insurer, drawing on decades of family and regional underwriting experience. The firm was built to serve complex commercial risks across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia — markets where large global carriers often maintain limited on-the-ground presence. IGI remains closely held by the Jabsheh family, though its 2020 Nasdaq listing via merger with Tiberius Acquisition Corp introduced public shareholders and SEC reporting requirements, shifting its governance posture while preserving founder control. The firm writes a diversified short-tail book concentrated in specialty commercial lines. Core sectors include energy and property insurance, engineering and construction, marine, aviation, and political violence coverage. IGI distributes exclusively through a network of independent brokers, avoiding direct-to-customer channels. Its reinsurance unit provides proportional and non-proportional treaty capacity to cedants across emerging markets, with particular emphasis on Africa and Southeast Asia. Public filings show the group typically targets a combined ratio below 95%, with investment income generated from a conservative, liquid fixed-income portfolio managed alongside underwriting float. IGI operates from five underwriting hubs: Dubai serves as the group headquarters and Middle East platform; London houses the Lloyd's syndicate and international reinsurance operations; Amman supports regional underwriting and back-office functions; Kuala Lumpur covers Southeast Asian markets; and Casablanca extends the firm's footprint into Francophone Africa. After the 2020 Nasdaq listing, the firm has steadily grown gross written premiums. In 2024, IGI reported full-year GWP of approximately $750 million (per the firm's March 2025 earnings release), a figure that reflects consistent organic growth rather than transformative M&A. The firm's structural differentiator lies in its regulatory architecture: a Bermuda-domiciled holding company with operating subsidiaries across five distinct jurisdictions, each licensed locally. This multi-hub model allows IGI to write admitted paper in regions where monoline Bermuda or London carriers cannot, giving it access to localized treaty markets in the Middle East and North Africa that remain underserved by global reinsurers. The Jabsheh family's ongoing majority ownership and operational leadership reinforce a long-duration underwriting culture uncommon among publicly traded specialty carriers.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2001
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
United Arab Emirates
City
Dubai
Corporate office
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Additional offices
London · Amman · Kuala Lumpur · Casablanca
Principals
Wasef Jabsheh
Executive Chairman
Walid Jabsheh
CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who controls IGI and runs its underwriting strategy?
Founders Wasef Jabsheh (Executive Chairman) and Walid Jabsheh (CEO) lead the firm. The Jabsheh family retains majority ownership even after the 2020 Nasdaq listing. Day-to-day underwriting authority sits with divisional heads across each operating subsidiary, with group-level risk appetite set by a central underwriting committee chaired by executive management.
How does IGI's 2020 SPAC merger affect its investment profile as a family-linked insurer?
The merger with Tiberius Acquisition Corp took IGI public on Nasdaq, introducing quarterly SEC filings and a public float of roughly 30% (per SEC filings). The Jabsheh family retained majority control through a high-vote share structure. This creates a hybrid profile — public-market transparency and capital access combined with founder-led underwriting discipline and multi-decade time horizons.
What insurance lines does IGI underwrite, and which does it avoid?
IGI writes energy (upstream and downstream), property and engineering, construction all-risks, marine hull and cargo, aviation, political violence, and treaty reinsurance. The firm avoids long-tail liability classes such as medical malpractice, directors and officers, and professional indemnity — keeping its book predominantly short-tail where loss emergence is faster and reserve risk is lower.
How does IGI distribute its products?
All business is sourced through independent insurance and reinsurance brokers. IGI does not operate a direct-to-insured sales channel. The broker network includes both global firms (Marsh, Aon, Willis) and regional specialists, particularly across the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asian markets where local broker relationships carry significant weight.
Where does IGI underwrite from, and why does its multi-jurisdiction structure matter?
IGI writes from five hubs: Dubai, London, Amman, Kuala Lumpur, and Casablanca. Each operating subsidiary holds local regulatory licenses in its region. This structure lets IGI issue admitted paper in markets like Morocco or Malaysia where non-admitted foreign carriers face restrictions, giving it a practical distribution advantage over single-jurisdiction London or Bermuda competitors.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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