XL Group’s reinsurance segment is setting up new operations in Dubai, UAE, to serve the MENA market, XL announced Wednesday.

The Dubai operation will serve as a regional hub.

XL also announced the appointments of Mohamad Alali as Senior Executive Officer and Imen Hamadouche as a Property Facultative Underwriter. Both will be based in the new Dubai reinsurance office.

Commenting in a statement, David Watson, CEO of XL Re Europe SE, said: “There remains a strong reinsurance purchasing culture among local cedents with large property, industrial and energy exposures in the MENA region as well as growing opportunities in the Casualty and Specialty sectors.

“What these clients want is a local presence and knowledge supported by global expertise and security.”

Alali joins XL Group from Willis in Dubai having previously worked in London as an international property broker from 2006. He holds an MSc in Actuarial Science and a BSc in Statistics & Economics from Queen’s University at Kingston, Canada.

Hamadouche joins from Aon Benfield, Dubai, where she held the position of Client Manager for its MENA facultative business. She has broad market experience having worked as a property underwriter in Europe for some years.

Source: XL Group