AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb-” (Good) of Saudi Arabian Insurance Company B.S.C. (c) (Damana) (Bahrain). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Damana’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management. The ratings also factor in the neutral impact from Damana’s ultimate parent, Mawarid Holding Company.

Damana’s balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which was at the very strong level as at year-end 2023, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best expects BCAR scores to have recovered substantially to the strongest level in 2024, and year-to-date 2025, following the disposal of a large equity holding. Damana’s investment portfolio is now largely conservative and consists mostly of cash and deposits. An offsetting factor to the assessment is the company’s reliance on reinsurance for high-value risks, which is a common trait in the region; however, credit risk is minimised by a panel of sound credit quality.

Damana’s operating performance is assessed as marginal. The company has struggled with negative underwriting results for several years due to high expenses arising from its operating model and substantially reduced business scale. Loss ratios have also been affected by material events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2024 Dubai floods. Year-on-year improvements in the expense ratio have led to reductions in combined ratios from their peak of 148% in 2021, though underwriting operations remain unprofitable. Over the medium term and as the business continues to grow into its expense base, underwriting results are expected to trend towards profitability. Investment returns supplement performance, with Damana generating solid returns from its conservatively invested portfolio.

Damana has seen business volumes steadily increase year-on-year since it suffered a reduction of revenues in 2021, following regulatory restrictions imposed by the Central Bank of Bahrain on the company’s operations within that country. AM Best expects this trend in revenue growth to continue into the next few years, supported by Damana’s renewed focus on new lines of business beyond its core lines of motor and medical. This strategy does expose Damana to execution risk given the challenging and competitive conditions in its core markets of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait.

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