BlackRock and Abu Dhabi’s IHC Launch $1 Billion AI-Powered Reinsurance Venture
BlackRock and IHC launch a $1B AI-native reinsurance platform from Abu Dhabi with Asia poised to benefit from smarter, tech-driven risk coverage.
In a bold move set to redefine the global reinsurance landscape, Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company (IHC) has partnered with BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, to launch a $1 billion reinsurance platform based in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The initiative represents a landmark convergence of sovereign wealth, global financial expertise, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
The platform will manage up to $10 billion in insurance liabilities and will underwrite across Property & Casualty (P&C), Life, and specialty lines. As one of the largest reinsurance ventures ever launched from the MENA region, it signals Abu Dhabi’s intent to compete with legacy players from Europe and North America — and to become a long-term global force in the capital-intensive world of reinsurance.
AI-Native From the Start
What distinguishes this new venture is its “AI-native” foundation: rather than adapting to digital trends, it’s being built with machine learning at its core. The platform will integrate real-time data analysis, dynamic risk modeling, and pricing automation from day one, using BlackRock’s proprietary Aladdin system. This approach aims to reduce operational costs and unlock competitive agility, giving it an edge in today’s fast-changing risk environment.
“This is not just another reinsurer,” said a senior executive involved in the launch. “It’s a next-generation infrastructure designed to meet the complexity of modern risk.”
Global Leadership, Tech Ambition
The company’s board will be chaired by Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Group CEO of ADNOC — highlighting the national strategic importance of the venture. Former Aviva Plc and AIA Group CEO Mark Wilson will lead the new reinsurer as Chief Executive, bringing a legacy of digital transformation and global expansion.
Also joining the effort is Abu Dhabi-based Lunate, a rising alternative investment giant, marking its entry into reinsurance.
A Long-Term Vision Rooted in ADGM
The initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi’s broader ambition to transform the ADGM into a leading global financial center, powered by capital access, innovation-friendly regulation, and strong sovereign backing. For investors and institutions looking to the Middle East as a new financial anchor, this venture sends a clear message: the UAE is building infrastructure for global financial leadership.
Opportunities for Asia’s Risk Ecosystem
Beyond the MENA region, this AI-powered reinsurance platform could carry major significance for Asia — one of the fastest-growing and most risk-exposed regions in the world. From climate-related disasters and health crises to megacity infrastructure and digital risk, the insurance protection gap across Asia remains large.
By setting a new standard in data-driven risk assessment and automated underwriting, this platform opens the door to future partnerships with Asian insurers, sovereign wealth funds, and governments seeking to modernize risk management systems. The involvement of Mark Wilson — who previously led Asia-focused insurer AIA Group — adds additional relevance to the Asian market.
“This could be a turning point,” said one analyst in Singapore. “If they bring their model to Asia, we could see more tailored, tech-driven solutions for the region’s increasingly complex insurance needs.”
With its AI-first infrastructure, high-level leadership, and sovereign capital backing, the platform may serve as a blueprint for the future of reinsurance — one that is digital, globally connected, and responsive to the evolving needs of Asia’s dynamic economies.
