Underwriters Wanted: Insurance and Finance Sectors Face Strong Hiring Wave in Early 2026

Insurers and financial institutions across Asia‑Pacific and the Middle East are heading into 2026 expecting one thing in common: a serious war for talent. A survey summarised by Insurance Asia reports that finance and insurance employers in these regions anticipate “strong hiring activity” in the first quarter of the year, driven by regulatory change, digital‑transformation projects and expanding compulsory‑insurance schemes.​

The report notes that roles in risk, compliance, underwriting, actuarial science and data analytics are in particularly high demand as companies adapt to IFRS 17, solvency‑based capital rules and new disclosure requirements. GCC markets, where regulators have tightened oversight and pushed for consolidation, are at the forefront of this shift. Mergers such as Walaa–SABB Takaful and Arabian Shield–Al Ahli Takaful in Saudi Arabia, and Dar Al Takaful–Watania in the UAE, have created larger entities with more sophisticated risk and reporting needs.​

Ken Research’s GCC insurance outlook says the region is “poised for another year of double‑digit growth in 2026,” powered by expanding mandatory lines in health, motor and other coverages. Saudi Arabia now accounts for roughly 43.5 percent of GCC premiums and has seen rapid GWP growth, while Kuwait has posted the fastest five‑year CAGR at 8.7 percent thanks to AFYA medical coverage expansion. Qatar, Oman and Bahrain continue to roll out or strengthen health‑insurance mandates for residents, visitors and expatriate workers.​

Deloitte’s global insurance outlook underscores the structural drivers behind this hiring wave: rising customer expectations, broker consolidation and the urgent need to modernise systems and processes. Insurers are under pressure to deliver more personalised, digital experiences while controlling costs and meeting complex regulatory requirements. That combination requires new skill sets—data engineers, AI specialists, cyber‑risk experts—alongside traditional underwriters and actuaries.​

Corporate and commercial insurance is a particular focus area. Generali’s 2025 launch of Global Corporate & Commercial (GC&C) India, led by Shib Shankar Saha under Future Generali India Insurance, is an example of how global carriers are expanding in high‑growth Asian markets. The unit offers property, liability, financial lines, engineering, marine, cyber and parametric covers along with risk‑advisory services to medium and large enterprises. Executives cited India’s infrastructure drive and manufacturing push as key reasons for the move, signalling similar opportunities in GCC markets with large project pipelines.​

In the Gulf, complex giga‑projects and infrastructure‑PPP structures demand more advanced risk‑transfer solutions, from construction and delay‑in‑start‑up covers to political‑risk and climate‑related products. Reinsurers and brokers are also ramping up staff to service these needs, especially in hubs such as Dubai, Riyadh and Doha. The Middle East Insurance Review notes that as IFRS 17 and solvency rules bite, more carriers may seek scale through M&A, further intensifying the need for integration and change‑management talent.​

For jobseekers, the environment looks favourable but competitive. Employers are increasingly seeking “T‑shaped” professionals—deep in one domain but conversant in technology, regulation and client engagement. Regional labour‑market policies, such as Emiratisation and Saudisation, mean that local nationals with the right skills may enjoy preferential opportunities, while expatriates will need to demonstrate clear added value. Hybrid working arrangements and cross‑border roles—serving GCC and ASEAN clients from shared hubs—are becoming more common.​

The bigger strategic question for insurers and banks is whether they can hire fast enough, and in the right mix, to deliver on ambitious digital‑transformation and growth plans. Failure to do so could slow product innovation, weaken risk controls, or leave customer‑experience gaps that tech‑savvy competitors exploit. For now, Q1 2026 looks set to be one of the most active hiring periods in years for the combined insurance‑finance ecosystem from Dubai and Riyadh to Singapore and Mumbai.