QIC Group, the parent company of Antares, has achieved a (provisional) MSCI ‘AAA’ rating for ESG, making them the first company in Qatar and the only insurer in the MENA region to be awarded this grade. QIC are one of a select few global insurers to receive this distinction.
This rating by the MSCI, effective 22nd May 2025, reflects QIC’s excellence across five core pillars:
1.) Ethics & governance.
2.) Responsible investment strategy.
3.) Human capital excellence.
4.) Talent development and inclusion.
5.) Privacy and cyber security.
To meet these standards, QIC created an effective ESG governance structure with board-level oversight. This led to QIC being the first insurer in the MENA region to sign and commit to the UNEP-F1 Principles for Sustainable Insurance, and the first insurer in the MENA region to voluntarily commit to the European GDPR regulations.
This achievement is the culmination of years of dedicated effort and positions QIC Group as a regional pioneer and global contributor to sustainable finance.
Salem Al Mannai, Group CEO, Qatar Insurance Group said: “This achievement reaffirms our long-standing commitment to sustainability and our ambition to lead by example in Qatar and the region. We are proud to contribute to Qatar’s vision for a sustainable financial sector, under the guidance of the Qatar Central Bank and in alignment with global standards such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
Mike van der Straaten, CEO, Antares said: “In the UK, this has supported Antares to create a sustainable business model that enables the creation of a rewarding and inclusive workplace and the provision of high-quality service to our clients, as well as equipping the business to handle fluctuations in the market.”
QIC are committed to continuing this work, with key initiatives globally including:
– Establishing a Climate Research desk to address climate risks.
– Introducing underwriting guidelines for ESG risk assessment.
– Launching innovative microinsurance and green insurance products.
– Calculating greenhouse gas emissions across our operations to align with net-zero targets.
About Antares
Antares provides local and international insurance and reinsurance capacity, risk transfer solutions and products through brokers and MGAs using our Lloyd’s and company market platforms operating primarily out of the UK, Bermuda and Singapore. We cover the whole spectrum of risks from complex international business risks to local retail SME and consumer personal lines.
About Qatar Insurance Company
Qatar Insurance Company is a publicly listed insurer with a consistent performance history over 60 years and a global underwriting footprint. Founded in 1964, QIC was the first domestic insurance company in the State of Qatar. Today, QIC is the market leader in Qatar and a dominant insurer in the GCC and MENA regions. QIC is the largest insurance company in the MENA region by total assets and is listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange.