Syed Arslan Shakir
Insurance
Dubai
Summary
Results-driven Insurance Professional with 15+ years of cross-functional expertise in underwriting, reinsurance, product development, and business growth. Proven ability to drive profitability, market expansion, and regulatory compliance across retail, corporate, and bancassurance channels. Adept at leveraging technical underwriting skills to develop innovative solutions, optimize portfolios, and foster strategic partnerships in dynamic markets like the UAE, GCC, and South Asia.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Manager – Underwriting Life and Medical SME
Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company PJSC
Dubai, UAE
01.2021 - Current
- Responsible for managing and underwriting of circa AED 500+ million book of Credit Life and Medical SME business.
Responsible for developing business through brokers and Affinity channels. - Responsible to enhance Inward FAC business along with Retrocession programs with Lead RI markets and increase market penetration in GCC and South Asian markets.
- Responsible for achieving Budgeted “Top Line” (GWP) target and deliver the Budgeted P&L Profitability “Bottom Line” for both LOBs - Credit Life and Medical SME.
- Responsible for achieving 85% Renewal Retention for all LOBs.
- E-forms reporting to Central bank.
- Responsible for product filing with Central Bank.
- FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) report to CB.
- CRS (Common Reporting Standard) Submissions to CB.
Senior Underwriter - Individual & Group Life
Noor Takaful PJSC
Dubai, UAE
07.2015 - 12.2020
- Responsible for Medical and non-medical underwriting for Individual Life and above FCL cases for Group Life.
Responsible for Pricing Group Life schemes through the Pricing tool.
Negotiate Underwriting terms with Retakaful and responsible for Reconciling Retakaful accounts.
Support Sales teams in securing and managing business by timely response to their queries and communicating the requirements
Underwriter/Coordinator – Bancassurance
Orient Insurance PJSC (Al Futtaim Group)
Dubai, UAE
03.2014 - 06.2015
- Review fresh applications for Individual Life insurance and analyze risk by obtaining information from clients and other sources to determine appropriate risk levels and accept risk by following Company’s guidelines. This includes reviewing medical reports, financial records, and occupational records to assess the applicant’s health and financial stability.
- Coordinate with Re-Insurers for above limit cases and for new Underwriting limits.
- Prepare Commission reports and do reconciliation with the banks.
- Continuous support to Banca sales team to achieve their respective sales targets
Deputy Manager / Sr. Life Underwriter (Bancassurance)
EFU Life Assurance Limited
08.2008 - 03.2014
- Responsible for evaluating insurance applications and determining the risk levels of potential policyholders by categorizing them into Standard or Sub-standard groups.
- Responsible for 11 banks portfolio and supervising the whole Underwriting and operations of Bancassurance.
- Coordinate with external auditors for conducting underwriting audits.
- Product testing and implementation of new Banca products (ILAS).
- Assist clients in interpreting policy language and after Sales service to all banca partners.
Education
MBA - Finance
Iqra University
Karachi, Pakistan 01.2009 - 05.2013
Skills
Technical Underwriting & Risk AsseSsment
Reinsurance Strategy & Treaty Negotiation
P&L Management (AED 500M portfolios)
Business Development & Market Penetration
Regulatory Compliance (CB, FATCA, CRS)
Product Development & Pricing
Team Leadership & Cross-functional Collaboration
Timeline
Senior Manager – Underwriting Life and Medical SME
Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company PJSC
01.2021 - Current
Senior Underwriter - Individual & Group Life
Noor Takaful PJSC
07.2015 - 12.2020
Underwriter/Coordinator – Bancassurance
Orient Insurance PJSC (Al Futtaim Group)
03.2014 - 06.2015
MBA - Finance
Iqra University
01.2009 - 05.2013
Deputy Manager / Sr. Life Underwriter (Bancassurance)
EFU Life Assurance Limited
08.2008 - 03.2014