Insurance Association faces election as six board members quit

The UAE Insurance Association may have to call fresh elections to its board of directors following the resignation of six members, according to Ministry of Economy and Commerce officials. Yesterday the ministry received their resignation letter. The association has 12 board members.

The letter said they had resigned because the association refused to fulfill majority requests to hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss Dubai Police's non-injury vehicle accident reports. "The association neither accurately nor comprehensively examined the issue and had not checked out the move's negative impact on the industry," the officials said.

"The resignations were forced by discontent among some board members regarding the way the association handled the issue arising out of Dubai Police's move to charge Dh500 for being called in on non-injury vehicle accidents," industry sources added.

Among those quitting are Wissam Al Haimas of Qatar General Insurance, George Al Ashkar of Lebanese Insurance Co and Mohammed Abdul Moati Ibrahim of Saudi Arabian Insurance Co. Board members Farid Lutfi of Alliance Insurance, Elias Dahdal of Jordan Insurance and Ahmed Kazim Amin of Arabian Scandinavian also gave notice.

Ministry of Economy and Commerce officials said it will have no choice but to form a temporary five-member committee to run the association, holding an annual general meeting within a month and new elections - under Emirates Insurance Association articles of association.

"An annual general meeting of the UAE Insurance Association is scheduled to be called. However, as of now no dates have been set," said a senior member of the local industry grouping. Emirates Insurance Association's articles also stipulate that the board of directors is elected for two years.