Dr. AFTAB Hasan Interview
Dr. AFTAB Hasan, Founder & Chairman of the Global Association of InsurTech Professionals (GAIP) – NPIO, Risk Exchange (DIFC) Limited, Arya Insurance Brokerage Co. (Bayzat), A2R Solutions, and Risk Exchange International Holdings Pte. Ltd. Singapore is a globally respected figure in the insurance and reinsurance ecosystem. With a unique journey that began in engineering and transitioned through maritime and offshore sectors, he has become a pioneer in leveraging technology to modernize and humanize the insurance industry. The Arab Today sits down with him to explore the milestones, motivations, and mission behind his multifaceted journey.
Professional Profile: Dr. AFTAB Hasan:
Founder and Chairman | Global Association of InsurTech Professionals (GAIP)
Founder and Chairman | Risk Exchange (DIFC) Ltd.
Founder and Chairman | Risk Exchange International Holdings Pte. Ltd.
Founder and Chairman | A2R Solutions
Chief Executive Officer | Arya Insurance Brokerage Co.(Bayzat)
The Journey from Infrastructure to InsurTech
We started the interview by asking, “From Engineering to Insurance: What Inspired Your Transition into the World of InsurTech?”
Dr. AFTAB Hasan replied, “My professional journey began in engineering and expanded into high-risk sectors like maritime, oil, and gas. While navigating these industries, I became acutely aware of a crucial gap; risk management, particularly through insurance, was not evolving in tandem with the complexities of these operations. That realization marked a turning point.
I didn’t merely want to work within the traditional structures; I wanted to reshape them. I saw insurance as a mechanism with untapped potential for transformation, especially when paired with modern technologies. My passion towards technology also led to the founding of A2R Solutions, a company dedicated to implementing intelligent, tech-enabled ERP or CRM software solutions across industries. Later, I launched Risk Exchange (DIFC) Limited, a DFSA-regulated reinsurance intermediary in Dubai, and Risk Exchange International Holdings Pte. Ltd, a diverse family investment holding company in Singapore focused on financial ventures.
Ultimately, the need for a collective voice and collaboration in InsurTech led to the creation of GAIP (Global Association of InsurTech Professionals) a nonprofit movement aimed at uniting insurers, technologists, regulators, and investors across geographies. For me, InsurTech isn’t a trend; it’s a timely and necessary evolution of how we protect people, assets, and economies.”
The Journey from Infrastructure to InsurTech
Building Ecosystems Where Innovation Thrives
The Arab Today: How Has Leading Multiple Companies Across Diverse Sectors Shaped Your Approach to Innovation?
Dr. AFTAB Hasan replied, “My cross-sector leadership, ranging from engineering and maritime to reinsurance and digital transformation, has reinforced one critical lesson: innovation thrives at the intersection of disciplines.
From engineering, I imbibed the values of precision, reliability, and process integrity. Through technology, I embraced agility and rapid iteration. After the insurance and reinsurance world, I understood the power of trust, governance, and systemic resilience. These elements converge in my leadership style.
Whether it’s building Risk Exchange into a globally recognized reinsurance intermediary, steering Arya Insurance Brokerage Co. into sustainable growth, or positioning GAIP as a global think tank and innovation hub, my approach is rooted in adaptability and vision. I ensure that every organization I lead operates with a culture where innovation is not just encouraged, it’s institutionalized.
Disruption, in my philosophy, must always be purpose-driven and value-generating. I believe leadership today is not about controlling outcomes but enabling ecosystems where innovation is organic and sustainable.”
GAIP: Shaping the Future of Global InsurTech
The Arab Today: What Vision Drives Your Work at the Global Association of InsurTech Professionals (GAIP)?
Dr. AFTAB Hasan replied, “GAIP was created out of a clear need; a lack of structured, global collaboration in the InsurTech ecosystem. Despite significant growth in InsurTech investment and innovation, there was no single platform to bring together stakeholders from various domains and jurisdictions.
My vision for GAIP is to become the world’s most impactful nonprofit platform dedicated to advancing InsurTech through collaboration, education, research, and policy advocacy. We are currently expanding chapters across regions such as Saudi Arabia, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kenya, Turkey, Brazil, UK, USA and beyond; each fostering local engagement while staying connected to the global mission.
At GAIP, we facilitate forums, certify InsurTech education through our upcoming GAIP Academy, work with regulators for forward-thinking policy frameworks, and nurture startups by connecting them with capital, mentors, and markets. We have also launched GAIP TV, a dedicated channel for the global InsurTech community.
In short, GAIP is about shaping the future of insurances that is more inclusive, tech-enabled, and prepared to serve humanity better.”
Reimagining Insurance
The Arab Today: What Role Should Technology Play in the Transformation of Traditional Insurance?
Dr. AFTAB Hasan replied, “Technology should no longer be viewed as an accessory; it must be central to reimagining how insurance functions. Traditional models, built on legacy systems and manual workflows, are insufficient in a world that demands speed, transparency, and personalization.
Through initiatives such as reinsurance marketplace being launched in the middle east in partnership with a credible tech partner by Risk Exchange, we are demonstrating how digital platforms, real-time underwriting, AI-driven risk assessment, and blockchain-backed security protocols can elevate the customer and provider experience alike. We are also exploring parametric reinsurance solutions through strategic engagements, including potential collaborations with credible underwriting parametric reinsurers, particularly in high-risk, underinsured regions like Sub-Saharan Africa.
However, technology should not replace human expertise; it should enhance it. By automating repetitive tasks, enabling real-time insights, and ensuring data integrity, we free professionals to focus on high-impact decision-making and customer engagement.
InsurTech, at its core, is about enabling better outcomes: faster claims, more accurate pricing, proactive risk mitigation, and ultimately, stronger communities.”
Recognition with a Responsibility
The Arab Today: Which Professional Recognition Has Been Most Meaningful to You and Why?
Dr. AFTAB Hasan replied, “While I’ve been fortunate to receive several honors over the years, the ‘Insurance Personality of the Year’ ‘Qadat Al Tagheer Award’ at the UAE–India Economic Forum, presented by Bloomberg Middle East and Economic Times, ‘Outstanding CEO of the Year’ at the Global Economic Summit and ‘Reinsurance Personality of the Year’ at the India UAE Strategic Enclave these are some of the awards bestowed on me holds a special place in my heart.
This award wasn’t just recognition of individual effort; it symbolized the strategic bridges we’ve built between two dynamic insurance markets; India and the UAE. It validated the years of hard work in fostering innovation, trust, and bilateral engagement between regional and international insurance ecosystems.
Awards are milestones but they also serve as reminders of the responsibility we carry. I view every recognition as a call to do more, to build more inclusive institutions, to champion regulatory modernization and to mentor the next generation of InsurTech leaders.”
A Message to the Next Generation
Lastly we asked, “What is your closing thought to our readers?”
“From transforming oil and gas risk models to driving forward-looking regulation in the reinsurance industry, and from educating future leaders to uniting a global network of InsurTech innovators—Dr. AFTAB Hasan’s journey is one of purpose, impact, and relentless innovation.
In a world navigating volatility, his work underscores a powerful truth: technology and trust, when paired with vision, can reinvent even the oldest of industries.” Dr. AFTAB Hasan concluded
For more information visit, Global Association of InsurTech Professionals website: https://www.gaip.co/
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