In an era where industries are redefined by digital disruption, regulatory shifts, and global crises, a handful of leaders rise above the rest, not merely to adapt but to architect the future. Dr. AFTAB Hasan, Founder and Chairman of the Global Association of InsurTech Professionals (GAIP), is one such transformative force. His journey, spanning over three decades and multiple continents, is not just about career milestones; it’s a narrative of relentless vision, cross-sectoral leadership, and purpose-driven innovation in the global insurance and InsurTech ecosystem.
From metallurgy to marine shipping, from energy to emerging technologies, Dr. Hasan’s career has defied linear progression. It’s a mosaic of industries, risks, and reinventions, all culminating in a powerful vision: to humanize insurance, digitize resilience, and globalize protection. Today, as a central figure in reshaping the insurance narrative in the MENA region and beyond, he stands not only as an executive but as a movement-builder, educator, and global voice for inclusive, tech-enabled insurance.
From Steel to Strategy: A Journey Forged by Purpose
Dr. Hasan’s leadership story is rooted not in a boardroom, but in the roaring heat of the steel industry. As a young engineer, he was grounded in systems thinking, discipline, and precision, values that would later scaffold his leadership in the world of insurance. His career soon evolved through industries like scientific and medical equipment, oil and gas, and marine shipping, each teaching him a unique dimension of human-centric innovation, global supply chains, and risk mitigation.
But it was his entry into the insurance world, at a time when markets were inefficient and underserved, that lit the spark of transformation. He recognized early on that digital tools could democratize access, streamline delivery, and personalize protection. “Technology wasn’t just an enabler,” he reflects. “It was a responsibility.”
The COVID-19 pandemic became a watershed moment. As the world halted and traditional insurance models faltered under unexpected pressures, Dr. Hasan saw the true urgency of digital transformation. That crisis catalyzed the launch of GAIP, a global nonprofit anchored in resilience, inclusion, and innovation.
Today, under his leadership, GAIP operates under the auspices of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and aligns with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, launching global chapters and championing tech-driven insurance access for all.
Bridging Gaps Through Ventures That Matter
Across his entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Hasan has founded and led multiple ventures, each a strategic solution to an industry inefficiency he personally witnessed.
- Risk Exchange International Holdings in Singapore emerged as an investment holding platform delivering risk management, insurance, reinsurance, and financing solutions through global-local partnerships.
- Risk Exchange (DIFC) Ltd., a fully DFSA-regulated entity in Dubai, now offers reinsurance broking, intermediation, and captive management, backed by access to global reinsurers and Lloyd’s syndicates.
- A2R Solutions rose to prominence by providing software solutions in partnership with global tech leaders like TCS and SAGE, revolutionizing enterprise efficiency across the Middle East.
- Arya Insurance (Bayzat) became his digital transformation lab where he implemented cutting-edge digital insurance solutions at the retail level.
Yet, it is GAIP that reflects his larger mission, not as a commercial entity, but as a global platform of collaboration. GAIP unites technologists, insurers, governments, and regulators for a shared purpose, to drive ethical, inclusive, and sustainable innovation across the insurance sector.
“These ventures weren’t businesses, they were bridges,” Dr. Hasan shares. “I saw exclusion and built inclusion. I saw delays and built automation. It was always about impact, never empire.”
InsurTech: A New DNA for the Industry
Dr. Hasan believes InsurTech is not merely an evolution, it’s a complete rewrite of the insurance playbook. Traditional insurance focused on indemnity, InsurTech focuses on empowerment. The convergence of AI, blockchain, and IoT has enabled on-demand coverage, dynamic pricing, predictive underwriting, and real-time claims, all centered on the individual.
For underserved communities, this shift is transformational. Farmers can now insure crops through parametric models tied to weather data. Migrant workers can access short-term health insurance via remittances. SMEs can secure instant cyber protection. “InsurTech has removed bureaucracy and built bridges of access,” he asserts. “It’s not just disruption. It’s liberation.”
He envisions a future where embedded insurance becomes the norm, whether in e-commerce checkouts, ride-sharing apps, or smart cities. Behavior-based policies will adjust premiums in real-time. Insurance will proactively predict and prevent risks, not just react to them.
This is not just a tech trend, he says. It is a philosophical reset. “InsurTech is shifting insurance from institutions to individuals, from paper to platforms, from static products to dynamic ecosystems.”
Regional Transformation: MENA as a Global InsurTech Hub
Dr. Hasan has witnessed, and contributed to, a remarkable transformation of the insurance ecosystem in the MENA and Asia-Pacific regions. From handwritten ledgers and legacy systems to cloud-native platforms, regulatory sandboxes, and global reinsurers entering the region, he describes the change as “nothing short of a metamorphosis.”
“The rise of DIFC as a financial nucleus, sovereign wealth funds entering the value chain, and regulators supporting InsurTech innovation have turned the region into a global launchpad,” he says.
Where insurance was once viewed as rigid and relationship-based, it is now dynamic, inclusive, and tech-forward. The sector has evolved from transactional models to experience-driven engagement, and more young professionals are entering the industry by choice, not chance.
Leadership Beyond the Boardroom: Building Movements, Not Just Companies
Dr. Hasan’s impact is not limited to boardrooms. His contributions as an advisor, delegate, and thought leader across global trade and policy platforms have helped reframe the insurance industry’s role in national policy and resilience strategy.
Through GAIP, he is now working with top United Nations bodies, including UNDRR, UNDP, and ECOSOC, to develop frameworks for inclusive digital insurance in developing economies. GAIP is also developing academic programs and leadership curriculums under GAIP Academy, nurturing the next generation of InsurTech pioneers.
“I’ve learned that transformation is not an individual task, it is a collective mission,” he reflects. “Leadership is about walking with others, not walking ahead.”
Entrepreneurship Without a Blueprint
As a first-generation entrepreneur, Dr. Hasan built his credibility without a legacy business or financial cushion. “Every inch was earned. I had to prove myself in rooms where I was the youngest or the most unconventional,” he recalls.
From capital constraints to regulatory hurdles, he faced resistance, skepticism, and setbacks. But he overcame them with persistence, adaptability, and principled negotiation. He built trust through performance, not promises. “Resilience is not about avoiding failure; it’s about turning failure into fuel.”
Insurance Leadership in an Age of Global Risk
In today’s unpredictable world, marked by climate volatility, pandemics, and digital disruption, Dr. Hasan believes insurance leaders must wear many hats, climate stewards, ESG advocates, digital visionaries, and risk diplomats.
“We are not in the business of selling policies,” he asserts. “We are in the business of securing futures.”
He calls for proactive models, like parametric insurance for climate-prone regions, green finance initiatives, and ESG-aligned underwriting, that not only protect against loss but also incentivize resilience. “Our role isn’t just to respond after disasters. It’s to prepare economies to withstand them.”
What Drives the Leader: Purpose, People, and Principles
At the heart of Dr. Hasan’s leadership is a clear set of values, Integrity, Inclusion, and Innovation. These aren’t slogans; they are foundational.
- Integrity anchors his decisions.
- Inclusion guides his strategy.
- Innovation fuels his instinct.
He leads with transparency, rewards curiosity, embraces change with humility and empowers others to rise. “Leadership is not about taking the spotlight. It’s about shining it where it’s needed most.”
Words to the Next Generation: Be Bold, Be Empathetic, Be Purpose-Driven
To aspiring insurance professionals and future InsurTech pioneers, Dr. Hasan offers this powerful advice.
Be fearless in your pursuit. Challenge convention but master the fundamentals. Let empathy ground your ambition. Lead with values, not just vision. Don’t wait for permission, start building even when you’re the only voice in the room. This industry is no longer about slow models and cautious steps, it’s about agile thinking, bold execution, and deep human understanding. Technology may power the future, but empathy will shape it. Build with intention, not for applause, and ensure that what you create contributes to the growth and empowerment of others.
