NGI will shortly be opening a branch office in Abu Dhabi to cater to its growing customer base outside the emirates.

The company underwrites most classes of insurance, including health, property, casualty, fire, workmen compensation, construction, transport and many others. The most significant part of NGI's products and services currently is its medical insurance marketed under the HealthNet brand.

Executives at the company predict a further increase in consumer demand following the Cabinet approval in May 2002 of a memorandum of understanding that obligates all federal and local ministries and departments, and the private sector, to insure their employees with recognised insurance companies.

"The trend of companies providing medical insurance for their staff as part of their benefits package has been growing over the past two years. The combination of government regulation, increased awareness of the advantages of medical insurance and lower insurance costs in the UAE, in comparison with US or Europe, is a factor that will result in increased growth for the medical insurance sector," said Dr Abdul Zahra Ali, NGI's General Manager.