Gallagher Launches Cyber Risk Advisory Practice to Secure Middle East Businesses

Gallagher has launched a dedicated cyber risk advisory practice in the Middle East to address the growing complexity of digital threats. For insurance carriers and brokers, this move signals a shift toward integrated risk quantification and consulting, helping regional clients bridge the gap between technical cybersecurity vulnerabilities and financial insurability in a volatile risk environment.

What was announced

The new practice is designed to provide cybersecurity consulting and risk advisory services to organisations across several high-stakes sectors, including financial services, natural resources, power, and construction. By combining cybersecurity expertise with risk quantification and strategic advisory services, the practice aims to help clients strengthen their cybersecurity posture and build operational resilience. Sidharth Wahi, an actuary with over 20 years of experience across insurance, banking, and technology, has been appointed to lead the initiative. Wahi’s background includes leadership roles at HSBC, PwC, and most recently as VP of product at Balbix, where he led the development of an AI-native cyber risk and exposure management platform.

The advisory practice will operate alongside Gallagher’s existing financial lines and cyber broking team in the Middle East, which is led by Daniel Miller. This integrated approach is intended to translate technical cybersecurity risks into actionable business and financial insights regarding risk mitigation and investment. By leveraging Gallagher’s global data and insights, the practice will deliver locally tailored services to help organisations understand their exposure, evaluate the effectiveness of their current cybersecurity arrangements, and improve their ability to prevent and recover from incidents. This comes as businesses face increasing reliance on interconnected digital technologies and a more sophisticated threat landscape involving artificial intelligence and evolving regulatory expectations.

"Cybersecurity is no longer solely a technology concern. It is a fundamental business risk with the potential to disrupt operations, impact financial performance and challenge organisational resilience. Our ambition is to build a cybersecurity advisory practice that helps organisations understand their exposure, strengthen their defences and make informed decisions about managing cyber risk. By combining cyber expertise with quantitative risk insights and Gallagher’s established insurance capabilities, we can help clients develop a more integrated approach to managing cyber risks."

Sidharth Wahi, Lead of the Cyber Risk Advisory Practice at Gallagher.

The companies involved

Gallagher, the brand name for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., is a major global insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting services firm. Headquartered in the United States and operating via its website at ajg.com, the company has established a significant footprint in the Middle East market. The firm operates across various segments of the insurance value chain, providing retail and wholesale insurance brokerage services, as well as third-party claims settlement and administration. In the Middle East, Gallagher has been particularly active in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and other regional hubs, focusing on complex risk areas such as financial lines, energy, and construction. The company’s expansion into cyber advisory reflects its broader strategy of moving beyond traditional transaction-based broking toward a more holistic risk consultancy model. By integrating actuarial expertise—exemplified by Wahi’s background—with traditional broking, Gallagher positions itself as a technical partner to large-scale enterprises navigating the intersection of digital infrastructure and capital protection.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has previously tracked Gallagher’s strategic movements both within the Middle East and in global digital transformation efforts. In the region, the firm recently highlighted regulatory shifts in the Dubai International Financial Centre, where Gallagher Warns DIFC Firms: Professional Indemnity Risks Persist Despite DFSA Rule Change, noting that firms must remain vigilant regarding their coverage despite evolving local rules. On the technology front, the company has demonstrated a commitment to digital-first distribution models, as seen when insureMO and Gallagher Launch API-Led Digital Insurance Distribution Platform in the Philippines. These reports underscore a dual focus on deep regional expertise and the adoption of modern insurtech frameworks to enhance service delivery across diverse markets.

What this means from an insurtech perspective

This move highlights the growing necessity for brokers to act as technical risk engineers rather than just intermediaries. For carriers, Gallagher’s focus on quantitative risk modelling and AI-driven exposure management could lead to better-quality data during the underwriting process, potentially easing the friction in cyber insurance renewals. As the Middle East faces a surge in sophisticated digital threats, incumbent vendors and MGAs are under pressure to provide more than just capacity; they must offer the tools to prove resilience. This shift places traditional brokers who lack technical advisory arms at a disadvantage, as the market moves toward a model where insurability is increasingly earned through proactive risk mitigation and data-backed transparency.