Strategic Alliance Forges New Path in Global Actuarial Consulting: Andersen Consulting and UAE’s SHMA Join Forces
In a move poised to reshape the landscape of international actuarial and risk advisory services, Andersen Consulting has formalized a strategic collaboration with SHMA, the United Arab Emirates’ preeminent actuarial and financial consulting firm. The partnership bridges SHMA’s four-decade legacy of specialized expertise in the Middle East with Andersen Consulting’s expansive global platform—creating a formidable force capable of delivering integrated, cross-border solutions to complex financial and human capital challenges.
A Legacy of Excellence Meets Global Scale
Founded nearly forty years ago, SHMA has established itself as a cornerstone of actuarial excellence across the MENA region. The Dubai-based firm has built its reputation on delivering sophisticated services in actuarial consulting, insurance advisory, enterprise risk management, and End-of-Service Benefits (EOSB) valuation—a critical area for organizations operating under Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) labor frameworks. Its client roster spans insurance carriers, pension funds, sovereign entities, and multinational corporations seeking to navigate regulatory complexity while building organizational resilience.
This collaboration marks a pivotal expansion for SHMA beyond its regional stronghold. “At SHMA, quality, tailored solutions, and authentic relationships with people are at the heart of our mission,” said Shariq Sikander, Director of SHMA. “Our collaboration with Andersen Consulting provides us with the opportunity to extend our reach globally and expand our actuarial services beyond the MENA region, offering innovative, client-centric solutions to organizations seeking practical and transformative approaches to their business challenges.”
Convergence of Specialized Expertise and Holistic Advisory
For Andersen Consulting, the alliance fills a strategic gap in its service portfolio at a time when organizations increasingly require integrated advice spanning finance, human capital, and risk. As businesses worldwide grapple with demographic shifts, evolving pension liabilities, climate-related financial risks, and complex employee benefits structures, the demand for actuarial insight embedded within broader strategic frameworks has intensified.
Mark L. Vorsatz, Global Chairman and CEO of Andersen Mark, emphasized the synergy: “This collaboration strengthens our ability to support our clients at the intersection of strategy, human resources, and execution. SHMA’s deep expertise in actuarial science, insurance, and employee benefits complements our global consulting platform, enabling us to deliver holistic solutions that allow organizations to thrive in a constantly evolving business environment.”
The partnership arrives as global enterprises face mounting pressure to quantify and manage long-term liabilities—from pension obligations and healthcare costs to emerging risks tied to climate transition and workforce transformation. By embedding SHMA’s actuarial rigor within Andersen Consulting’s multidisciplinary approach—spanning corporate strategy, digital transformation, AI implementation, and HR solutions—clients gain access to advisory services that connect financial modeling with executable business strategy.
The Power of a Connected Global Platform
Andersen Consulting operates through a distinctive model: a worldwide network of member and collaborating firms spanning more than 1,000 locations. As part of Andersen Global’s integrated service ecosystem—which unites consulting, tax, legal, valuation, and international mobility expertise—the firm leverages over 50,000 professionals to deliver coordinated advice across borders without the friction of traditional multinational structures.
This architecture proves particularly valuable for actuarial work, which often requires localized regulatory knowledge paired with global consistency. SHMA’s deep understanding of GCC labor laws, insurance regulations, and regional market dynamics now becomes accessible to Andersen’s international client base, while SHMA gains immediate entry into markets across Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific through Andersen’s established channels.
Why This Collaboration Matters Now
The timing of this alliance reflects broader industry shifts:
- Rising Complexity in Employee Benefits: As governments worldwide reform retirement systems and labor regulations evolve—particularly around termination benefits and long-term incentives—organizations require sophisticated actuarial modeling to manage liabilities responsibly.
- Convergence of Risk Domains: Traditional silos between financial risk, operational risk, and human capital risk are dissolving. Climate risk now impacts insurance pricing; workforce demographics affect pension solvency; geopolitical volatility reshapes benefit structures. Integrated advisory has become essential.
- Demand for Regionally Grounded Global Solutions: Multinationals operating in the Middle East have long sought partners who combine international standards with authentic regional expertise—a gap this collaboration directly addresses.
Looking Ahead: A New Standard for Integrated Advisory
While structured as a collaboration rather than a merger or acquisition, the arrangement signals a maturation of the global consulting landscape toward purpose-built alliances that preserve specialized expertise while amplifying reach. SHMA retains its identity, leadership, and client relationships while gaining infrastructure to serve international clients. Andersen Consulting enhances its value proposition without diluting its brand through overextension into highly technical domains.
For clients, the outcome is a more seamless advisory experience: the ability to engage a single coordinated team that can model pension liabilities with actuarial precision, design HR strategies aligned with those financial realities, and execute digital transformations that operationalize the solution—all backed by on-the-ground expertise across continents.
Note: This article is based on a translated press release. The original version in its source language remains the only authoritative text. In case of any discrepancy between this interpretation and the source document, the original source text shall prevail.
About Andersen Consulting: Andersen Consulting Holdings LP is a limited partnership providing consulting solutions through its global network of member and collaborating firms. It is part of Andersen Global’s multidimensional service model, delivering integrated expertise across consulting, tax, legal, valuation, and international mobility services worldwide.
About SHMA: SHMA is a leading UAE-based actuarial and financial consulting firm with nearly four decades of experience serving insurance companies, pension plans, and public and private organizations across the MENA region with specialized services in actuarial science, risk management, insurance consulting, and End-of-Service Benefits valuation.
