In Tunisia, takaful is governed by Law no. 2014-47, which added a dedicated Title VII to the Insurance Code under the supervision of the General Insurance Committee. Three independent companies, with no conventional windows, cover general and family lines.
Title VII of the Insurance Code
Law no. 2014-47 of 24 July 2014 amends the Insurance Code, enacted by Law no. 92-24 of 9 March 1992, and inserts a Title VII entitled Takaful Insurance, covering Articles 201 to 217 on these operations.
The General Insurance Committee, the supervisor
The CGA was created by Law no. 2008-8 of 13 February 2008, with its duties set out in Articles 177 to 200 of the Code. It supervises takaful companies just like conventional insurers and publishes the annual report measuring the sector's weight.
No takaful windows at conventional insurers
As early as 2013, the CGA ruled out takaful windows and required a separate, independent entity. This choice contrasts with Islamic insurance in Algeria, where a window housed within a conventional insurer remains permitted under Decree 21-81.
Zitouna Takaful, the 2011 pioneer
Founded in 2011 with capital of 15 million dinars, Zitouna Takaful predates the 2014 law. It later expanded its presence by opening a branch and a network of agencies in Sfax, the country's second economic hub.
At-Takafulia, headquartered in Belvédère, Tunis
La Tunisienne des Assurances Takaful, a public limited company based on Rue de Jérusalem in Belvédère, received its final licence on 23 August 2013. Its 2023 financial statements are published by the Tunis Stock Exchange, although the shares are unlisted.
El Amana Takaful and its banking shareholders
Announced in 2013 at the same time as At-Takafulia, El Amana Takaful brings together Tunisian and foreign Islamic banks as well as traditional insurers. Like its two competitors, it offers both general takaful and family takaful.
130.6 million dinars of contributions in 2020
According to the CGA report cited by Middle East Insurance Review, gross takaful contributions rose from 118 million dinars in 2019 to 130.6 million in 2020, roughly 5% of the market's 2.57 billion in premiums.
The weight of general lines at At-Takafulia
In 2023, At-Takafulia wrote about 51.1 million dinars in gross premiums, of which 38.8 million in general takaful and 12.4 million in family takaful. Property and casualty business therefore clearly dominates this company's portfolio.
An overall market that keeps growing
According to FTUSA, Tunisian insurers as a whole wrote 3,819.6 million dinars in premiums in 2024, up 10.85%. No consolidated takaful figure more recent than 2020 has been verified to track how its share has evolved.
Takaful motor cover: obligation and choice
Since motor liability insurance is compulsory, ask the agency whether its general line offers a suitable car policy. The principles of Islamic car insurance apply: a contribution to the common fund, a declared management fee and a written rule on the surplus.
Wakala or mudaraba: questions for the company
Tunisian law alone does not dictate the business model each operator adopts. Ask whether remuneration follows the wakala model, a profit share on investments or a hybrid formula, and how the sharia committee approved it.
How Tunisia's path compares with Morocco
Tunisia had takaful companies from 2011 and a legal framework in 2014, whereas takaful insurance in Morocco only went on sale in 2022. Both countries nonetheless require separate entities rather than windows built into conventional insurers.
Joining a takaful scheme in Tunisia
- Choose one of the dedicated companies supervised by the CGA: Zitouna Takaful, At-Takafulia or El Amana Takaful.
- Ask for the company's sharia committee opinion on the proposed contract and on the management model.
- Identify the need: general takaful for car or home, family takaful for death cover and savings.
- Compare the contribution, the management fee and the surplus-sharing rule across the three companies.
- Check the exclusions and the deductible, particularly for motor cover and natural hazards.
- Report a claim to the agency with the accident report, photos and invoices within the contractual deadlines.
What makes up a Tunisian takaful contribution
| Component | Function | Key variable |
|---|---|---|
| Donation to the participants' fund | Settles claims among members | Type of risk, sum insured, driver profile |
| Management fee | Remuneration of the takaful company | Wakala or hybrid model adopted |
| Investment portion | Compliant growth of the reserves | Return on assets approved by the sharia committee |
| Surplus for the year | Possible return to members | Claims experience of the line and statutory rules |
| Deductible | Part of the loss borne by the member | Option chosen at inception |
Documents a Tunisian company will request
- National identity card
- Proof of address
- Vehicle registration and driving licence for motor takaful
- Tenancy agreement or title deed for home cover
- Medical questionnaire for family takaful
- Murabaha or ijara contract where an Islamic bank provides financing
Pitfalls in the Tunisian takaful market
- Asking a conventional insurer for a takaful policy, when Tunisian law provides for no windows and reserves the business for dedicated companies.
- Using the companies' old web addresses, whose domains no longer respond, instead of contacting an agency directly.
- Assuming all companies apply the same remuneration model without reading the fee clause.
- Ignoring the surplus allocation rule and counting on a rebate that is not written into the contract.
- Failing to declare the usual driver accurately, which can reduce compensation after an accident.
Frequently raised points on takaful in Tunisia
Which law governs Tunisian takaful?
Law no. 2014-47 of 24 July 2014 added to the Insurance Code a Title VII devoted to takaful insurance, in Articles 201 to 217. The General Insurance Committee oversees how the companies apply it.
How many takaful companies operate?
Three: Zitouna Takaful, founded in 2011, At-Takafulia, which received its final licence in August 2013, and El Amana Takaful, announced the same year. All three offer general and family takaful, with no windows at conventional insurers.
What share of the market does takaful hold?
In 2020, takaful contributions reached 130.6 million dinars, about 5% of market premiums according to the CGA. No more recent consolidated figure has been verified, while the total market reached 3,819.6 million in 2024.
Can a Libyan or Algerian resident take out cover?
Tunisian companies generally insure risks located in Tunisia. A non-resident should check with the agency whether the property or vehicle is eligible, and take out in their own country any compulsory cover required there.