##### Table of Contents



U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
 Washington, D.C. 20549
 Form 40-F
 [Check one]
 o
    
    Registration statement pursuant to section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 or
 þ
    
    Annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
 Commission File Number: 1-31556
 FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
  Canada
  6331
  95 Wellington Street West
Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario Canada
M5J 2N7
(416) 367-4941
  Not Applicable
  CT Corporation System
111 Eighth Avenue, 13 th Floor
New York, NY 10011
U.S.A.
(212) 894-8700
 
  Name of each exchangeTitle of each class
    
    on which registeredSubordinate Voting Shares
    
    New York Stock Exchange
  Not Applicable
  Not Applicable
  þ þ
  Subordinate Voting Shares
    
    16,738,055Multiple Voting Shares
    
    1,548,000
  þ o




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TABLE OF CONTENTS  UNDERTAKING AND CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESSCONTROLS AND PROCEDURESIDENTIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEEAUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERTCORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINESCODE OF ETHICSPRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICESOFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTSTABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONSINCORPORATION BY REFERENCEFORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATIONSIGNATUREEXHIBIT INDEXEX-1EX-2EX-3EX-4EX-7EX-8EX-9    Table of Contents  
 UNDERTAKING AND CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
  
 CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
  Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
  Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
  Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
   
 IDENTIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE




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##### Table of Contents



AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
  
 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES
  
 CODE OF ETHICS
  
 PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
  Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures




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##### Table of Contents



OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
  
 TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
   
 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
  
 FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION




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##### Table of Contents



SIGNATURE
  FAIRFAX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LIMITEDDate: March 6, 2009
    
    By:
    
    /s/ Bradley P. MartinName:
    
    Bradley P. MartinTitle:
    
    Vice President, Chief Operating Officer andCorporate Secretary




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##### Table of Contents



1
    
    Annual Information Form dated March 6, 20092
    
    Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant as of
December 31, 2008 and 2007 and for the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2008 and related notes and the auditors report thereon3
    
    Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations dated March 6, 2009, including Managements
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting4
    
    Narrative Description of Business dated March 6, 20095
    
    The information under Statement of Corporate Governance Practices in
the Registrants Management Proxy Circular, dated March 6, 2009 in
connection with the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on April
15, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the
Registrants Report on Form 6-K furnished to the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 6, 20096
    
    [intentionally omitted]7
    
    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding its report dated
March 6, 20098
    
    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications:Certification of Registrants Chief Executive Officer
Certification of Registrants Chief Financial Officer9
    
    Section 1350 Certifications:Certification of Registrants Chief Executive Officer
Certification of Registrants Chief Financial Officer