IFN OnAir

Amid shifting geopolitics and increased interest from sovereign wealth funds, we explore emerging opportunities for bilateral Shariah-compliant investment into the UK and other global markets. Discussions will focus on direct and private equity investment, along with growing demand for Shariah-compliant alternative assets, including asset-backed credit, venture funds, real estate, real assets, and Islamic debt funds.

Moderator:

Richard Thomas, Managing Director, Sustainable Economy

Panelists:

Adeel Khan, Managing Partner, Potentia
Mahdi Yazdizadeh, CEO, Ereele Capital
Mike Rainey, Partner, King & Spalding
Mohammed Saifullah Khan, CEO, Ebdaa Islamic Finance Consultancy

How have Islamic capital markets performed and what is a realistic assessment of financial institution, corporate and Sovereign Sukuk markets? Is the UK leveraging on its reputation for innovative capital market products and services? How can London cement its position as a listing and arranging centre for international Shariah compliant capital market transactions and funds? What further opportunities are offered by green and sustainable Sukuk?

Moderator:

Lawrence Oliver, Executive Director, Deputy CEO, DDCAP Group/ETHOS AFP

Panelists:

Dr Mohamed Damak, Managing Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance, S&P Global Ratings
Nadim Zaman, Managing Director, Head of Origination, LBBW
Simone Utermarck, Senior Director, Sustainable Finance, International Capital Market Association
Valerie O’Flaherty, Head of Irish and UK Debt listing, Euronext

How is technology reshaping the UK Islamic finance landscape? We explore the evolving role of Islamic fintechs, shifting consumer expectations, and whether niche Shariah-compliant segments are being adequately served. What innovations are improving user experience, and what can be learnt from global peers?

Moderator:

Nitish Bhojnagarwala, Associate Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group, Moody’s Ratings

Panelists:

Arshadur Rahman, Senior Manager, Bank of England
Rafiza Ghazali, CEO, KAF Digital Bank
Stella Cox, Managing Director, DDCAP Group
Dr Usman Chaudry, Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director, Gatehouse Bank

With a large, underserved demographic, what is the potential for Shariah compliant pension solutions in the UK? We explore innovative approaches to annuities and income drawdowns through Takaful and other structures. We highlight untapped market segments, discuss scalable models, and examine how providers can meet demand while navigating regulatory and operational challenges.

Moderator:

Olga De Tapia, Global Head of ETFs and Indexing Sales and Global Head of Portfolio Advisory Solutions and OCIO Sales, HSBC Asset Management

Panelists:

Fazeel Siddiqui, Senior Relationship Manager, Wahed
Furqan Sheikh, Wealth Director, RBC Brewin Dolphin
Dr Samir Alamad, Chief Adviser Islamic Banking and Finance, Ihsan Islamic Finance Solutions

As demand for Shariah-compliant solutions grows, so too do opportunities for investment managers. We examine how UK Islamic asset management is currently positioned and where product development, asset class innovation, and green finance integration can unlock significant value. We explore the creation of large, scalable Shariah compliant investable capital pools—and what it all means for forward-thinking managers looking to capture a growing market.

Moderator:

Dr Natalie Schoon, Principal Consultant, Formabb

Panelists:

Mohammed Parekh, Managing Director, MRP Premier Group
Nuno Soares, Chairman, Atlantic Premium Capital Partners
Sefian Kasem, Global Head of ETF and Indexing Investment Specialist, HSBC Asset Management
Sulaiman Moolla, Managing Director and Head of Investments, Cur8 Capital
Umer Suleman, Co-Founder and Trustee, National Waqf Fund

Stella Cox , Managing Director, DDCAP Group and Chair of TheCityUK Islamic Finance Advisory Group

With a new administration and evolving trade frameworks, we assess the strategic outlook for the UK’s Islamic finance industry both domestically and internationally. We examine priority sectors for regulatory reform, potential policy incentives to stimulate growth, and the integration of Shariah-compliant financial products into mainstream finance. The discussion will also address the development of scalable Islamic offerings to enhance market penetration and financial inclusion.

Moderator: 

Mohammed Paracha, Head of Middle East, Norton Rose Fulbright

Panelists:

Ahsan Ali, Managing Director and Head, Islamic Corporate and Investment Banking, Standard Chartered Saadiq
Bashar Al Natoor, Managing Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance, Fitch Ratings
Danesh Mahadeva, Chief Financial Officer, Gatehouse Bank
Moad Giebaly, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins
Thominah Talukdar, Senior Consultant, Avyse Partners

Alderman Charles Bowman , Representative of the Lord Mayor of the City of London

In this episode with IFN journalist Radhika Das, Dr Ilyas Zaripov, associate professor at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics and a member of the Central Bank of Russia’s partnership financing working group, dives into Russia’s evolving Islamic finance landscape. He discusses the three-year extension of the pilot experiment, the challenges and opportunities ahead and the steps needed to establish an Islamic finance framework in Russia, from legislative changes to foreign investment and digital innovation.

This episode examines the growth trajectory of Indonesia’s Islamic capital market, as Irwan Abdalloh, Vice Director of Islamic Capital Market – Indonesia Stock Exchange, speaks to IFN about investor trends, market innovation, new regulations and the broader Islamic finance outlook.