IFN OnAir

An in-depth look at Sukuk and Islamic capital markets as engines of regional growth. Experts discuss market trends, structural innovation, liquidity enhancement, and the evolving role of multilaterals in diversified funding frameworks.

Moderator:

Moeen Qayum, Co-Head – Debt Capital Markets, Trowers & Hamlins

Panelists:

Husain Alkhaja, GCC Regional Director, DDCAP
James Sadler, Head of Debt Capital Markets and Structured Finance, Banking and Corporate Finance, Oman Investment Bank
Maya Marissa Malek, CEO, Sabiq Advisory
Sabir Ahmed, Managing Director and Head, Banking and Markets, Group Islamic Banking Standard Chartered

Moderator:

Fahad Siddiqui, Founder and CEO, Mabrook

Panelists:

Anita Wieja-Caruba, Expert – CEO Office, Capital Markets Authority
Dr Bhaskar Dasgupta, Principal – Sun Foundation (ADGM – Family Office) and Independent Non-Executive Chairman and Director, Advisory Board Member
Eslam Anbar, CEO, Phi Wallet
Junaid Aziz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cogmerce AI Advisory
Omar Bouhafs, Group Chief Financial Officer, Australian Gulf Capital

A high-level discussion bringing together industry leaders to explore funding, liquidity, and growth in a shifting global environment. Panellists share insights on managing macroeconomic challenges, evolving regulation, and the strategies driving resilience and expansion across Islamic financial markets.

Moderator:

Vineeta Tan, Managing Editor and Director, Islamic Finance news

Panelists:

Basheer Ahmad, Senior Manager, Dubai Financial Service Authority
Khurram Hilal, Chief Executive Officer, Group Islamic Banking, Standard Chartered Bank
Dr Mohamed Damak, Managing Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance, S&P Global Ratings
Ritesh Agarwal, Managing Director, Head of Debt Capital Markets, Emirates NBD Capital

Ruben Bombardi, General Counsel and Head of Regulatory Enablement, Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority

Moderator:
Mohammed Valli, Shariah Head of Audit - Standard Chartered Bank, UAE

Panelists:
Dr Sheikh Nizam Yaquby, Chairman Global Shariah Supervisory Committee, Standard Chartered Bank & Chairperson of Shariah Board, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan
Dato' Dr Ashraf Md Hashim, Internal Shariah Supervision Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank UAE
Associate Professor Dr Hakimah Haji Yaacob, Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia & Syariah Advisory Body Member, Standard Chartered Securities (B) Sdn Bhd
Dr Muhammad Sarfaraz Nihal, Resident Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan

Moderator:
Dr Alaa Alaabed, Director, Group Islamic FM Products, Standard Chartered Bank

Panelists:
Professor Dato' Dr Aznan Hasan, Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank
Dr Ahcene Lahsasna, Chairman Internal Shariah Supervision Committee, Standard Chartered Bank UAE and Chairman Shariah Committee, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia
Dr Yousuf Sultan, Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia
Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Mubeen, Group Head of Shariah Department, Standard Chartered Bank, Shariah Board Member Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan, and Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia
Dr Mohammed Ahmed Abdulla Al Hamed, Internal Shariah Supervision Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank Saadiq, UAE

Moderator:
Faezah Abdullah, Head of Shariah, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad Malaysia

Panelists:
Dr Mohamed Ali Elgari, Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank
Dr Irshad Ahmad Aijaz, Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan
Professor Datin Dr Rusni Hassan, Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia
Professor Dr. Zubair Mohammad Ehsanul Hoque, Shariah Supervisory Committee, Chairman and Member, Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh
Professor Dr Zurina Shafii, Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia

As Oman’s Islamic investment landscape evolves, public markets, real assets, private capital and emerging digital assets can play a role in mobilising long-term Shariah-compliant investment. We examine how listed markets, funds and Sukuk sit alongside infrastructure, asset-backed strategies, private capital and digitally enabled investment models in building market depth and participation. We also consider the potential for tokenisation and Shariah-compliant digital assets, alongside the governance, transparency and regulatory considerations required to support innovation, liquidity and investor confidence.

Moderator:

Oliver Agha, Managing Partner, Agha & Co and Columnist, IFN (The Islamic Legal Opinion)

Panelists:

Darius Nass, Associate Director, Global Equity Indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices
Max Freeman, Founder, Epicenter Labs
Mohamed Anwar Al Lawati, Head of Investments, Private Markets, TANMIA
Muzzammil Dhedhy, Executive Director and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Hejaz Group
Shahariah Shaharudin, President, Saturna Malaysia

While Sukuk remain central to Oman’s capital markets, the next stage of development depends on broadening instruments, participation and liquidity. We examine how securitisation, private credit structures and evolving market infrastructure can complement Sukuk issuance and support sustainable growth. We discuss regulatory alignment, investor engagement and gradual innovation needed to strengthen Oman’s position as a competitive regional issuer market.

Moderator:

Mohsin Shaik Sehu Mohamed, Head of Investment Banking and Capital Markets, Dhofar Islamic

Panelists:

Aflah Al Lawati, Group Treasurer and Vice President Financial Planning and Analysis, OQ SAOC
Suad Abdul Ghafoor Al-Balushi, Chief Financial Officer, Oman Housing Bank and President, ACIFMA Oman Chapter
Talha Khan, Head, Global Investment Unit & Country Manager – Oman, Pak Oman Investment Company

Azza Al Habsi, VP – Economic Research, Ominvest, Ominvest