Changes within the Saudi Arabian mortgage market and other laws enabling for Islamic financing transactions are expected to further spur the progress of Islamic finance in Saudi Arabia. This highly liquid market is also one of the most active local-currency Sukuk issuers in the world, commanding a healthy percentage of the global issuance market. The IFN Saudi Arabia Forum consistently attracts new players and established institutions looking to further gain a foothold in the thriving market of Saudi Arabia.
Running for the third time in 2014, the Saudi Arabia Forum is expected to attract a bigger turnout than previous years as the Kingdom’s Islamic capital market picks up and the government allocates a significant amount from its budget towards the development of infrastructure projects ranging from educational institutions to healthcare to power and transport. Our forum has successfully gained a growing following in Saudi Arabia; with over 400 delegates attending in the previous years. The 2014 event is expected to be even bigger and better, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Agenda
08:00 - 09:15
Registration
09:15 - 09:30
Keynote Address Sheikh Dr Mohamed Ali Elgari - Professor of Islamic Economics, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia & Jury Member of the Royal Award for Islamic Finance
09:30 - 10:30
Opening Panel Session: Advancing Saudi Arabia’s Progress in the Islamic Investment Landscape: A Global View
Reviewing recent regulatory updates and central bank guidelines affecting Islamic finance transactions in Saudi Arabia
Discussing an industry-wide strategy required to encourage cross border participation in the kingdom’s Islamic capital market
What role will Saudi Arabia play in the global Islamic finance landscape and what needs to be done to advance this vision?
What growth is expected in the Takaful industry and how will the industry continue to develop in Saudi Arabia?
How will other leading Islamic finance markets impact further growth of Islamic finance activities in the kingdom?
Moderator:
Mahmud Abu Bakar - Acting Chief Executive Officer, Alkhair International Islamic Bank
Panelist:
Professor Azmi Omar - Director General, Islamic Research and Training Institute, Islamic Development Bank Group Badlisyah Abdul Ghani - Chief Executive Officer, CIMB Islamic Dawood Y Taylor - Senior Regional Executive-Takaful, Middle East, Prudential Corporation Asia Sheikh Dr Mohamed Ali Elgari - Professor of Islamic Economics, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia & Jury Member of the Royal Award for Islamic Finance
10:30 - 10:45
Signing Ceremony: Memorandum of Understanding between CIMB Islamic Bank and IRTI on the Islamic Finance Country Report for Malaysia
10:45 - 11:15
Coffee and Networking
11:15 - 12:00
Global Real Estate Roundtable: Opportunities for Saudi Investors Real estate projects currently underway in the GCC have been estimated to exceed US$1 trillion with Gulf nations accounting for approximately 87% of the investments. Investors in the Middle East are expected to spend a further US$180 billion in commercial real estate markets outside the Middle East over the next 10 years. As real estate continues to be a key driver for economies in the Middle East, Europe and other parts of the world, what trends are expected to unfold in Shariah compliant financing to capitalize on and support this growth?
Innovation in real estate financing structures and products
Which real estate markets are expected to outperform and why?
Investment trends, strategies and risks for the global real estate market
Moderator:
Jawad Ali - Managing Partner, Middle East Offices, King & Spalding, United Arab Emirates
Panelists:
Jamil Ghaznawi - Director & Country Head, Jones Lang LaSalle, Saudi Arabia Jean Philippe Besse - Founder, Parisian Real Estate Advisor Paul McViety - Legal Director, DLA Piper Robin Williamson - Managing Director and Real Estate Industry Leader, Deloitte Middle East Samer Shaaban - Head of International Real Estate, Sedco Capital
Breakout Session
11:15 - 12:45
KSA and Malaysia - Cross Border Business Opportunities
12:00 - 13:00
Sukuk, Infrastructure and Project Finance In the GCC The drive by many Gulf countries to improve on infrastructure is set create opportunities for market players to fund infrastructure and power projects through Shariah compliant project financing. This session will cover the trends, structures and opportunities available
Infrastructure and project Sukuk in the Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC: What’s in the pipeline?
Opportunities in cross border Sukuk through project and infrastructure financing
Utilizing Islamic infrastructure financing in public private partnership ventures
Trends and outlook for syndicated financing of infrastructure projects
Assessing the potential of alternative assets and its suitability to Shariah compliant financing: key considerations for issuers
Outlook for tradability of Sukuk
Moderator:
Qasim Aslam - Partner & Head of Islamic Finance - Middle East, Dentons
Panelists:
Hani Ibrahim - Managing Director, Investment Banking, QInvest, Qatar Muhammad Farhan - Director & Head of Islamic Banking, HSBC Saudi Arabia Rizwan Kanji - Partner, King & Spalding, UAE Tayeb Al Rais - Secretary General, Awqaf & Minors Affairs Foundation Tom Guest - Associate Director, Eiger Trading
13:00 - 14:30
Luncheon
14:30 - 15:00
Shariah Compliant CMA Funds and Financing James Stull - Senior Associate, King & Spalding Nabil Issa - Partner, King & Spalding Salman Al-Asmari - Chief Executive Officer, Adeem Capital
15:00 - 16:00
The Investment Landscape for Islamic Investors in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf: Trends and Strategies for 2015
What will 2015 hold for Islamic investors and fund managers
Assessing key investment markets in Europe, Africa and the Gulf: What do emerging markets have to offer Islamic investors?
Which asset classes and markets are expected to outperform and why
Risk vs. opportunity: Understanding the risks and impact on the Islamic asset management industry
The changing face of the institutional investment market: Discussing investment strategies and product trends for 2015
Outlook for i-ETFs, Shariah compliant mutual funds
Moderator:
Lawrence Oliver - Deputy Chief Executive Officer, DDCAP Group, United Kingdom
