• Advisory Board

  • Ahmad Anani – Partner & Co-chair Global Islamic Finance Practice, Latham & Watkins

    Akber Khan – Director, Asset Management Group, Al Rayan Investment

    Alex Armstrong – Managing Director, Head of Financial Institutions & Structured Finance, Qinvest

    Amjad Hussain – Partner, K&L Gates

    Anouar Adham – CFA, Group Chief Executive Officer, Elite International Assets

    Ashley Freeman – Senior Counsel, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

    Ben Moylan – Partner, Eversheds

    Edward Wong – Chief Financial Officer, Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB)

    Eslah Assem – Chief Executive Officer, First Finance Company

    Hussein al-Damirji – Managing Partner, Addleshaw Goddard

    Khalid F Howladar – Global Head of Islamic Finance, GCC Financial Institutions, Moody's Investors Service

    Mohamed Abbas Mahmood Al-Rayes – Advisor to the CEO, Qatar Islamic Insurance Company (QIIC)

    Omar Mahmood – Partner, Head of MESA Financial Services, KPMG

    Steve Troop – Adviser to the Chairman & Board of Directors, Barwa Bank

• Agenda
• Speakers
• Sponsors & Partners
• Floor Plan
• Accommodation
• Post Event Report
• 

Agenda

08:00 - 09:15

Registration

 

09:15 - 10:15

Opening Panel Session: Outlook for Islamic Finance in Qatar

• What role can Qatar play in the development of Islamic finance in the GCC?
• Will Islamic finance move towards standardization of products, structures and fatwas in the future? Or should multiple interpretations remain as a point of competition?
• Growth opportunities for syndicated finance, trade and infrastructure finance in the country
• Investment trends, strategies and risks for global Shariah compliant real estate market
• Qatar’s developing real estate market and the opportunities they present to Islamic investors
• Qatar is now officially the first regional RMB clearing center in the Middle East: What needs to be done to help develop the RMB market in the region?
• Challenges for Islamic finance in continuing the growth of the industry and how it relates to Qatar

Moderator:	Jawad Ali – Managing Partner, Middle East Offices, King & Spalding
Panelists:	Hani Othman Baothman – Chief Executive Officer, Sidra Capital, Saudi Arabia Ijlal Ahmed Alvi – Chief Executive Officer, International Islamic Financial Market Mahmoud Fahad Awada – Corporate Research & Analysis Director, Ezdan Holding Group Dr Mohammed Ghiyath Sheikhah – Head of Investments, General Manager of Dirssat, Qatar International Islamic Bank

 

10:15 - 10:30

Presentation: Islamic Finance Regulation in Qatar: Experiences and Challenges
Martin Brown – Partner, Addleshaw Goddard

 

10:30 - 11:00

Coffee & Networking

 

11:00 - 11:45

The Investment Landscape for Islamic Investors in Qatar and the Gulf: Trends and Strategies for 2015

• What will 2015 hold for Islamic investors and fund managers
• Qatar Vision 2030: Opportunities presented in the pursuit of the Vision
• Assessing other 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:	Dr Ataf Ahmed – Head of Asset Management, QInvest
Panelist:	Akber Khan – Director, Asset Management Group, Al Rayan Investment Brian J. Luck – Director, Investment Advisory, Asiya Investments, UAE Magdy Eissa – Vice President, Business Development, IdealRatings Mohsin Mujtaba – Director, Product and Market Development, Qatar Stock Exchange

 

11:45 - 12:00

Presentation: Standardization in Islamic Finance and IIFM’s Role
Ijlal Ahmed Alvi – Chief Executive Officer, International Islamic Financial Market

 

12:00 - 12:10

Luncheon Address
Abdulbasit Ahmed A Al-Shaibei - Chief Executive Officer & Board Director, Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB)

 

12:10 - 13:30

Luncheon

 

13:30 - 14:15

Meeting Qatar’s and the GCC’s Infrastructure and Project Financing Needs Through Islamic Finance
The drive by many Gulf countries to improve on infrastructure is set to 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 finance in Qatar and the rest of the GCC: What’s in the pipeline?
• Trends and outlook for syndicated financing of infrastructure projects and how will Basel 3 affect syndicated financing?
• Opportunities in cross border Sukuk through project and infrastructure financing
• How has utilizing Islamic infrastructure financing in public private partnership ventures grown?
• Assessing the potential of alternative assets and its suitability to Shariah compliant financing: Key considerations for issuers

Moderator:	Qasim Aslam – Partner & Head of Islamic Finance – Middle East, Dentons
Panelists:	Ahmad Anani – Partner & Co-chair Global Islamic Finance Practice, Latham & Watkins Arsalaan Ahmed – Head of Capital Financing, Barwa Bank Hani Ibrahim – Managing Director & Head of Debt Capital Markets, QInvest

 

14:15 - 15:00

Sector Investment Opportunities for Qatari Investors

• Oil & gas sector: A change in investment strategy in light of recent events?

• Will we see a significant shift towards the use of renewable energy, environmental assets and other intangible?
• Investing in aviation and other transportation modes as an asset class
• Investment trends, strategies and risks for the global real estate market
• Exploring education and health care as emerging asset classes

Moderator:	Bishr Shiblaq – Head, Dubai Representative Office, Arendt & Medernach
Panelists:	Anouar Adham – Group Chief Executive Officer, Elite International Assets Jean Philippe Besse – Founder, Parisian Real Estate Advisor Nick Witty – Director & Head of Real Estate Advisory, Deloitte

 

15:00 - 15:30

Coffee & Networking

 

15:30

End of Forum