3rd May 2015
Grand Hyatt, Doha

About The IFN Qatar Forum

The IFN Forum series arrives in Doha in 2015!

With the support of local Qatari regulators and an already strong following amongst the country’s Islamic bankers the IFN Qatar Forum will explore the opportunities, regulatory advancements and investment options available to Qatari investors.

Download Post Event Report

Forum 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

Panelists:

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

Presentation Slides

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

Forum Speakers

  • Abdulbasit Ahmed A Al-Shaibei, Chief Executive Officer & Board Director, Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB)
  • Ahmad Anani, Partner & Co-chair Global Islamic Finance Practice, Latham & Watkins
  • Akber Khan, Director, Asset Management Group, Al Rayan Investment
  • Anouar Adham, Group Chief Executive Officer, Elite International Assets
  • Arsalaan Ahmed, Head of Capital Financing, Barwa Bank
  • Dr Ataf Ahmed, Head of Asset Management, QInvest
  • Bishr Shiblaq, Head, Dubai Representative Office, Arendt & Medach
  • Brian J. Luck, Director, Investment Advisory, Asiya Investments, UAE
  • Hani Ibrahim, Managing Director & Head of Debt Capital Markets, QInvest
  • Hani Othman Baothman, Chief Executive Officer, Sidra Capital, Saudi Arabia
  • Ijlal Ahmed Alvi, Chief Executive Officer, International Islamic Financial Market
  • Jawad Ali, Managing Partner, Middle East Offices, King & Spalding
  • Jean Philippe Besse, Founder, Parisian Real Estate Advisor
  • Magdy Eissa, Vice President, Business Development, IdealRatings
  • Mahmoud Fahad Awada, Corporate Research & Analysis Director, Ezdan Holding Group
  • Martin Brown, Partner, Addleshaw Goddard
  • Dr Mohammed Ghiyath Sheikhah, Head of Investments, General Manager of Dirssat, Qatar International Islamic Bank
  • Mohsin Mujtaba, Director, Product and Market Development, Qatar Stock Exchange
  • Nick Witty, Director & Head of Real Estate Advisory, Deloitte
  • Qasim Aslam, Partner & Head of Islamic Finance – Middle East, Dentons

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

Forum Partners

LEAD PARTNERS

LEAD LAW PARTNER

MULTILATERAL STRATEGIC PARTNER

LUNCHEON SPONSOR

EXECUTIVE PARTNERS

HUMAN CAPITAL PARTNER

LANYARDS SPONSOR

LEAD MEDIA PARTNER

STRATEGIC MEDIA PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

Photo Gallery

About REDmoney Events

REDmoney events designs, organizes and hosts industry-leading conferences, forums, roadshows, seminars and dialogues focusing on the Islamic financial markets across a global, regional and national level. Leveraging an exceptional network of the industry’s elite and supported by the expertise of the REDmoney publishing and seminars divisions, REDmoney Events are able to provide access to a unique array of influential speakers, panelists and participants from a cross-section of the global industry to debate the most significant issues affecting the Shariah compliant financial markets.

REDmoney events are differentiated by their complimentary yet qualified attendance structure, ensuring the highest quality of both delegates and contributors. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, attendance ensures exclusive access to the leaders in their field across all sectors and markets.

TThe annual IFN Asia and IFN UK Forums are categorically recognized as their continent’s leading industry events since their inception in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The Dialogues series has also become an integral element of the REDmoney events series and have cemented their position as leading, must-attend, events. In 2022, we introduced the Islamic Sustainable Finance & Investment Forum, which was an enormous success, and will become a mainstay.

For any inquiries contact us

Our team will be glad to answer any questions you may have about this event.