9.05 – 9.15
Welcome Address
9.15 – 9.25
Presentation: Key Drivers for Regional Shariah Compliant Investment
Ahmed Kareem El Kenzi, Director, BTD International Fund House – Luxembourg
9.25 – 10.45
Defining Islamic Investment in a Dynamic Market – Technology, Products and Markets
What represents a holistic and efficient Islamic investment ecosystem, and what is an effective regulatory environment to foster growth for the sector? What are notable recent developments in global Islamic investment management, including those influencing investment patterns, asset allocation and product innovation? What role is technology playing in the evolution of Islamic asset management, and what are the key challenges and opportunities? How are savings and investment rates being stimulated in the GCC, and are suitable Shariah compliant products being developed to meet market needs? We ask an expert panel.
Moderator:Frederik Wijsenbeek, Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Ethos Invest
Panelists:Arsalan Tariq, Partner and Head of Banking and Finance, BSA Law
Fahd Chaudhry, Director, Client Coverage MENA, CIS and Turkey, S&P Dow Jones Indices
Hakan Ozyon, CEO, Hejaz Financial Services
Mariam Veronica Abu Bakkar Seddek, Director, Group Head Institutional and Islamic Asset Management, Kenanga Investors
Oliver von Wolff, Founder and CEO, Helion Capital
Shah Fahad, Deputy Director General, BTD International Fund House
10.45 – 12.00
Harnessing the Growing Influence of Shariah Compliant Private Capital
How is private capital influencing regional financial markets? How is private credit transforming GCC corporate financing, and what approach should regulators take? What are opportunities for private equity investment and how can this market be effectively navigated? What are opportunities for early-stage Shariah compliant venture capital, and can the success of global venture funds be emulated regionally? How have regional Islamic REITs and property funds performed and what is the likely evolution of these vehicles? Finally, with many infrastructure funds being Shariah compliant, how can this powerful source of capital be harnessed for GCC infrastructure development?
Moderator:Dr Scott Levy, CEO, Yasaar Capital
Panelists:Anita Wieja-Caruba, Associate Director, Policy and Legal, Dubai Financial Services Authority
Dr John Sandwick, General Manager, Safa Investment Services
Oliver Agha, Professional Associate, Outer Temple Chambers
Zakaria Karkouri, Executive Director – Structuring and Product Development, First Abu Dhabi Bank
Zohaib Patel, Managing Partner, Tenami Capital
12.00 – 12.30
Coffee & Networking
12.30 – 13.30
Innovation and Transformation Roundtable: Asset Management in the New Age
What are the key technological integrations and partnerships that are reshaping regional Islamic asset management, and how are regulators responding to innovation? How are AI and machine learning remodeling asset allocation and how is the implementation of tokenization set to change the industry? What represent the latest Shariah compliant digital assets in use today, and are ECF and P2P platforms fulfilling their potential regionally? What are recent product innovations based on precious metals, and are they significant?
Moderator:Shah Fahad, Deputy Director-General, BTD International Fund House
Panelists:Ali Allawala, Head Islamic Banking – UAE and Head Wealth and Retail Banking – Group Islamic Banking, Standard Chartered Saadiq
Khalid Howladar, Chairman, MRHB DeFi
Paula Tavangar, Chief Investment Officer, Injaz Capital
Saleh Al-Tamami, Co-Founder and CEO, Mamun
Umair Javed, Chief Business Officer, Fasset
13.30 – 14.30
The Roadmap from COP28: Driving Islamic Sustainable Investment
Post-COP28, what continue to be key features and challenges of regional Islamic asset management, and how are crucial ESG considerations being incorporated? How are investors continuing to encourage portfolio companies to manage long-term climate-related risk and social impact? How is Islamic sustainable investment being supported by innovative activities such as carbon trading, and what opportunities are presented by the carbon markets? What is a realistic assessment of regional ESG guidelines and global taxonomies and their influence on Islamic investors? We seek the views of an influential panel.
Moderator:Aruna Narayanan, Founder and Chief Impact Enabler, Real Impact Solutions
Panelists:Husam Abdel Al, Senior Director, Origination and Head of Sustainable Finance, Investment Banking, Mashreq
Luma Saqqaf, Director – Middle East, Africa, India, UN Principles for Responsible Investment
Prasad Dhake, Manager, Markets, Strategy and Risk, Dubai Financial Services Authority
Razvan Dumitrescu, Sustainable Finance Director, Emirates NBD Capital
Sharifatul Hanizah Said Ali, Executive Director, Islamic Capital Market Development, Securities Commission Malaysia
14.30
Lunch and Networking