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Islamic Sustainable Finance and Investment Dialogue
What represents a blueprint for advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy via effective stakeholder collaboration, regulation, resource allocation, positioning and product innovation in the Omani financial services sector? What are the implications for the Islamic sustainable financial services sector of the introduction of various regulatory taxonomies, frameworks and standards? How will new bond and Sukuk regulations, as part of the executive regulations to the Securities Law, accommodate and facilitate sustainable finance in Oman? What are current tax and operational cost incentive frameworks for the development of Islamic sustainable finance and investment products in Oman? Are they effective, and what more can be done? The juxtaposition facing the GCC: funding the hydrocarbon sector, while simultaneously developing a thriving green and…
Oman’s Opportunity in Alternative Finance: Shariah Compliant Marketplace Financing and Digital Initiatives
Evaluating opportunities for crowdfunding in Oman, with nine current providers and potential amendments to crowdfunding legislation. Unique to Oman: new opportunities for private equity and venture capital players in the crowdfunding ecosystem. Implications and reach of the proposed new digital and virtual assets regulatory framework. Building a digital marketplace and ecosystem: tokenization, ICOs, regulation and Shariah principles. Potential developments for standalone Islamic digital banks in Oman. Moderator: Dr Muhammad Suhail Rizwan, Assistant Professor and Team Head: FinTech Professional Certificate, College of Banking and Financial Studies, Oman Panelists: Kemal Rizadi Arbi, Expert/Advisor, Capital Market Authority, Sultanate of Oman Khalid Howladar, Chairman, MRHB DeFi Dr Khalid Tahhan, Co-founder, Easy Coins Mayan Al Asfoor, Country Manager, Beehive Oman Saleh Al-Tamami, Co-Founder and CEO, Mamun
Building Oman as a Regional Centre for Islamic Structured Finance and Capital Markets
The reach and implications of new regulations for the issuance of bonds and Sukuk on products and markets. Discussing the potential issuance of a treasury Sukuk and how it would benefit the Omani Islamic capital market. Examining the Towell Infrastructure Projects syndicated Wakalah, and what the structure means for the Islamic finance market in Oman. Developing the Islamic equity capital market in Oman, and capitalizing on recent domestic IPO activity. How will new bond and Sukuk regulations accommodate and facilitate sustainable finance? Restructurings and refinancings in the Sultanate — the role of the Islamic capital market. Moderator: Luma Saqqaf, CEO, Ajyal Sustainability Consulting Panelists: Mohamad Noranuar Sajari, Head of Shariah Structuring, Bank Nizwa Suad Al Balushi, AGM – Head of…
Driving the Development of Shariah Compliant Direct Investment and Fund & Asset Management in Oman
Building on the success of Shariah compliant real estate investment funds and trusts domiciled in Oman, as well as direct investment into real estate assets in the Sultanate. Opportunities for regional Shariah compliant funds domiciled in Oman: equity, Sukuk and private equity funds. Private equity and venture capital investment — framework enhancements, cross-border and foreign direct investment opportunities. Changes to fund regulatory frameworks resulting from the executive regulations to the Securities Law, and implications for various fund structures. Exploring the potential for the application of Waqf to Islamic funds in Oman. The prospects for Islamic sustainable investing in the Sultanate. Moderator: Mike Tirman, Partner, Ice Miller Panelists: Anand Raghavendran, Head of Asset Management, BankDhofar Hassan Ali Ansari, CFO, Takaful Oman…
Case Study: Pearl REIF – Oman’s Largest Shariah compliant Real Estate Investment Fund
Kumail Ali Moosa, Senior Specialist, Fund and Portfolio Management, Sohar International Bank
Omani Islamic Financial Services: A Successful Strategy for Building Momentum
Reviewing the 10-year journey of formalized Islamic finance in Oman and navigating the coming years through the strategic development of the Omani Islamic financial services ecosystem. The role of Islamic finance in the development of the private sector in Oman. Key market developments: remunerative deposit accounts, a potential treasury Sukuk and the introduction of Wakalah money market liquidity management tools. Key regulatory issues: the treatment of Islamic banks after mergers with conventional institutions, and the Shariah governance framework and audit guidelines. An overview of new regulations for the issuance of bonds and Sukuk in Oman. The year of endowment: how Waqf can be further applied to Islamic financial services in Oman. Moderator: Farmida Bi, Chair, Europe, Middle East and Asia,…
Keynote Address
Ahmed Ali Al Maamari, Executive Vice-President, Capital Market Authority, Sultanate of Oman
The Next Step: The Strategic Development of Islamic Social and Sustainable Finance
The nexus of UK Islamic finance and the path to COP28 — what role should the UK government and financial institutions be playing? How do we further encourage UK Islamic financial institutions to develop Shariah compliant social and sustainable products, including mortgages? Adopting climate risk ratings and external review — what more can companies and financial institutions do to measure climate risk, while developing credible strategies to mitigate such risks? What is UK Islamic finance’s role in innovative initiatives such as the global market for voluntary carbon credits? With carbon credits being recognized as Halal, what financial structures could fossil fuel-dependent OIC countries use to raise financing? How do thriving sectors such as the European hydrogen market secure access to…
Positioning the UK as a Leader in Ethical and Shariah Compliant Asset and Investment Management
Does the UK still enjoy a competitive advantage in the facilitation of ethically and socially responsible investment management? Where and how do faith-based investment solutions play a role in today’s UK market? What are recent innovations in Islamic investment products based on assets such as gold, and what potential do such innovations offer? What is the continuing role of Shariah compliant fintech in the development of investment management solutions? How will the development of fully Shariah compliant ISAs [individual savings accounts] influence the UK investment management sector? How do systematic tilts in portfolio allocation as a result of Shariah screens affect how ESG integration is approached? How are UK investors encouraging portfolio companies to consider and manage long-term climate-related risk…
Blueprint for the Future: An Ecosystem for the Successful Development and Distribution of Islamic Financial Services
How will the design, development and distribution of digital Islamic financial services continue to evolve in the near term? How important are regulatory frameworks in creating an environment for the enhancement of the financial services sector’s digital infrastructure? How can digital Islamic financial offerings be effectively scaled, and how is technology helping deliver financial products to underserved and untapped segments such as the young, SMEs and B2B markets? Finally, is a new, technology-driven banking model based on simpler, customer-centric services a reality? We ask a respected panel. Moderator: Vineeta Tan, Managing Editor and Director, Islamic Finance news Panelists: Areeb Siddiqui, Founder and CEO, Kestrl Lawrence Oliver, Executive Director, Deputy CEO, DDCAP Group Rafiza Ghazali, Director, Digital Banking, KAF Investment Bank…
Shariah Compliant Direct Investment, Real Estate, Private Equity and Alternative Assets — Cross-Border Opportunities
The UK as an investment destination for Shariah compliant direct investment – an update of active sectors and activities. What is the continued role and scale of Shariah compliant real estate assets in the UK? How do we position the UK as a center for originating alternative asset classes, and what opportunities are on offer? Structuring co-investments between domestic UK investors with international Shariah compliant investors — the potential for real estate and direct investment transactions. Building on the success of the Battersea redevelopment: structuring deals that incorporate elements of real estate, capital markets and cross-border investment. With Tawarruq enjoying a privileged tax position for cross-border UK investment, is it now a funding structure of choice? Moderator: Mike Tirman, Partner,…
Bespoke Tailoring in the UK — Developing Innovative Islamic Structured Finance Solutions
The UK achieved several firsts, including the first Sukuk issuance backed by an export credit agency. What was the legacy of this transaction for UK Islamic financial services? How can the UK fully leverage on its reputation for innovative structured financial products and services and cement its position as an arranging center for international Shariah compliant transactions? Assessing the potential for Shariah compliant securitization in the UK market — identifying suitable underlying assets and employing innovative structures. Does the UK regulatory and tax environment still require modification for Islamic capital markets and structured finance activities? Can structures such as Tawarruq and Wakalah be further deployed in Shariah compliant capital-raising? Examining further innovation in Shariah compliant structured products and where they…