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Moderator: Mohammed Valli, Shariah Head of Audit - Standard Chartered Bank, UAE Panelists: Dr Sheikh Nizam Yaquby, Chairman Global Shariah Supervisory Committee, Standard Chartered Bank & Chairperson of Shariah Board, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Dato' Dr Ashraf Md Hashim, Internal Shariah Supervision Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank UAE Associate Professor Dr Hakimah Haji Yaacob, Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia & Syariah Advisory Body Member, Standard Chartered Securities (B) Sdn Bhd Dr Muhammad Sarfaraz Nihal, Resident Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan

Moderator: Dr Alaa Alaabed, Director, Group Islamic FM Products, Standard Chartered Bank Panelists: Professor Dato' Dr Aznan Hasan, Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank Dr Ahcene Lahsasna, Chairman Internal Shariah Supervision Committee, Standard Chartered Bank UAE and Chairman Shariah Committee, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia Dr Yousuf Sultan, Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Mubeen, Group Head of Shariah Department, Standard Chartered Bank, Shariah Board Member Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan, and Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia Dr Mohammed Ahmed Abdulla Al Hamed, Internal Shariah Supervision Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank Saadiq, UAE

Moderator: Faezah Abdullah, Head of Shariah, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad Malaysia Panelists: Dr Mohamed Ali Elgari, Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank Dr Irshad Ahmad Aijaz, Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Professor Datin Dr Rusni Hassan, Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia Professor Dr. Zubair Mohammad Ehsanul Hoque, Shariah Supervisory Committee, Chairman and Member, Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh Professor Dr Zurina Shafii, Shariah Committee Member, Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Malaysia

As Oman’s Islamic investment landscape evolves, public markets, real assets, private capital and emerging digital assets can play a role in mobilising long-term Shariah-compliant investment. We examine how listed markets, funds and Sukuk sit alongside infrastructure, asset-backed strategies, private capital and digitally enabled investment models in building market depth and participation. We also consider the potential for tokenisation and Shariah-compliant digital assets, alongside the governance, transparency and regulatory considerations required to support innovation, liquidity and investor confidence. Moderator: Oliver Agha, Managing Partner, Agha & Co and Columnist, IFN (The Islamic Legal Opinion) Panelists: Darius Nass, Associate Director, Global Equity Indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices Max Freeman, Founder, Epicenter Labs Mohamed Anwar Al Lawati, Head of Investments, Private Markets, TANMIA Muzzammil Dhedhy, Executive Director and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Hejaz Group Shahariah Shaharudin, President, Saturna Malaysia

While Sukuk remain central to Oman’s capital markets, the next stage of development depends on broadening instruments, participation and liquidity. We examine how securitisation, private credit structures and evolving market infrastructure can complement Sukuk issuance and support sustainable growth. We discuss regulatory alignment, investor engagement and gradual innovation needed to strengthen Oman’s position as a competitive regional issuer market. Moderator: Mohsin Shaik Sehu Mohamed, Head of Investment Banking and Capital Markets, Dhofar Islamic Panelists: Aflah Al Lawati, Group Treasurer and Vice President Financial Planning and Analysis, OQ SAOC Suad Abdul Ghafoor Al-Balushi, Chief Financial Officer, Oman Housing Bank and President, ACIFMA Oman Chapter Talha Khan, Head, Global Investment Unit & Country Manager – Oman, Pak Oman Investment Company

Azza Al Habsi, VP – Economic Research, Ominvest, Ominvest

As Oman’s banking sector evolves, this focused roundtable examines how Islamic finance can better support businesses and consumers while responding to changing expectations. We discuss opportunities across SME, housing and personal finance, and consider how digital delivery, data and efficient onboarding can broaden access and improve customer experience. We also ask how Islamic banks can balance innovation and growth with sound financing principles, responsible banking and Oman Vision 2040. Moderator: Aisha Al Kharusi, Deputy Executive Chairperson, Modern College of Business and Science Panelists: Ali Hassan Moosa, Financial Expert/Adviser, Ministry of Finance Sami Arfah Bait Rashid, Assistant General Manager, Meethaq Personal Banking Suleman Muhammad, Head of Islamic Products and Segments, Muzn Islamic Banking

Max Freeman, Founder, Epicenter Labs

Issa Khalfan Al Suqri, Head, Shariah Compliance and Audit, Meethaq Islamic Banking

We offer focus on the strategic future of Islamic financial services across Oman, from banking and retail finance to capital markets and asset management. Industry leaders examine how the sector can support the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, including economic diversification, private sector development, innovation and sustainable growth, while also considering how evolving regulatory and market expectations are reshaping the industry’s competitive landscape. Designed to provide clear strategies and directional thinking, this session sets the tone for the industry’s next phase of development. Moderator: Oliver Agha, Managing Partner, Agha & Co and Columnist, IFN (The Islamic Legal Opinion) Panelists: Abbas Ali, Chief Investment Officer, U Capital Asad Qayyum, Managing Partner, MAQ Legal James Sadler, Head of Debt Capital Markets and Structured Finance, Banking and Corporate Finance, Oman Investment Bank Salah Al Aradi, Head of Treasury – TIBIG & Member, Treasurers Committee – Oman Banks Association

Oliver Agha, Managing Partner, Agha & Co and Columnist, IFN (The Islamic Legal Opinion)

Haitham Al Salmi, CEO, Muscat Stock Exchange

Asia Al Raisi, Deputy Chief of Economist for Investment and Market Operations, Central Bank of Oman

In this episode, IFN journalist Radhika Das speaks with Abdulla Al Hammadi, AVP - Ratings, Financial Institutions Group at Moody’s Ratings, about the performance of GCC Islamic banks in the first half of 2026 compared with their conventional peers. They discuss the impact of geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures, developments in the Sukuk market and the key credit indicators Moody’s will be watching over the remainder of 2026.

As Islamic finance accelerates digital adoption, we ask whether Shariah governance frameworks are robust enough to preserve trust and accountability. We examine how market-led oversight models are responding to AI-driven decision-making, automated product flows, tokenisation and cross-border digital services already in use. We discuss emerging governance gaps, fragmentation risks and what credible, coordinated Shariah oversight looks like in practice. Moderator: Dr Jonathan Ercanbrack, Chair, Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law, School of Oriental and African Studies Panelists: Mufti Faraz Adam, Leading Global Advisor, Islamic Finance, Fintech and Digital Assets Prof Dr Imam Uddin, Associate Dean – Industry Relations, College of Business Management and Director, Centre for Islamic Business and Finance Mohammed Saifullah Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Ebdaa Islamic Finance Consultancy Sefian Kasem, Global Head of ETF and Indexing Investment Specialists and Lead Investment Specialist Portfolio Advisory and OCIO, HSBC Global Asset Management