The Islamic Retail Banking industry is gradually expanding from regional business into Global. The main competition faced by Islamic retail banks is from conventional banks. Islamic financial institutions hold assets that exceed $822 billion (Dh3 trillion) and the value of Shariah-compliant bonds was $100bn in 2009, Saudi Arabia's central bank governor Muhammad Al Jasser said. Islamic Retail banking is to lead asset growth of the Islamic Finance industry.

Sponsors

Diamond Sponsor

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) was established on 20th May 1997 as a Public Joint Stock Company listed on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange and supervised by the Securities and Commodities Authority and the Central Bank of the UAE. The Bank commenced commercial operations on 11th November 1998, and was formally inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Information and Culture, on 18th April 1999.

All ADIB contracts, operations and transactions are carried out in accordance with Islamic Shari'a principles that put the customers' best interests at heart, encourage transparency in operations while offering world-class Islamic finance solutions.

ADIB's vision is to be a top-tier Islamic financial services group and one of the world’s largest Islamic financial service providers engaged in retail and commercial banking, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services.Since its inception, ADIB has recorded steady growth and has maintained its leading position by developing innovative Islamic financial solutions as well as offering banking, financing and investment services through 55 local branches and 234 ATMs, located across the UAE

Premium Gold Sponsor

Ajman Bank is an Islamic commercial bank that will provide a wide range of value-driven banking services in the UAE for individual, business and government clients, all in compliance with Shariah principles. Ajman Bank seeks out the market’s best products, people and technology in order to deliver what customers want, how they want it, delivering real value and recreating that human touch lost in modern banking. Headquartered in Ajman and strongly supported by its government, Ajman Bank is the keystone of the emirate’s economic development strategy and is in a position to benefit from its growth and potential like no other. Ajman Bank is committed to becoming a sustainable organisation in its truest sense, balancing care for the community and employees with the business of delivering value to its shareholders and customers.

Gold Sponsors

InfrasoftTech is a specialist software products, solutions & services provider focused on BFSI industry, with a global footprint. Our OMNIEnterprise™ suite of applications includes Core Banking Solution, Anti money laundering Solution, Islamic Banking Solution and Microfinance Solution. OMNIEnterprise™ Islamic Banking & Finance Solution is based on the principle of risks based returns and is capable of handling innovative and complex financial products that work on profit & loss sharing model. The solution is Shari’ah compliant right from the level of transaction processing & accounting to business process management and reporting. It provides an integrated General Ledger, Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet.

Saman initially started its activities as Saman Eqtesad Credit Institution in September 1999. Subsequently, in August 2002, it received a full banking license and changed its name to Saman Bank. In 2002 Saman was the third private financial institution in Iran. Since commencing its operations, Saman Bank has steadily increased and upgraded the scope of services. It acts as a pioneer in providing within the existing regulatory framework innovative solutions tailored towards the needs of individuals and corporate clients. Saman Bank also launched the first internet banking service in Iran and has since been at the forefront of expansion and enhancement of electronic banking.

(ITS Group) has been the leading ICT solutions provider for Islamic banks and Islamic finance organizations for over two decades, and is a member of AAOIFI and IFX. The ITS Universal Islamic Banking solution is Shariah compliant, and specifically designed to fulfill the needs of the Islamic banking and finance sector. ITS's Universal Islamic Banking solution is based on the first "Islamic Instrument Definition Engine" which allows Financial organizations to create their own Shariah compliant products, workflow, and processes. In addition, it is based on Service Oriented Architecture & is adopting IFX Massaging Protocol. The ITS Universal Islamic banking solutions cover Consumer Financing, Trade Finance, Retail Islamic Banking, Ejarah Card Product, Treasury/Investment, Internet Banking, Risk Management with BASEL II Compliance, and Banking Delivery Channels.ITS has a keen understanding of what its customers really need from an ICT partner; in short, to enable technology utilization in order to allow your business to grow. ITS implements cutting edge solutions for numerous valued clients in the Middle East, North African and East Asian regions, through our resource pool of over 2400 skilled IT professionals based in 24 offices worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.its.ws

Premium Silver Sponsor

VeriPark is an 11 years old software house specialized in providing software solutions to financial institutions. Based in Dubai and Istanbul, with a team size of 103, the company offers: Internet banking, call center, kiosk, branch teller and mobile banking applications CRM implementations for banks: Single view of customer, complaint management, new customer enrolment, sales lead capturing Loan origination for personal, credit card, auto and home financing. VeriPark is a Gold Partner for Microsoft Dynamics CRM and delivers solutions to Dubai Bank, Central Bank of Jordan and Dubai Islamic Bank.

Silver Sponsors

UM Financial is Canada’s premier Islamic Financial Institution. In 2004, UM secured a $120 million Shariah compliant investment facility from a regulated Canadian Financial institution for the purpose of financing residential properties. In addition, UM has developed investment and deposit products with financial institutions in Canada and currently operates an investment fund along with a real estate brokerage. In 2009, UM signed agreements with two public companies in Canada to launch an Islamic ETF and the first MasterCard® designed for the country’s 1 million-strong Muslim population. The MasterCard® is being launched in conjunction with Mint Technology, whom UM has introduced to the GCC markets. UM is a shareholder of Mint’s new subsidiary in the Middle East. UM is also in the process of submitting an application for a Canadian bank license and is also in discussions to launch other products, such as a Takaful insurance product. UM Advisory is currently advising various Canadian government agencies on the issuance of Canadian sovereign Sukuk. UM has appeared as the only Canadian entry in the Banker magazine’s Top 500 Islamic Financial Institutions and has been profiled on the front page of the business sections of the three leading newspaper in Canada (Globe and Mail, National Post and Toronto Star). UM is a representative of two of the largest Islamic Finance associations: IFSB based in Malaysia and AAOIFI based in Bahrain. UM Financial was awarded Best Business Leadership in North America by World Finance Magazine Islamic Finance Awards in 2009.

Founded in 2001, Utiba focuses on developing scalable, flexible and modular Mobile financial transaction platforms. The domain covered by its products ranges from Airtime distribution to airtime share to retail banking to domestic & international remittance and so on. Utiba’s provides the mobile financial transaction solutions to Mobile Network Operators, Banks and Third party PSPs alike, while the solutions have also found profound traction in the Microfinance and rural banking industry. Today Utiba’s products are successfully deployed across 15+ countries with more than 20 customers, both Banks and Mobile Network Operators. For more information, visit www.utiba.com.

A leading provider of management consulting services with a focus on Banking in the Middle East. Based in US and listed on the NASDAQ, Huron provides a wide spectrum of services for the banking industry in the Middle East ranging from Strategic Planning to improvements in Corporate and Retail Banking, Operations, Technology, People Performance, and Service Excellence. Huron’s particular strength is in following through the implementation of recommendations at all levels, providing assurance of value to its clients.

Bronze Sponsor

With a vision to be the most reputed Shariah based financial solutions provider meeting aspirations of its customers, employees and shareholders, Bank Al Bilad is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bank Al Bilad has 69 male branches, 32 female branches and 100 centres on Enjaz (Banking & Remittance Services) spread to all cities and provinces of the Kingdom offering comprehensive range of banking products and services including Retail Banking, Private Banking, Investment & Commercial Funding.

Supporting Bank

DBI is a full service Islamic Bank licensed by the Republic of Djibouti. The bank’s primary markets are in the horn of Africa and the Somali Diaspora in the Gulf Region, Western Europe and North America. The bank combines world class customer service, the highest ethical standards of Sharia and the latest technology, to bring cost – effective products and services to its customer base.

Technology Partner

Path Solutions is a worldwide provider of Islamic and investment software solutions to the global finance industry and in specific the Islamic finance industry. It is the 1st and only banking software firm to be recognized and certified by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions. The AAOIFI Certification covers all iMAL modules, business processes, contracts, Islamic accounting treatments, implications and behavior. Path Solutions is headquartered in Kuwait, with a Research and Development centre in Beirut, and support offices in Manama, Karachi, London, Kuala Lumpur and Riyadh, while maintaining a presence through partner companies in other locations around the globe.

Exhibitors

J.A.J. Consultants specializes in asset valuation and management and strategy consulting for a wide variety of areas including real estate and industrial businesses. The firm has been providing these services for over 30 years to a very large number of local and multinational clients including banks, accounting firms, real estate companies and industrial concerns. The firm's international operations are generally conducted through its DSO licensed arm ValuStrat Consulting LLC.

Celebrating 25 years of partnership and service to the financial services industry, Fiserv is a leader in financial services technology solutions, driving innovation in Payments, Processing Services, Risk & Compliance, Customer & Channel Management, and Business Intelligence & Optimization. A Fortune 500 company, Fiserv is ranked No. 1 on the FinTech 100 survey of top partners to the financial services industry and winner of the 2008 Information Week 500 banking and financial services category. Find out why Fiserv is the provider of choice for banks, credit unions and thrifts of all sizes, visit us at www.fiserv.com.

FACT (Future Applied Computer Technology) is a world class provider of Turnkey and customized solutions in Islamic Banking, Financial Investment, Islamic Insurance, Third Party Administration (TPA), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). For over 12 years FACT has expanded its operation in the MENA region and successfully completed projects and consultancy services in countries such as Kuwait, UAE, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Palestine and Jordan.

Supported By

The IFC is a specialist Islamic finance body working to promote the industry both locally and globally. Established as a not-for-profit, the IFC carries out a range of activities to help create an environment where every believer of ethical finance can make financing decisions in accordance with their principles.

The IFC is based in Scotland, a country with a proud heritage in ethical finance and the birthplace of ethical movements that included TSB, Scottish Widows and Scottish Equitable. Underlying Islamic finance are similar ethical, social and moral dimensions of wealth creation and deployment which aim to enhance equality and fairness in society.

Working as a catalyst between market makers, professional firms and policy makers, the IFC seeks to provide choice to consumers. The Islamic finance industry is at an embryonic stage and it’s rapid growth has led the IFC to take a dynamic role, developing and growing in line with the industry. As the industry develops the IFC aims to adapt to best address the new challenges and opportunities presented.

Swiss Islamic Banking and Finance Association is a specialist talent aggregator and international business development platform. SIBFA connects the Swiss financial services industry with the global Islamic banking and finance community.

International Compliance Association is a professional organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in compliance, anti-money laundering and financial crime prevention. ICA offers internationally recognised professional qualifications that help improve knowledge, enhance skills and minimise risk for firms. For novice and experienced practitioners alike, ICA certificate and diploma programmes are a benchmark of competence and excellence.

Established in 1979 by Ministerial Decree, the Bahrain Association of Banks is the professional association of banks in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In 2007 there were 94 members banks of the Society. The Bahrain Association of Banks represents and advocates the interests of all the various licensed financial institutions in Bahrain and works closely with the Central Bank of Bahrain and other government authorities at the highest levels on issues of banking policy and regulation, as well as actively promoting Bahrain as an international financial centre.

The Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry (AACCI) is the peak business association for two-way trade and investment between Australia and the Arab League countries. We assist Australian companies exporting or expanding into Middle Eastern markets. Our regular events equip our members with the latest Middle East-focused business expertise and provide networking opportunities and up-to-date commercial intelligence on the Arab business world. AACCI puts new members in touch with firms already trading with the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, stamps documentation for exports to the Arab World, and also runs out-bound trade missions to the Arab countries, focusing on industry sectors relevant to AACCI members. AACCI’s headline event for 2011 is the Inaugural Business Forum & Expo, to be held in Melbourne on 5 and 6 May. The Forum & Expo will attract a wide range of Arab business and official visitors to Australia and provide a unique opportunity for Australian and Arab companies to exhibit their products and services and network with potential clients.

Official Arabic Broadcaster

CNBC Arabiya is the Arab World's preeminent and only 24-hour Arabic language financial and business information Channel, presenting in-depth & up-to-the-minute coverage of regional and international affairs from an Arab economic perspective.

Regional Private Equity Portal

Lead Media Partners

Media Partners

BarclayHedge, a leading source for proprietary research in alternative investments since 1985, has provided services as a publisher, database and software provider, and industry consultant. Barclay’s 18 hedge fund indices and 10 managed futures indices are utilized worldwide as performance benchmarks for hedge funds and managed futures.