Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel is a Saudi businessman, chairman and founder of the Dallah al Baraka Group (DBG). Chairman of ABG and he is also the chairman of the General Council for Islamic Banks.

Firas El Azem is an insurance expert who returned to Syria early 2006 after spending all his professional career outside the country. Although, he started his career in the banking sector, he quickly discovered re-insurance as the right career for him.

Younis Jamal Al Sayed, CEO of Takaful International Company began his career in 1981 and gradually learnt the various aspects of the insurance industry. ARIG had a significant bearing on his career portfolio as he successfully rose through the management hierarchy.

Mohamed Hussain, CEO of Ithmaar Bank and Member of the Board has repeatedly proved himself a valuable asset, and has lent his considerable experience and great expertise to the bank. He helped the bank steer through the global financial crisis and has contributed, in a big way, towards defining the bank’s future direction.

As one of the newest comers to the Financial Serves market in the kingdom, Khalijia Invest launched its operations during the World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC) with its corporate slogan, “Big opportunities in the small details”.

The Middle East is going through cultural and economic changes and nowhere is that more evident than in the skyscraper wonderland of Doha, Qatar.

As the global economy ails from an unprecedented financial crisis, the Middle East is generally believed to emerge stronger than ever. From the financial disaster an important lesson has been learnt with regards to the effects of globalization. In an exclusive interview with BUSINESS LIFE, Abdul Kader Askalan, Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Oman Arab Bank (OAM), discusses the global financial crisis and what it means for Oman.

The Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman, His Excellency Hamoud Sangour Al Zadjali, gave an exclusive interview to BUISNESS LIFE speaking about the latest banking conference in Oman and described some of the effects of the global financial crisis on Oman

The world is counting its losses but what about the Middle East? Saudi Arabia is doing quite well considering the situation believes Youssef Al Bassam, the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).

At a time when many banks were struggling for their survival, BKK achieved remarkable performance by posting BD 27.1 million profit and maintaining liquidity position above 25% of the total assets with capital adequacy ratio above 20%.

Markets across the globe have fallen in October 2008 and GCC markets have not been able to escape this adverse global market impact. Government intervention cannot be avoided for the time being and this has been exemplified in both the United States and Europe.

Delivering innovative, high quality, risk adjusted, and Sharia’a compliant products to the GCC market is no easy task but Tharawat Investment House, a newly established financial institution, has taken on the challenge.