Amidst the disruptive tide of FinTech solutions challenging traditional systems, financial organizations are increasingly compelled to integrate technology as a catalyst for elevating customer experience, driving business profitability, and diversifying product portfolios within a secure framework.
The New Age Banking Summit illuminates the dynamic landscape of challenges and opportunities, offering a pivotal platform for knowledge exchange and networking that positions Oman's banking sector on par with global counterparts.
This Summit equips banks with the tools to craft strategies that align with the evolving digital financial ecosystem, ensuring readiness for the future by embracing digital transformation, pioneering product and service innovation, and engaging customers through digital channels while vigilantly mitigating cyber risks. Moreover, it delves into how embracing new business models will ensure the relevance of banks for the next generation, urging proactive steps to be taken today.
UMS Events proudly presents the New Age Banking Summit in 2024, continuing its tradition of fostering interactive platforms to explore the rapid metamorphosis of Oman's banking sector. At its essence, the Summit endeavors to delve into emerging technologies and methodologies poised to catapult the banking industry to unprecedented heights. Featuring interactive panel discussions, focused sessions led by industry luminaries sharing profound insights and experiences, and networking opportunities with seasoned banking professionals, the Summit is a catalyst for transformative dialogue and action.
09:00 Welcome Address by Atulya Sharma, CEO, UMS Group
09:15 Keynote by H.E. Tahir Al Amri, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman
09:30 Keynote Speech by Talal Al Zadjali, CEO, Oman Banks Association
09:40 Speech by Eng. Maqbool Al Wahaibi, CEO of Oman Data Park
09:55 Panel Discussion: Building a Robust Digital Banking Ecosystem
PANELISTS:
Dr. Haider Al Lawati, Head of AI, Oman Data Park
Hussain Al Maimani, Sales Director, GBM Oman
Sajeel Bashiruddin, Chief Digital Officer, Sohar International Mujahid Al Zadjali, GM - IT & Operations, Bank Nizwa
Bassam Al Jamali, General Manager, Mala’a
Ismail Yavuz Sakaoglu, CTO – Financial Industries, Huawei Technologies
Moderator: Dr. Aju Samuel, Organization Strategy and Corporate Governance Specialist, and Co-Founder of Wadiaa
10:50 Live strategic signing ceremony of collaborations
11:00 Presentation of Oman Banking & Finance Awards 2024
11.20 Networking Break
11:45 Presentation by Mr Jawad Al Zaabi, Sr Business Development Manager, Oman Data Park
12:05 Presentation by Raheel Iqbal, Board Member, Strategy & Transformation, Antom
12:25 Presentation by Ismail Yavuz Sakaoglu, CTO – Financial Industries, Huawei Technologies
12:45 Presentation by Sabine Holl, VP & Chief Technology Officer, IBM Middle East and Africa
13.15 Summit closing remarks
Lunch
Keynote address by Executive President of CBO
Panel Discussion
Participation of leaders from top 10 banks in Oman
Oman Banking & Finance Awards
Interactive presentations on the future of banking
Exclusive platform for BFSI and fintech majors
Participation of 150+ delegates from 100+ BFSI & tech companies
Largest banking and NBFC conference in Oman
His Excellency
Tahir Salim Al Amri Executive President, CBOHis Excellency Tahir Salim Al Amri is the Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), and was appointed by a Royal Decree No 44/2017 in September 2017 Through his leadership, CBO proactively provides a stable framework for economic development of Oman through the effective, efficient and transparent implementation of monetary and exchange rate policy and management of the financial sector His career started at the Ministry of Finance in revenue accountancy before becoming the Acting Director of Oil Revenue and then the Director of Gas Revenue Later in his career, he became the Director General of Treasury and Accounts and then the Director General of budget and Contracts In 2015, HE Al Amri moved to the private sector as Deputy CEO of Oman Investment and Finance Company and was engaged in a transformation journey to enhance efficiency and productivity before his appointment at CBO
As a policy professional in treasury, finance and economy and an accountant by education, HE Al Amri served on the Board of several prestigious private and public entities, for a variety of businesses from a leading local bank, to sovereign wealth funds, shipping, and oil and gas industry His pragmatic approach played an important role in participating in the negotiations of national agreements spanning technical licensing and construction contracts, writing of articles of association, Oil and Gas upstream agreements, shareholders’ agreements, shipping contracts, establishing credit policies and procedures, and Audit Committees, to name a few
With over 31 years of banking experience, Mr Talal Ali Ashraf Al Zadjali is an accredited banking expert by the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, and Oman Commercial Arbitration Center
Academically he holds qualifications in Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde UK, Management from the Institute of Leadership and Management UK, Advanced Credit from The Arab Academy of Banking and Financial Sciences, and American Bankers Association, Audit and Banking studies from Oman Institute of Bankers, and Post Graduate in Business Administrative from the University of Leicester UK
Talal Al Zadjali CEO, Oman Banks Association
ng. Maqbool Al Wahaibi is the Chief Executive Officer of Oman Data ark (ODP), the first Managed & Cloud Service Provider in Oman. He is part of the Executive Management and the Founding team member to establish ODP in 2012 and has been instrumental in developing solutions tailored to address the banks, financial institutions, oil and gas sector, healthcare, government, education, and professional services sectors
Eng Maqbool has more than 25 years of diversified experience in ICT engineering, Software Development, Business Start-ups, and Leadership He holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Software Engineering from the University of York, and an MBA from Strathclyde University, UK
Eng Al Wahaibi was named as Technology Person of the Year at the Annual AIWA Awards in 2018, which also gave Oman Data Park the Excellence for Global Cloud-Based Services in 2019 Eng Al Wahaibi was also named as one of the world's most inspiring CEOs for 2023 published by the renowned international magazine World's Leaders ODP is currently serving more than 800 corporates ranging from large to mid-sized and small companies
Through his visionary leadership, strategic planning, and commitment to excellence, Eng Maqbool Al Wahaibi has significantly contributed to the growth and success of Oman Data Park His achievements have not only elevated ODP’s stature within Oman but also positioned it as a competitive player in the global cloud services market
Eng.Maqbool
Al Wahaibi CEO, Oman Data Park
Mr Bassam Al Jamali, serving as Mala'a's General Manager, holds certifications from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Program (CAIA) With an extensive background spanning over 24 years in the Central Bank of Oman, he brings invaluable expertise in Investment and Payment Infrastructure domains
Bassam Al Jamali General Manager, Mala’a
Mr. Hussain Al Maimani is an influential leader and advocate for digital transformation, digital economy & economies of scale. As the Sales Director at GBM Oman, he oversees sales operations across all sectors, with a strong focus on the Banking Industry with over a decade of experience in spearheading the BFSI business in GBM Hussain has been instrumental in driving key digital transformation initiatives in Automation, Analytics, Customer Experience, Collaboration, Security, RPA, and Artificial Intelligence He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, an MBA from Manchester Business School, and has completed executive education programs from London Business School (LBS) on organizational resilience and MIT Sloan School of Management on Leading Organizations and Change
Hussain
Al Maimani Sales Director, GBMDr Haider Al-Lawati is a Head of Artificial Intelligence at Oman Data Park, drawing upon more than 13 years of dedicated experience within both the telecom industry and academia Throughout his career, he has spearheaded diverse projects encompassing network planning, strategic and operational planning, project management, and innovative network solutions His academic journey led him to achieve a Ph D from the prestigious University of Toronto in Canada Following his Ph D , Haider delved into cutting-edge AI research, contributing to both academia and industry in Canada. His recent transition to Oman Data Park reflects his commitment to driving AI initiatives and projects.” Furthermore, Haider shares his knowledge and passion of AI by teaching machine learning courses at the Modern College of Business and Science.”
Dr. Haider Al Lawati
Sr. Manager – AI, Oman Data Park
Mr Mujahid is the General Manager - IT at Bank Nizwa SOAG, Technology Committee Chairman of Oman Banking Association as well as Deputy Chairman of Information Technology Steering Committee at Bank Nizwa He is heading the Digital Transformation and Innovation projects in the Bank which complements the bank's long-term strategic initiative and Bank Nizwa’s vision to become the “Digital Bank of Choice” for the people of Oman He is a strategic, decisive and result oriented leader, having 20 years of professional expertise with an indepth knowledge in Digital Transformation and Innovation He possesses the skill of managing a large team and has strong beliefs in ‘human capital’ and ‘staff engagement’
He graduated from the National CEO Program Cohort-2 2016 developed under the patronage of the Diwan of Royal Court, delivered by the International Institute of Management Development (IMD). Mujahid holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Luton University, UK. He holds a Diploma in Leadership & Management from the Institute of Leadership and Management, UK and has been part of the General Management Program at Harvard Business School, USA. He has completed his certification in the Islamic Finance Leadership Program from Claire College Cambridge.
Mujahid Said Al Zadjaly General Manager IT , Bank Nizwa
Mr Sajeel Bashiruddin joined Sohar International in 2021 and currently holds the Chief Technology Officer role, wherein he is responsible for Information Technology, Enterprise Project Management Office, FinTech & spearheading Digital Banking functions of the bank to drive Digital Transformation With over 20 years of experience, Mr Sajeel reserves an entrepreneurial spirit and has led large-scale digital transformation in the sector While strategy development, leadership, and innovation are key areas he places increased emphasis on, Mr Sajeel has also introduced new digital revenue streams via Fintech partnerships, led cohesive digital ecosystem transformations, spearheaded business expansions and led transitions to be a data-driven organization
He started his career in 2003 and have held key positions in banks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman Mr Sajeel holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Applications, Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and is also a Certified Artificial Intelligence Business Professional
Sajeel Bashiruddin Chief Digital
Officer,Sohar International
Mr Raheel is a Board Member of Antom, with over fifteen years of experience working with leading organizations in the US, EU, Middle East, and APAC in the technology, consulting, and product development sectors He has spearheaded the development of innovative products and services across fourteen systems that power a range of FinTech-enabled players, including three digital banks in Europe and the GCC
Raheel's expertise lies in the fintech and digital banking space, where he has extensive knowledge and experience in areas such as Digital Banking Operations, Regulatory Compliance, Payments, Cards, and Platform Integrations His rich history of working alongside C-Suite and Boards enables him to effectively drive the development of new products and services.
Recognized globally by leading financial institutions and regulators for his in-depth understanding and industry knowledge, Raheel is an influential speaker and facilitator on a range of technology and businessrelated topics, including Islamic banking, payments, fintech, and innovation. He frequently speaks on these topics both in the GCC and beyond, making him a highly sought-after thought leader in the industry.
Board Member, Strategy & Transformation, Antom
Ms Sabine Holl is a seasoned IBM executive with over 25 years of experience in technical sales, solutioning, and innovation across multiple regions and markets She is currently the Vice President Technical Sales and CTO for Middle East and Africa, leading large and diverse teams of specialists, architects, and advocates who help IBM's clients accelerate and transform their business leveraging Hybrid Cloud and AI
Sabine has a proven track record of building organizations, developing talent, and delivering results in complex and dynamic environments She started her career as a mainframe services consultant in IBM Austria, where she became a subject matter expert and a certified IT specialist, publishing several books and teaching workshops worldwide She then expanded her scope and impact by introducing first of a kind technologies and digital solutions to new and emerging markets in Central/Eastern Europe, Russia, Middle East and Africa She is also a co-founder of a social enterprise that provides education and food security in Kenya. Sabine is passionate about innovation, inclusion, and growth, and strives to empower her teams and clients to achieve their full potential.
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
IBM Middle East and Africa
Mr Jawad Al Zaabi is a Senior Business Development Manager specializing in cloud solutions for the BFSI sector With over 12 years of experience across Telecom, Aviation, and IT services, he brings a diverse and robust skill set to his role He holds a wealth of certifications, including VMware Certified Professional (VCP 5) and expertise in EMC's Symmetrix and Data Domain Administration, demonstrating his proficiency in managing storage solutions with precision and reliability Additionally, his CCNA certifications in both Data Center and Routing & Switching highlight his comprehensive understanding of networking protocols and infrastructure
During his tenure at Ooredoo, Mr. Jawad spearheaded the company's transition to the cloud, ensuring a seamless and successful migration of systems. He also played a crucial role in the readiness team for Oman Airports, contributing to the successful openings of Muscat and Salalah's new airports. More recently, with the Midis Group, Jawad has been instrumental in facilitating numerous companies' digital transformation journeys in his business development capacity.
Jawad Al Zaabi Senior Business Development Manager Oman Data ParkMr Ismail Yavuz Sakaoglu, CTO – Financial Industry at Huawei, is a customer-minded CTO with 23 years of experience and proven leadership skills He is transforming the Middle East and Central Asia regions by leading digital transformation and cloud initiatives to help banks evolve into FinTechs, focusing on Super Apps, Mobile Money, Digital Payments, Risk Management, Micro Finance, AI Contact Centers, Digital Currency, Cloud platforms, AI, IoT, 5G, and Blockchain He manages global and local partners to build ecosystems and has developed a methodology for customer insight, opportunity analysis, and partner mapping
Regularly engaging with C-level executives, he has increased customer satisfaction by 70% and sales by 65% in the Middle East region A keynote speaker at financial sector summits, his specialties include banking, cyber security, cloud services, and IT infrastructure His accolades include the President Commendation, Future Star, and President Award for Breakthrough.
Core modernization for building future banking experiences
Next disruption in fintech
Tokenisation - the future of finance?
Emerging partnerships for innovating together
Accelerating the financial inclusion agenda
Deep-dive into borderless financial ecosystem
AI, 5G & Cloud services leading to new opportunities
Green financing for a sustainable future
Mala’a is Oman’s National Databank, offering a range of services and solutions for financial and credit institutions, and playing a pivotal role in supporting regulatory functions, supporting FinTech’s, data registries, corporates, and government entities
The core objectives focus on fostering financial inclusion and ensuring access to credit for all segments of society It also aspires to elevate the financial well-being of the Sultanate and promote responsible lending practices, thus effectively mitigating credit risks in Oman Mala’a stands as a critical enabler in realizing the ambitious goals outlined in Oman Vision 2040, particularly the Economic Diversification and Financial Sustainability
Mala’a offers a range of products tailored for both individuals and corporates, with the Credit Report and Credit Score standing as the flagship offerings. The Credit Report is a comprehensive document that encapsulates financial and credit information. It includes not only demographic and firmographic data but also provides a detailed account of both positive and negative credit history, guarantees, and records of bounced checks, among other pertinent details.
The inspiring, ongoing story of Sohar International is one that was shaped as a direct result of a deeper purpose to help people ‘win’ by delivering banking for their ever-changing world It’s a story driven by a vision to be a world-leading Omani service company that helps customers, communities and people, to prosper and grow. Sohar International has quickly become the fastest growing bank within the Sultanate of Oman. The bank is poised for success with a forward looking comprehensive strategy resulting in milestones attested by numerous local, regional, and international accolades demonstrating distinction across a wide spectrum of the bank’s activities and initiatives.
Sohar International seeks innovation to add value to every experience Engaged with a diverse array of businesses catering to Commercial and Investment Banking to Wealth Management, Islamic Banking and beyond Every segment presents an opportunity waiting to be harnessed into a unique value proposition achieving diversity and contributing towards Oman Vison 2040 With a clear direction of bringing the best of the world to Oman, and taking the best of Oman to the world, Sohar International has been establishing partnerships with key international entities with the purpose of adding value to its ecosystem of offerings
The bank has positioned itself well within the market and beyond having established presence throughout the country and within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The Omni channel approach to banking under the digitalization agenda of the bank has also taken off with state-of-the-art digital banking platforms the provide retail and corporate clients seamless, secure, and convenient banking solutions at the touch of their fingertips
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Sultanate, Bank Nizwa remains poised for a promising trajectory, contributing substantively towards the socioeconomic advancement of the country
Established in 2012, Oman Data Park is the Sultanate’s premier IT Managed Services provider offering superior Managed Data Centre, Cyber Security and Cloud Services utilising our locally hosted TIA 942 Rating 3 certified certified Data Centres With a vision to transform the future, where ICT services will be available on demand, we serve over 500 local and international corporates ranging from large, and mid-tier to small companies
Whether it’s a Government, Corporate or SME entity operating in Oman or internationally, we are fully equipped to serve them with cost-effective and secure IT services offering and lead the customer’s business into the future while they comfortably focus on their core business activities
The winner of Best Digital Data Centre in the Middle East at the Telecom World Middle East Awards 2019 as well as Fortinet’s Best Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) Award 2019, We operate Oman’s only Virtual Data Center – Nebula Our Cyber Security Centre and the newly launched Professional Services as a Service (PSaaS) are all a part of our Opex-based models offering economical pay-as-you-grow models that facilitate Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Network as a Service (NaaS), Data Centre as a Service (DCaaS), Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), as well as Application as a Service (AaaS).
With over 30 years of excellence as the leading investment management company in Oman, United Securities has grown and evolved to meet the expanding investment needs of its clients. Supported by the Muscat Stock Exchange and supervised by the Capital Market Authority, United Securities provides a wide array of services such as Investment Banking, Brokerage Services in the MENA region and US markets, Asset Management, Corporate Finance, Issue Management, Bonds Trading, and Equity Research. Additionally, United Securities introduced E-tadawul, Oman’s first online trading platform that enables customers to trade securely and conveniently online.
The company ’ s strength lies in its extensive experience, unwavering track record, and dedication to client satisfaction. As trailblazers in the market, the company possesses a flair for identifying opportunities and driving investment avenues forward. This has solidified the company ’ s status as the preferred consultants for high-net-worth individuals and esteemed investment companies, both domestically and internationally
At United Securities, it is the company ’ s unwavering commitment and responsibility to take care of the clients’ assets with the utmost detail and ensure the client’s interests are represented and protected
The company ’ s services are tailored to meet the unique investment needs of individuals, investment managers, corporations, pension funds, and other institutional clients The current leadership position is a testament to the meticulous application of our services and skills over the past 30 years This commitment has not only garnered the company numerous awards but has also earned us a stellar reputation for delivering exceptional customer service, perfectly aligned with the individual needs of each client
Today, United Securities embraces emerging opportunities in Oman and the world while continuing to exceed its clients' expectations
Credit Oman was founded in 1991, under the name of Export Guarantee Financing Unit (EGFU). Since its inception, Credit Oman has played a pivotal role in facilitating domestic and export trade and contributing to Oman’s economic development. For over 30 years, Credit Oman has both shaped domestic trade, and catalyzed exports from the country to regional and international markets.
As the leading credit insurer of Oman, registered as an independent legal entity and fully owned by the government, Credit Oman is in a unique position to support the growth of Omani non-oil exports, to create a more developed, robust and diversified economy.
Taageer Finance, established in the year 2000, is a leading public joint stock company listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange As of this year, the Company holds the top position among all finance and leasing companies currently operating in Oman Headquartered in Al Khuwair, Taageer has a network of offices in Wattayah, Seeb, Barka, Suhar, Nizwa, Salalah, and Al Kamil wal Wafi, ensuring excellent accessibility for its valued customers
Over the past two decades, Taageer Finance has carved a niche for itself among finance and leasing companies, demonstrating sustained and stable growth. The company has a strong track record of profitability and consistent dividends for shareholders, solidifying the brand within the industry.
Focused on achieving the highest levels of customer satisfaction and quick service, Taageer Finance has enhanced its digital offerings with a user-friendly mobile application, providing convenient services at customers' fingertips.
Boasting a dedicated and enthusiastic team, the Company is also committed to delivering top-notch services With unwavering support from its shareholders, Taageer Finance continues to reach new heights, cementing its position as an industry leader
Oman Banks Association (OBA) is a non-profit professional association created to represent the banking sector, to promote Omani banking activities, coordinate with the Regulators on matters of policy and strategy, and to support banking excellence in Oman
Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices with 207,000 employees and operates in over 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world Huawei’s vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world
With the advent of ground-breaking technologies such as generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 5G-Advanced (5GA), the financial services industry is moving forward into the era of digital finance. Huawei continues to invest in basic research and open innovation, and accommodates and addresses customer needs with an open mind, while steering these needs with science and technology.
Huawei leverages leading innovative technologies and draw on its extensive expertise to help its customers succeed. It works in open collaboration with financial institutions and ecosystem partners, always looking for new ways to create value for the customers By the end of 2023, Huawei had served over 3300 financial customers in more than 60 countries and regions, including 53 of the world's top 100 banks It had also established strategic partnerships with more than 80 large banks, insurers, and securities companies across the globe, becoming their trusted partner in digital transformation
Established in 2007, ahlibank has consistently grown to become one of the leading banks in the Sultanate of Oman Its commitment to innovation remains key, offering a comprehensive range of products and services in personal, business, SME, privileged, and investment banking With a vast branch network, robust digital platforms, and a team of specialists, ahlibank ensures seamless and secure banking experiences for customers from diverse sectors Through prudent management and holistic growth, ahlibank continues to bolster Oman's financial stability and economic prosperity, working tirelessly to realize the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, strategically positioning itself as the chosen ‘Partner in Excellence’ within the banking industry
Central Bank of Oman
Oman Banks Association
Bank Muscat
Bank Dhofar
National Bank of Oman
Oman Arab Bank
HSBC Oman
Oman Data Park
ahlibank
Sohar International
Bank Nizwa
Alizz Islamic Bank
Meethaq
Maisarah
Muzn
Ahli Islamic
Sohar Islamic
Ominvest
First Abu Dhabi Bank
Oman Development Bank
Qatar National Bank
Standard Chartered Bank
Oman Housing Bank
Bank of Beirut, Bank Saderat Iran
Habib Bank
Bank Melli Iran
Oracle GBM
Microsoft Cisco OBM
Logicom
Ripple
Creditinfo Gulf Omantel
Ooredoo Vodafone KPMG
Infosys
Saxo Bank InfrasoftTech
CompassPlus Comarch
Volante
Finanteq
HPS Thawani Mala’a
Global ITS OmPay
Idenfo and many more…
Mala’a
