Gulf Finance House

One of the main founding members of Gulf Finance House, Mr Janahi successfully led the organization as Chief Executive until 2007, when he was elected Chairman. With 21 years of financial experience Mr Janahi sets the strategic direction for the long term and advises on operational matters for the short and medium term.

Mr Janahi holds numerous directorships as Chairman of Energy City Qatar, First Energy Bank, Royal Ranches Marrakech and Vice Chairman of Al Areen Holding. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Hull University in the UK and a bachelor’s degree in industrial management (with honours) from the University of Petroleum and Minerals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A professional with over 37 years’ experience, Mr Alshaya is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Alshaya Group, one of the leading retail commercial groups in the Middle East. Currently he is the Chairman of Injazzat Real Estate Development Company in Kuwait and a board member of QInvest. He represents Abdullatif Alshaya’s and Abdulaziz Alshaya’s stake in GFH. Mr Alshaya holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Francisco State University, USA.

Al Shaya Group

The Alshaya Group is involved in a wide variety of businesses including Retail Franchise, Trading, Properties, Hotels, Investments, Mall Construction and Management, Automotive Dealership, Shop Fittings and Joinery, Travel Agency, Air-conditioning and Contracting, Computer Software and Marketing/Advertising.

The Alshaya businesses are spread right across the Middle East (including the Gulf, Egypt and Jordan), Lebanon, Turkey, Cyprus, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The Head Office of the Group is based in Kuwait. Today, the Retail Division of the Group employs in excess of 16,000 employees worldwide.

Abdullah Al Hamli joined Dubai Islamic Bank in 1999 as the Director of IT after the bank suffered a series of losses, where he managed the overhaul and modernization of the bank’s main information system and networks. In the same year Mr. Al Hamli founded two companies, Synergy, which specializes in IT, and a hospitality company to manage hotels and resorts.

He started his professional career working at Port Rashid and Jebel Ali for eleven years, leaving as Director of IT. In 1993, he became the Executive Director of IT and member of the Supreme Council for Dubai Ports and Free Zone, where he oversaw the establishment and implementation of a number of fundamental IT systems in all of Dubai’s ports and Free Zone. Al Hamli holds a Bachelor’s degree in degree in Mathematics and Economics from UAE University where he graduated with Honors in 1982.

Dubai Islamic Bank

Dubai Islamic Bank is the world’s first fully-fledged Islamic bank. Since its formation in 1975, Dubai Islamic Bank has established itself as a leading Islamic financial institution, providing a wide range of services and products that cater for all their clients’ needs.

Mr. Khayat is the First Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of the Saudi Economic Development Company (SEDCO). Mr. Khayat is a board member of several investment and financial companies, including Al Fanar Investment Holding in Holland. He represents the SEDCO stake in GFH and has amassed over 25 years’ experience in the financial industry. Mr. Khayat holds a bachelors and master’s degrees in business economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and has attended various high level seminars and training programmes, including the Columbia University Executive Education programme.

SEDCO

Saudi Economic & Development Company is a leading global Islamic wealth management organization, providing innovative investment products for Shari’ah compliant investors. The Company’s portfolio includes a broad array of Islamic investment products, direct investments in private companies, and real estate properties on four continents.

Mr Al Meer was the Managing Director of QInvest, before which he was the Business Group Assistant General Manager at Qatar Islamic Bank. He is a board member of several other companies and financial institutions. Representing Qatar Islamic Bank’s stake in GFH, Mr. Al Meer holds a PhD in international business administration from the University of Nova, Florida and has over 34 years’ experience in the financial industry.

Qatar Islamic Bank

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) an Islamic bank of global stature was established in 1982 and has been operating in Qatar, the Gulf, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North Africa. The increasing presence of Qatari investment and industrial companies in various parts of the world (e.g. Qatargas, RasGas, Qatari Diar, Barwa) was one of the key factors behind QIB’s decision to establish a global presence through finance houses/banks that will facilitate the growth of the national economy as well as Qatari companies abroad.

Anthony Travis is a private consultant specialized in providing expert advice and information on the prevention of value destruction (strategic risk management) and corporate governance.

Until his retirement from PWC on June 30th 2005, Mr. Travis was a Swiss federal auditor licensed to carry out regulatory and special bank audits and act as an observer of Swiss banks and banking groups.

He is a former chairman of the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Geneva, and co-founder of the Family Business Network in Lausanne where he was a board member from 1989 to 2004, the leading worldwide body for family business owners, and Le Resau, a high technology industry think tank based in Geneva.

In addition, Mr. Travis has served as a board member or advisory board member in several renowned organizations, such as L’Obervatoire de la Finance, Forum Suisse de la Politique Internationale, the International Peacebuilding Alliance and OMCT and acted as the technical consultant on risk management issues to the Islamic Banking to the Islamic Financial Services Board in Kuala Lampur, among others.

He is also an accomplished author, having written several published works in various banking and finance disciplines, and is a sought after lecturer and speaker at a number of conferences on Risk Management, Excellence in Business Practices, Business Continuity, Fraud Cases, and Corporate Governance

Mr. Al Hinai, worked in a number of leading financial institutions, starting in 1989 at Oman Bank for Agriculture and Fisheries (OBAF), ending his career there as the Deputy General Manager in 1998. He then served at Oman Development Bank from 1998 until 2007, leaving the bank as General Manager. He then moved on to serve as the VP of Islamic Development Bank, his current post.

Mr. Al Hinai, is also a member of several leading banking bodies in Oman and across the region, such as the Banking and Investment Committee at the Omani Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Agriculture and Fisheries Fund, Omani Economic Association, and Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation.

Mr. Al Hinai, an Omani national, holds a number of degrees from various institutions around the world. He obtained his undergrad degree in Economics and Finance from New Hampshire College, USA, and went on to receive two Master’s degrees in Banking and Economics from American University and Claremont Graduate University, respectively, the latter of which he received his Ph.D. from in Economics and Public Policy.

Islamic Development Bank

The Islamic Development Bank is an international financial institution established in December 1973. The Bank was formally opened on the 20th of October 1975. The purpose of the Bank is to foster the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities individually as well as jointly, in accordance with the principles of Shari’ah i.e. Islamic Law.

Mohammed Ebrahim Mohammed, is currently the CEO of Bahrain Islamic Bank, having joined the Bank in 2007 as GM of Retail Banking. Prior to this, Mr. XXX spent 9 years as CEO of Credi Max, a fully owned subsidiary of Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), after spending 8 years at the Bank itself. Besides representing BISB on the Board of GFH, he also sits on the Board of Abbad Real Estate Company and Bahrain Association of Banks.

A Bahraini national, he holds an Executive Management Diploma from Univ. of Bahrain, where he graduated in 1995. He then went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Univ. of Glamorgan in Wales. He also graduated from the Gulf Executive Development Program from the Univ. of Virginia in the USA, and General Management Program from Harvard Business School.

Bahrain Islamic Bank

Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) was established in 1979 as the first Islamic commercial bank in the Kingdom of Bahrain with an authorized capital of BD 100 million and paid up capital is BD 69.5 million. At the end of 2008, the shareholders’ funds reached nearly BD 166 million Bahraini Dinars, with assets in excess of BD 873 million
The Bank offers innovative Islamic investment and financing products, supported by superior retail and corporate banking services. The Bank is listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange. The Bank operates under supervision and the regulatory framework of the Central Bank of Bahrain.

Mr. Al Ohali is currently the CEO and Managing Director of Al Ohali Holding in Saudi Arabia, a leading regional company specializing in finance, real estate and auto motors.

He is a board member of several regional investment and financial institutions, including Gulf Real estate Development Co, MENA Real estate Co. and Capital Holding Co. He represents his own investments in GFH and has over 30 years’ experience. Mr. Al Ohali holds a Diploma in Commerce from the Commercial Studies College in Kuwait.

 Al Ohali Group

Established in 1960, Al Ohali Holding is a diversified conglomerate for various commercial activities, undertaking real estate, automobile, food stuff and comprehensive financial operations. Abiding strictly to the principles and guidelines of Islamic sharia, Al Ohali Holding maintains a leading position as major family business company locally and regionally.

Mr. AlSubaiee, Kuwaiti National, joined Kuwait Investment Company (KIC) in 2000 as its Chairman & Managing Director. Prior to this he served at the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) from 1993 to 2000, his last position there being General Manager, Operations.
Mr. AlSubaiee enjoys a wealth of experience spanning 28 years. Apart from the above positions, he served six years as VP, Accounts Department for Kuwait Foreign Trading Contracting Investment Co. He also served in positions at the Kuwait Commercial Markets Complex Company, Mix Speed Ltd. in London and at the Ministry of Communications in Kuwait.

Currently he is the Board Member of the Kuwait Clearing Company, Kuwait, Gulf Finance House, Bahrain, Union of Investment Companies, Kuwait, Vice Chairman of Ithra Capital, Saudi Arabia, Chairman of Instrata Capital, Bahrain and Member of the Advisory Committee for Kuwaiti Shareholders’ Companies, organized by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science.
Bader Al Subaiee graduated from Cairo University, Egypt, in 1980 with a degree in Accounting, and went on to receive his MBA in Finance from American International College in Massachusetts, USA in 1983. He was awarded his CPA license from Kuwait in 1989.

Kuwait Investment Company
Kuwait Investment Company was established in 1961 at the early stage of Kuwait’s economic development. KIC carries out a wide range of investment and financial activities, mainly providing a diversified package of local and international investment and financial products, to its local and international consumer base.