AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION MARCH 2025 • VOL.2 • ISSUE 03 LEADING THE WAY Affl uent strategy redefi ned in the UAE In par tner s hip w it h St andard Char te re d FME_Mar2025_00_Cover_13522080.indd 1FME_Mar2025_00_Cover_13522080.indd 103/03/2025 18:5203/03/2025 18:52Untitled-5 1Untitled-5 124/10/2024 16:2324/10/2024 16:23fi nancemiddleeast.comMarch 2025 | 3 Every year, International Women’s Day rolls around, and the world pauses—briefl y—to celebrate women. There are speeches, panels, social media posts and hashtags. But the truth is, one day isn’t enough. Women don’t stop leading, innovating or pushing boundaries when the calendar moves on. Their impact isn’t seasonal. That’s why this issue isn’t just about celebrating women in fi nance today, it is about recognising their infl uence every day. The women featured in these pages aren’t waiting for a seat at the table, they are creating their own. They are driving billion-dollar deals, reshaping economies and redefi ning leadership in a sector that hasn’t always made space for them. As you fl ip through, we hope their stories do more than inspire. We hope they serve as a reminder of what’s possible when talent, resilience and ambition meet opportunity. And we hope they push the conversation forward—not just for a day, but for the months and years ahead. Because progress doesn’t happen in a moment. It happens every single day. We hope you enjoy the magazine. Nivetha Dayanand Editor The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood A chilling portrayal of a theocratic society that strips women of their rights, this novel remains a powerful feminist classic The Year of Magical Thinking Joan Didion A deeply personal and moving account of grief, loss and survival after the sudden death of Didion’s husband Becoming Michelle Obama The former First Lady shares her journey from childhood to the White House, off ering insights on leadership, identity and resilience Educated Tara Westover An inspiring story of a woman who grew up in a strict, survivalist family with no formal education and later earned a PhD from Cambridge University MY 2025 READING LIST EDITOR’S LETTER FME_Mar2025_3_Editor Letter_13535723.indd 3FME_Mar2025_3_Editor Letter_13535723.indd 303/03/2025 19:5503/03/2025 19:55fi nancemiddleeast.com4 | March 2025 22 16 24 28 MEET THE ENTREPRENEUR: MOHAMMED ALI YUSUF Over a year-long period, more than $35 billion in crypto transactions was received in the UAE alone MAGNET FOR MILLIONAIRES Standard Chartered’s Rola Abu Manneh on how the new Priority Private centre is set to redefi ne the wealth management landscape MEET THE MASTERCARD EEMEA WOMEN LEADERS These trailblazers aren’t just breaking fi nancial glass ceiling—they’re redesigning the entire skyline GCC’S MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN FINANCE These women are moving fi nance forward, one bold decision at a time 16 28 22 24 FME_Mar2025_4-5_Contents_13535724.indd 4FME_Mar2025_4-5_Contents_13535724.indd 403/03/2025 19:5603/03/2025 19:56fi nancemiddleeast.comMarch 2025 | 5 44 42 50 52 THE $200 BILLION SHIFT Sukuk market navigates regulatory shifts and liquidity uncertainty in 2025 IMF WARNS RATE HIKES COULD THREATEN BANK STABILITY The fund cautioned 3% of banks as vulnerable as Silicon Valley Bank before collapse UAE ADVANCES GENDER DIVERSITY WITH MANDATORY BOARD REPRESENTATION Over the last decade, the UAE’s legal framework has evolved signifi cantly women in business UPWARDS AND ONWARDS ADGM’s Arvind Ramamurthy on driving AUM growth and shaping Abu Dhabi’s fi nancial future 42 5052 44 FME_Mar2025_4-5_Contents_13535724.indd 5FME_Mar2025_4-5_Contents_13535724.indd 503/03/2025 19:5603/03/2025 19:56fi nancemiddleeast.com6 | March 2025 PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, Mumbai, Riyadh & Geneva ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO: Ali Akawi Managing Director: Martin Chambers Head of Business and Technology: Thomas Shambler EDITORIAL Editor: Nivetha Dayanand Tel: +971 4 444 3887 email: nivetha.dayanand@itp.com Associate Project Editor: Beatriz Valero Tel: +971 4 444 3413 email: beatriz.valero@itp.com Commercial Editor: Angitha Pradeep Tel: +971 4 444 3278 email: angitha.pradeep@itp.com ART Art Director: Amjad Ayche Art Editor: Tofi q Memon ADVERTISING Group Publishing Director: Natasha Pendleton Tel: +971 4 444 3248 email: natasha.pendleton@itp.com Senior Commercial Manager: Ines Ben Rejeb Tel: +971 4 444 3223 email: ines.benrejeb@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Video Editor: Liju Cheruvathur MARKETING Head of Events: Eleanor Ashton email: eleanor.ashton@itp.com Events & Marketing Manager: Kate Galaktionova Events Manager: Beverly Stanforth Associate Events Manager: Vrinali Nazareth Associate Events Manager: Maria Trishina Events Sales Executive: Jan Mokoala Events Administrative Assistant: Aronn Pureza Events Sales Assistant: Joyce Salonga Events Administrative Assistant: Bobbie Rosario PRODUCTION Production Manager: Balasubramanian P DISTRIBUTION Distribution Coordinator: Avinash Pereira Circulation Executive: Rajesh Pillai ITP GROUP CEO: Ali Akawi CFO: Toby Jay Spencer-Davies The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. PUBLISHED BY AND © 2025 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. 6 | March 2025 To fl ip through previous editions of Finance Middle East magazine, visit fi nancemiddleeast.com/magazine/ 6 | March 2025 FME_Mar2025_6_Flannel_13535725.indd 6FME_Mar2025_6_Flannel_13535725.indd 603/03/2025 19:5603/03/2025 19:56fi nancemiddleeast.com8 | March 2025 ONLINE The prospect of a US intervention in Gaza raises concerns about both short-term market volatility and longer-term impacts on regional growth and investment. Policymakers and businesses will need to closely monitor the evolving situation and develop strategies to mitigate risks. The UAE’s stock markets experienced substantial growth in 2024, driven by a robust economy, foreign investments, and IPOs. Both ADX and DFM saw signifi cant increases in their market cap and trading volumes. The UAE’s real estate sector is set for a wave of new property launches in 2025, with major developments announced across Dubai. The market is expected to see over 72,000 new residential units, which analysts predict will contribute to price stabilisation amid continued demand from global investors. Saudi Arabia has introduced an offi cial symbol for the riyal, a move aimed at reinforcing the currency’s presence in fi nancial markets and aligning it with other global currencies such as the dollar ($) and euro (€). WHAT’S TRENDING ONLINE www.f inancemiddleeast .com Trump’s proposal to redevelop Gaza Emirati stocks with the best yearly performance Top 5 UAE property launches to watch in 2025 Saudi Arabia introduces official symbol for riyal WHAT OUR READERS THINK... Redefi ning fi nance in 2025 requires bold leadershipADIB launches Sharia-compliant fund “Thank you for sharing these forward-thinking insights, Kashish. As we navigate towards 2025, it’s also crucial to foster a culture of continuous learning within our fi nance teams” Anirban Som of SAAB “Realistically what does this mean? More burn mechanisms? More utility? With the total token supply I feel that $SHIB can actually be useful” Kyle Rose, MBA student FME_Mar2025_8-9_WEB DPS_13545547.indd 8FME_Mar2025_8-9_WEB DPS_13545547.indd 803/03/2025 20:0203/03/2025 20:02fi nancemiddleeast.comMarch 2025 | 9 TECHNOLOGY The fi nancial services industry across the GCC is undergoing signifi cant transformation, driven by the adoption of artifi cial intelligence (AI) and evolving regulatory frameworks. Ahbabi shed light on how AI-powered tools, such as robo-advisors, have become a cornerstone for brokers aiming to off er personalised and data-driven services to clients. These tools provide real-time insights tailored to individual risk profi les, helping clients make informed investment decisions. DHAFER SAHMI AL AHBABI: “UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE” fi nancemiddleeast.comMarch 2025 | 9 ONLINE FME_Mar2025_8-9_WEB DPS_13545547.indd 9FME_Mar2025_8-9_WEB DPS_13545547.indd 903/03/2025 20:0203/03/2025 20:02Next >