KUWAIT: The 23rd edition of the World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC) will see a global participation with leaders from different regions across the world. The conference held in strategic partnership with the Central Bank of Bahrain will take place in Manama, Bahrain on the 5th, 6th and 7th of December 2016 and will feature a groundbreaking lineup of speakers.

The World Islamic Banking Conference is the longest running Islamic finance conference that speaks of a 23-year heritage with a robust platform that comprises of leading bankers, institutional investors, asset managers, policy makers, academics and other stakeholders. This year, WIBC will engage its audience in discussions on the challenges brought by the uncertainties in the global economic environment and highlight the need for Islamic finance to stay vigilant in order to maintain the current growth rates.

For 22 years, WIBC has been welcoming high profile delegations including regulators and government officials from various regions to discuss the future direction of this rapidly growing industry. This year, WIBC 2016 will welcome 3 high profile keynote speakers from leading emerging markets.

Saudi Arabia is one of the most active and influential markets in the Islamic finance space today as it is home to a number of dedicated Islamic Banks, as well as Islamic window operations offered through conventional banks. A great demand in Islamic finance products in this region, makes it one of the biggest markets in the GCC. Dr Ahmed Al-Kholifey, who heads the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) and engages in research and international affairs will provide a keynote speech at WIBC relating to the opportunities available in this region.

Russia, being the latest entrant into this booming structure, is looking to use Islamic finance to further its efforts of exploring new ways of financing and develop its economy by welcoming international investors from emerging markets. Speaking to this effect is Mr. Alexander P. Torshin, State Secretary - Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Russia who will represent Russia's initiative in collaborating with Islamic finance institutions to pave way for the industry to tap into the opportunities in the CIS region.

Bahrain, the host nation of WIBC for the past 23 years has rapidly become a global leader in Islamic finance, playing host to the largest concentration of Islamic financial institutions in the Middle East. In particular, the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) continues to provide strong support to the financial industry which provides a significant percentage to the country's GDP and economy as a whole. Rasheed Mohammed Al-Maraj, Governor, Central Bank of Bahrain has been an integral part of WIBC and will continue providing his support this year in a keynote speech, to help in furthering the ecosystem for Islamic finance entities to thrive and grow in the global markets.

Other confirmed speakers include:

* Khalid Hamad Abdul-Rahman Hamad, Executive Director - Banking Supervision, Central Bank of Bahrain

* Adel Abdul Wahab Al-Majed, Vice-Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Boubyan Bank

* Hamed Hassan Merah, Secretary General, AAOIFI

* Tirad Mahmoud, Group Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)

* Dr Anwar Al Sadah, First Group Deputy CEO, Al-Salam Bank

* Ahsan Ali Managing Director, Head of Islamic Origination, Standard Chartered Bank

* Dr Yahia Abdul-Rahman, Chairman & CEO, The LARIBA System- Bank of Whittier

* Farmida Bi, Head of Islamic Finance - Europe, Norton Rose Fulbright

* Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance, Thomson Reuters

* Mohammed Kateeb, Group Chairman & CEO, Path Solutions

* Cassim Docrat, Regional Director, DDCAP Group

* Kurt Lieberman, Chief Executive Officer, Magni Global Asset Management LLC

* Fadi Al-Faqih, CEO, Bank of Khartoum

* Fadi Al-Qutub, Chief Investment Officer, Al-Istithmar Capital

* Onur Takmak, Founding Partner & Chairman, RHEA Asset Management

* Hassan Amin Jarrar, Chief Executive Officer, Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB)

* Ashar Nazim, Partner, EY

* Bashar Al-Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance, Fitch Ratings

* Lilian Le Falher, Executive Manager, Head of Treasury Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain

* Dr Daan Elffers, Founder, Islamic Reporting Initiative

* Rehan Pathan, Head of Middle East and Malaysia, Arabesque Asset Management

* Dr Ashraf Gamal El Din, Chief Executive Officer, Hawkamah

* Naji Moukadam, Managing Director, SAB

* Samer Hijazi, Head of Islamic Finance, Grant Thornton UAE

* Marco Lichtfous, Partner, Deloitte Tax and Consulting

* Stuart Hutton, Chief Investment Officer, Simply Ethical

* Abdulla R. Shafeea, Head of Asset Management, The Investor for Securities Company

* Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Founder, Finocracy

* Tariq Al-Rifai, CEO, Quorum Centre for Strategic Studies

* Monem Salam, President and Fund Manager, Saturna Sdn Bhd

* Dr Hatim El-Tahir, Director Deloitte & Touche, Middle East

* Mark Smyth, Chief Investment Officer, Tawreeq Holdings

* Shabnam Mohammad, ?Head of Structuring MENA & Group Head of Islamic Finance, Tell Group

* Dr. Aishath Muneeza, Associate Professor, INCIEF

* Nida Raza, Director Advisory Services, The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD)

* Hamza Abu-Musa, Founder, SharedEq

* Dr Mohammed Abdel-Haq, CEO, Oakstone Merchant Bank

WIBC 2016 is a three-day gathering of the financial industry's leaders, taking place on the 5th, 6th and 7th of December at the Gulf Hotel in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.