Kemal Rizadi Arbi
Mr. Kemal Rizadi Arbi has more than 25 years of global professional experience in the banking and financial industry, both government and private sector, particularly in investment banking, Islamic finance, corporate finance and as a regulator, policy maker and strategic developer of capital markets, including Islamic capital markets, in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Asian region.
He is currently involved in driving developmental efforts for the Oman capital market as an Advisor at the Capital Market Authority, Sultanate of Oman (Oman CMA) and has been leading the development of the Islamic capital market in Oman since the introduction of Islamic banking and finance in 2013.
After leading the issuance of the new Sukuk Regulation, Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Funds Regulation (including Islamic REITs) and the Takeover and Acquisition Regulation in Oman, he is currently leading the establishment of the new SME Exchange and the issuance of new regulatory frameworks for Crowdfunding Platforms, Fintech Sandbox, SRI Bonds and Sukuk, Exchange Traded Funds and Venture Capital, for both conventional and Islamic. He was also involved in preparing the proposed GCC Capital Market Integration Plan.
He was appointed by the Oman Ministry of Finance to be on the Oman Government Sukuk Committee which was responsible for the issuance of the 1st sovereign Sukuk of OMR 250 million (US$ 651 million) which won the 2015 IFN Sovereign Deal Of The Year Award in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
He was also on the Oman Government Tanfeedh (National Program for Enhancing Economic Diversification) Committee on REIT Funds under the Creative Financing Sector of the program, as part of the Oman Government’s strategy in diversifying the economy, looking at alternative financing for economic development, and attracting foreign investments into Oman. He was also appointed as a Committee Member at Oman’s Education Council to look at the development of Waqf/endowment funds for schools and universities.
Prior to joining the Oman CMA, he had led and established strategic initiatives for the development of the Malaysian and ASEAN+3 capital markets, including Islamic capital market, through senior positions heading various departments at the Securities Commission Malaysia.
In addition, he had previously been involved in investment banking and corporate advisory as a Director and Team Head in a few leading investment banks including Maybank Investment Bank Berhad and another investment bank previously owned by the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) Malaysia.
He was awarded a Malaysian government JPA scholarship for top scholars for studies at the University of Iowa, U.S. where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science. He also holds an MBA (Finance) from the International Islamic University Malaysia and Chartered Islamic Finance Professional (CIFP) Master’s degree from INCEIF, Malaysia.
