Muscat, Oman – The Islamic Finance News (IFN), in partnership with the Financial Services Authority (FSA), hosted the IFN Oman Forum 2025 on 8 September at the Grand Hyatt Muscat. The event was held in the presence of HE Abdullah bin Salim Al Salmi, Executive President of the FSA, and Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia.

The forum brought together regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders from the Sultanate of Oman, the Federation of Malaysia, and counterparts worldwide, underscoring Oman’s growing profile as a hub for sustainable investment and cross-border Islamic finance. The discussions focused on the continued growth of Islamic banking, capital markets, and investment management in Oman, as well as the expanding role of Waqf in supporting the country’s economic transformation. Experts highlighted the importance of robust regulatory support and strategic initiatives to sustain growth, noting Waqf’s potential as a powerful tool to diversify financing, unlock new investment opportunities, and strengthen Oman’s broader Islamic finance ecosystem.

Speaking at the forum, Ahmed bin Ali Al Mamari, Executive Vice President of the FSA, underlined the depth and resilience of Oman–Malaysia relations, spanning trade, economy, education, tourism, defence, and culture. He highlighted the opportunities presented by Oman Vision 2040 and the Invest Oman platform for Malaysian investors, emphasising Oman’s strong financial position, including a sovereign wealth portfolio exceeding USD 52 billion managed by the Oman Investment Authority, and the expansion of the Muscat Stock Exchange.

Al Mamari further noted that the forum had laid the groundwork for a cross-border investment corridor, to be advanced through bilateral meetings with sovereign wealth funds, the Central Bank of Oman, the Muscat Stock Exchange, and the FSA. He announced that a forthcoming joint programme with the Securities Commission Malaysia will extend cooperation into areas such as surveillance, enforcement, and knowledge-sharing. He stressed, goes beyond short-term engagement, aiming instead to establish a resilient ASEAN–GCC bridge that connects capital, talent, and innovation while setting a benchmark for effective cross-border cooperation.

Meanwhile, Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia, offered a regional perspective, emphasising ASEAN’s strength as a region of 650 million people with a combined GDP exceeding USD 4 trillion. This, he said, positions ASEAN among the fastest-growing economic blocs in the world. He pointed to Malaysia’s position as a global leader in Islamic finance, where 60% of its USD 1 trillion capital market is Shariah-compliant, a third of the world’s sukuk originates, and nearly 80% of listed companies meet Shariah standards. Dato’ Azmi also noted that Malaysia’s forthcoming Capital Market Masterplan 4 places internationalisation at its core, with a strong emphasis on building deeper connections with global partners. He stressed the value of strengthened cooperation with Oman, guided by Malaysia’s Maqasid Al-Shariah framework and aligned with Oman Vision 2040, as a way to advance both countries’ ambitions for inclusive and sustainable growth.

By bringing together high-level stakeholders from across the GCC and ASEAN, the IFN Oman Forum 2025 reinforced Oman’s standing as a rising centre for Islamic finance, while mapping out practical pathways for regulatory modernisation, capital flows, and investment partnerships that support long-term prosperity.