The Evolving Funds Landscape – The Saudi, Regional and International Perspective

Nabil A. Issa is a partner in the Corporate, Finance and Investments Group of King & Spalding, working from the Dubai and affiliated Riyadh offices. Mr. Issa's experience includes work in the areas of Shari'ah-compliant funds, joint ventures, foreign investment, private equity, privatizations, venture capital, and real estate industry transactions. He is particularly known of his development and innovative fund and investment structures for real estate and private equity/venture capital investments in Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. He received his JD and Graduate Certificate in Islamic Law from the University of Pennsylvania and was previously a Fulbright Fellow at UAE University in Al Ain. He is regularly ranked among the leading corporate and funds lawyers in the GCC in publications such as Chambers Global, Legal 500, and IFLR.

Mike Rainey advises lenders and borrowers in connection with their financing needs, focusing on project finance in the GCC and real estate finance and investment in the GCC and Europe. Mike advises on transactions using both conventional and Shari'ah-compliant financing. Ranked by The Legal 500 U.K. and The Legal 500 EMEA both as a "leading individual" and for his Islamic finance practice, Mike is also listed in the 2016 Chambers Global guide for Islamic finance, and in the 2016 Chambers Europe and Chambers U.K. guides for banking and finance.

Simon, a chartered surveyor and chartered director, has more than 30 years' experience across all asset classes his core focus is real estate and infrastructure. He has gained many years' experience as a director on the boards of listed, regulated and private funds and during his career he has gained considerable experience overseeing a wide variety of real estate investments, working with leading banks and fund managers and has also been involved in many noteable property development projects (such as the Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London). A significant amount of Simon's work is spent alongside Ocorian's Islamic Finance investment team supporting investors and managers from the Middle East. Simon is a director of Ocorian's alternative investment fund manager (AIFM) and is a member of the corporate governance committee of the Association of Real Estate Funds.

More than 17 years of experience in investments globally and locally primarily in real estate, private equity and venture capital. Previously at Alrajhi United, Arcapita, and GIB. Board Member at Al-Othaim Investment Company, Investment Committee Member at Mahara, and CFA Charterholder.

Nawaf Jamjoom joined Sidra Capital in May 2020 as Head of GCC Real Estate & Business Advisory Division. Prior to that he was leading the International Business Development in SEDCO Capital. Mr. Jamjoom has over 15 years of experience in Islamic Finance, Asset Management, Product and Business Development.

Ed is a Tax Partner in BDO’s Real Estate team in London. He is one of BDO’s leading specialists in advising on tax efficient real estate structures, mergers and acquisitions as well as providing ongoing tax services to companies and funds in the commercial real estate sector. Ed has worked with many large UK, Middle East and other international real estate groups investing in the UK and has advised on a wide range of structures and transactions involving UK and European real estate. Ed is also BDO’s expert in advising on shariah compliant investments and has significant experience advising GCC investors on their shariah compliant real estate structures.