Standard Chartered announced today the appointment of Ali Allawala as Head of Islamic Banking (Saadiq) for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Based in Dubai, Ali will be responsible for the development of Standard Chartered’s ‘Saadiq’ proposition across the country, in addition to overseeing the Global Islamic Consumer, Private and Business Banking (CPBB) division within the bank.
Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered UAE, said: “This appointment is a clear reflection on the importance of the UAE market within Standard Chartered. The UAE is a priority market for us with strong opportunities for growth. Ali brings a wealth of experience to our existing platform and we are delighted to welcome him to the country management team.”
Ali has over 25 years of experience in conventional and Islamic banking and has worked in multiple markets including Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia. Ali brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the new role. He has performed senior management roles including Chief Executive Officer of Saadiq Malaysia. He also has extensive experience of launching new markets, business transformation, product management, distribution, digital banking, and wealth management.
Ali holds an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration in Pakistan and is a Chartered Professional in Islamic Finance (Malaysia).
