UK Islamic Finance 2026: Vision, Velocity & Credibility

We review the UK’s evolving position as a global centre for Islamic finance and whether market growth, regulatory clarity and innovation are keeping pace with expectations. We assess the sector’s strengths, such as legal certainty and international connectivity, alongside pressures around Shariah integrity, digital transformation and domestic market uptake. With prudential reform delays and shifting consumer behaviour, the session sets the tone for the day: what credibility, competitiveness and relevance now look like. Moderator: Farmida Bi, Chair, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific, Norton Rose Fulbright Panelists: Ahsan Ali, Managing Director and Head, Islamic Corporate and Investment Banking, Standard Chartered Saadiq Bashar Al-Natoor, Managing Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance, Fitch Ratings Imam Qazi, Partner, Foot Anstey Jonathan Grosvenor, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins Lawrence Oliver, Executive Director, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, DDCAP Group/ETHOS AFP Shakeel Adli, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Zunikh