The Man
Behind the
Vision
Fadi Salim Al Faqih is a Jordanian banking, investment and financial services executive with nearly three decades of leadership at the intersection of Islamic finance, digital transformation, and emerging-market strategy.
Born in Nablus in 1973, raised in Jordan, and now based in Dubai — his career arc spans continents, institutions, and paradigms, always in service of building what endures.
Fadi's journey begins in Jordan, where he earned a B.Sc. in Finance & Accounting (Minor: Economics) from the University of Jordan. He went on to complete the TRIUM Global Executive MBA — NYU Stern, London School of Economics and HEC Paris — and holds a Professional Diploma in Basel II Accord (Honours) from the Academy of Banking Studies.
His early career took him through senior roles at Citigroup, Egyptian Arab Land Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and ANZ Grindlays Bank — building a rare fluency across both conventional and Islamic banking practice in the Middle East.
As part of Dubai Islamic Bank's international division, he supported due diligence, establishment and restructuring mandates for banking businesses across markets, including the Bank of Khartoum assignment.
In 2006, he joined Bank of Khartoum as Chief Operating Officer, and was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer in 2008. Over the decade that followed, he led the institutional reform of BOK into Sudan's leading Islamic bank — growing the balance sheet to $2 billion, expanding staff to over 1,300, and pioneering the country's first mobile money service, Bankak. He led the strategic engagement that culminated in the lifting of U.S. sanctions restrictions affecting the bank in 2011, supporting its reintegration into international banking networks, and BOK obtained and maintained an IIRA fiduciary rating of AA-(sd)/A1(sd) with a stable outlook.
After leaving BOK in 2018, Fadi founded Elavin, a Dubai-based financial consultancy, and co-founded Trice, a digital trade-finance platform developed in partnership with Azentio Software. He later founded Aurum Finance, a UK-based fintech venture focused on electronic money and digital payments, and today leads Estithmar Capital, a diversified financial services group and investment platform.
“Islamic banking is about how much you can contribute to the market, rather than being just an intermediary and taking a cut from the profit.”
Leads a diversified financial services group and investment platform spanning banking, insurance, fintech and advisory, with investment strategies including real assets, private equity and structured credit.
Led the institutional reform and modernization of Iraq's International Development Bank, driving institutional growth and regional positioning.
Founded Elavin as a Dubai-based financial consultancy. Co-founded Trice, a digital trade-finance platform developed in partnership with Azentio Software. Founded Aurum Finance, a UK-based fintech venture focused on electronic money and digital payments.
Led a decade-long institutional reform of Sudan's largest bank. Grew assets to $2B, expanded to Bahrain, and launched Bankak, Sudan's first mobile money service. Led the strategic engagement that culminated in the lifting of U.S. sanctions restrictions affecting the bank in 2011. 2010–2017: 8x profit growth, 6x deposit expansion and 7x financing growth; 27% CAGR.
Ensured compliance with U.S. and local accounting standards. Served on the Central Bank of Jordan's Basel II committee, contributing to the implementation of international capital standards.
Senior positions at Standard Chartered Bank, ANZ Grindlays Bank, and Egyptian Arab Land Bank — building foundational expertise across both conventional and Islamic banking in Jordan and the wider region.
Stewardship at
Board Level
Board and committee mandates across regulated financial institutions, spanning governance frameworks, risk oversight and regulatory engagement.
Bank of Khartoum
Executive director on the board through the bank’s institutional reform, sanctions-compliance and international reintegration programmes.
Central Bank of Jordan
Contributed to the implementation of international capital standards in the Jordanian banking sector.
Estithmar Capital
Oversees governance of regulated financial institutions across the group’s banking, insurance and fintech holdings.
Arbitration &
Dispute Resolution
Dubai International Arbitration Centre
In 2026, Fadi was appointed to the Reserve List of Arbitrators of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), adding an arbitration and dispute-resolution dimension to his experience in banking, cross-border transactions and institutional governance.
A Voice at the World's Foremost Forums
From Cambridge to Amman, Fadi has addressed leaders across Islamic finance, fintech, and development economics — sharing Sudan's story as a case study in resilience and institutional transformation.
Ready to collaborate?
Whether advisory, consulting, or keynote — Fadi welcomes conversations that matter.