Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, the regulatory body of Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), will highlight the Islamic Digital Economy and its contribution to Dubai’s broader Islamic economy vision during its 19th TechForum initiative in the UAE emirate.

A wholly-owned entity of the government of Dubai, DSO operates as a free zone technology park for large enterprises, medium and small companies looking to set up their offices in Dubai.

To be held at the DSO headquarters on March 10, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, the thought session aims to host finance professionals, Islamic economy experts and entrepreneurs with a view to promote Islamic finance and raising awareness on the significant potential that Islamic economy presents.

The 19th TechForum initiative will be headlined by Saeed Mubarak Kharbash, projects manager at Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, Dr Sayd Farook, global head of Islamic Capital Markets at Thomson Reuters, and Mohammad Chbib, founder and CEO of Citra Style.

Kharbash will shed light on the importance of the Islamic digital economy in shaping Dubai as the ‘Capital of Islamic Economy’, while Dr Farook will examine how best to capitalise on the $8 trillion global opportunity represented by Muslim consumers. For his part, Chbib will evaluate how tech entrepreneurs can leverage the opportunities that the Islamic economy domain offers.

Bader Buhannad, senior vice-president Audit and Risk Management and project leader – Digital Islamic Economy at DSOA, said: "At DSOA, we take pride in hosting this ongoing forum that serves to inform and educate the public of the latest advances within key technology sectors. We are happy to turn the spotlight for the second TechForum of 2015 on a subject that has stirred the interest of various international financial houses and has been central to generating healthy competition among multiple businesses - the digital Islamic economy and its unlimited potential.”

 “Last year, DSOA had announced its support to the ‘Islamic Economy Initiative’ and stressed its commitment to focus on Islamic digital and Arabic content. We are confident this forum will contribute to the vision of the emirate’s leadership in transforming Dubai into a global Islamic economy hub," Buhannad said.

Speaking ahead of the event, Kharbash said: “The Islamic economy sector has gained increasing significance over the past few years due to the increasing demand on sharia-compliant services. Through our participation at such forums, we seek to highlight the opportunities that this sector holds, as well as to increase awareness on the industry’s potential growth – not only in Muslim countries but in significant non-Muslim parts of the world as well.” – TradeArabia News Service