SHAPING THE FUTURE OF FINTECH AND BANKING
Dr. Mohammad Salem Omaid, the founder and CEO of IBNK (soon to be traded as FinMall) in Dubai, UAE, is an esteemed leader in the FinTech industry. With more than 17 years of in-depth experience in banking and finance, Dr. Omaid has contributed significantly to the banking industry in Afghanistan.
AN IMPRESSIVE FOUNDATION IN BANKING
Dr. Omaid started his career in 2006 at Azizi Bank, one of Afghanistan’s leading financial institutions. With a Ph.D. in management and an MBA in banking and finance from a reputed university in India, Dr. Omaid entered the banking sector with a strong academic foundation. Over the years, he played a pivotal role in various departments of Azizi Bank, including finance & accounting, trade finance, corporate credit financing, and investment banking. His leadership, especially following his appointment as the CEO of Azizi Bank in 2016, played a crucial role in strengthening the bank’s position in the country across all parameters.
A GLOBAL LEADER AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
Dr. Omaid leads with calculated thinking, business intelligence, and a capacity for making result-oriented decisions. He focused on improving the banking structure in Afghanistan, working closely with banking regulators, and serving as the Chairman of the Afghanistan Bank Association. His efforts earned him widespread recognition from international agencies such as the World Bank, IFC, ADB, and the US Treasury. He has also been a keynote speaker at many global events, such as the United Nations in Geneva for the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), where he discussed the impact of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts.
IBNK: A NEW ERA IN FINTECH
Dr. Omaid is the Founder and CEO of a fintech start-up, iBnk (to be traded as Finmall), which he, along with a team of highly professional bankers, launched in Dubai, UAE, in 2023. The company is a B2B-to-C digital embedded marketplace platform aimed at disrupting the fintech market in the UAE and beyond.
The business model of iBnk is “phygital” (physical and digital), distinguishing itself from other fintech players in the region. The vision is to bring the left-out market from the tech revolution into the shared economy model, thereby catering to the vast under-banked population of the UAE. This revolutionary approach breaks down the traditional “brick & mortar” banking structure by introducing Banking as a Service (BaaS).
The goal is to serve the UAE and expand throughout the MENA region and other emerging markets, creating a new business paradigm that supports economic inclusion and growth.
AWARDS AND ACCREDITATIONS
Dr. Omaid’s expertise and knowledge of sustainable growth earned him several international accreditations and awards on many occasions across the globe. These include the Queen Victorian Badge by the Socrates Committee of the Europe Business Assembly, United Kingdom; Best Private Banking CEO, Afghanistan, by the South Asian Partnership Summit, a SAARC Country initiative; and Best Retail Banking CEO, Afghanistan, by the International Finance Magazine, London.
In 2019, he was appointed Afghanistan’s Business Brand Ambassador for bilateral business coordination between Afghanistan and the EU. In 2020, Dr. Omaid was conferred with the Professional Doctorate by the European International University, Paris, for his dedication, leadership, and acumen.
Since 2021, Dr. Omaid has been associated with the YGL (Young Global Leaders) forum, a World Economic Forum initiative. He also serves as the vice chairman of The International Chamber of Commerce, Banking Commission, Afghanistan. Additionally, he is an active member of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, United Kingdom, and other prestigious organisations.
Dr. Mohammad Salem Omaid’s journey from Afghanistan to Dubai speaks volumes about his resilience, innovative thinking, and dedication to making a lasting impact.
