S&P Global and DIFC to host Islamic Finance Conference on October 7

S&P Global Ratings and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) will convene the 16th Annual Islamic Finance Conference on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. The event, held at The Atrium in the DIFC Gate District, will focus on industry projections for the 2026–2027 period, specifically addressing credit environments and capital market evolution across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Growth and Market Stability The conference arrives as regional governments and corporations increasingly turn to Sharia-compliant instruments to fund large-scale economic transformation projects. Hadi Melki, Managing Director and Regional Head for the Middle East at S&P Global Ratings, stated that the sector’s resilience now depends on disciplined risk management and the establishment of deeper liquid capital markets amid global economic uncertainty. Alya Al Zarouni, Chief Operating Officer of the DIFC Authority, will open the proceedings alongside Melki. The agenda includes technical sessions on sovereign credit fundamentals, global energy market shifts, and the specific economic outlooks for the Middle East region. Strategic Industry Challenges A central panel titled "Islamic Finance 2026–2027: Navigating Rough Waters" will address the operational hurdles facing the sector. Moderated by Rawan Oueidat, Director of Corporate Ratings at S&P Global Ratings, the discussion will bring together regulators and institutional investors to evaluate cross-border collaboration and financial…