2026 SBAI & DIFC Regional Capital, Global Opportunity - Opportunity in Resilience

Hari Bhambra

Founder, Stone Advisory Ltd

Hari has over 20 years’ financial sector development and compliance experience and has been part of the development and drafting team of both the FSA (London) and DFSA (DIFC). She drafted parts of both regulatory structures of the DFSA and UK FSA (integration of the unitary regulator) including the development of the supervisory philosophy of both regulators.

She has been involved in financial sector development, including advising Central Banks on the implementation of Islamic Finance into secular jurisdictions, training supervisors on Islamic Finance including acting as a consultant to the US FSVC on financial sector development projects and has consulted for a range of financial institutions including sovereign wealth and government entities.

Sami Ben Dechiche

Partner, Morgan Lewis

Sami Ben Dechiche advises on all aspects relating to funds across the Gulf Cooperation Council region, including fund manager licensing, fund establishment, marketing, and due diligence. Working in close coordination with clients, Sami advises on appropriate licensing and structuring, handles the drafting of all funds-relevant documentation, and advises on investments by private and institutional investors in regulated and unregulated investment structures. Sami speaks French, English, and conversational Arabic (Tunisian dialect). He is admitted to practice in New York.

Sami draws on his background in the investment funds space in Europe and in the Middle East, where he assisted sovereign wealth funds, investment firms, and banks. Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, he worked at an international law firm’s Dubai office and as a senior advisor in the Luxembourg office of another international law firm.

Salmaan Jaffery

Chief Business Development Officer, Dubai International Financial Centre Authority

Salmaan is the Chief Business Development Officer for the Dubai International Financial Centre. He is a member of the management team and is responsible for overseeing the DIFC client portfolio as well as the DIFC’s growth strategy.

Salmaan has 25+ years of experience in North America, Asia and MENA with leadership roles at global firms such as Oliver Wyman, Citibank, American Express and PwC.

Mr. Jaffery holds an MBA from Cornell University and a BA in International Relations (Phi Beta Kappa) from Colgate University in the United States and serves on the Boards of several non-profit organizations.

Benjamin O-Danso

Principal, Optima Partners

Benjamin O-Danso is Principal and Head of Authorisations at Optima Consulting Partners and Business Development Manager, leading the firm’s Authorisations work for wholesale firms, including UK (FCA) and UAE (DFSA/CMA/FSRA) firms.

He advises clients across multiple jurisdictions on regulatory strategy, compliance, and implementation, while overseeing a significant volume of applications each year and managing a specialist team.

Alexander Mignone

Senior Representative, UK, Europe & North America Markets, Dubai International Financial Centre Authority

Alexander Mignone is Senior Representative of Business Development at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), where he supports the Centre’s strategic efforts across the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America. Based in London, he focuses on strengthening DIFC’s relationships with leading financial institutions, asset managers, FinTech platforms, insurance firms, family businesses and entities exploring regional expansion into the Middle East.

Before joining DIFC, Alexander served as Director and Head of Business Development at Onesa Partners, where he launched the firm’s London office and oversaw the growth of its global private equity and alternatives client base. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at M Science (a Jefferies Group company) and Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), leading client engagement for top-tier private equity and institutional investors across EMEA.

Barbara Schwartz

Principal, ATOZ Tax Advisers Middle East

Barbara Schwartz is a Principal at ATOZ Tax Advisers Middle East, based in the UAE. She advises asset managers, investment funds and family offices on structuring and international tax matters, including the establishment of investment platforms in the UAE.

She has over 12 years of experience with ATOZ and focuses on alternative investments (private equity, real estate, infrastructure and private debt), with particular expertise in cross-border structuring.