In this episode, I recently sat down with my former colleague Mustafa Zafarullah , to explore the evolving world of wholesale and digital banking in Oman and the wider GCC.

Mustafa has 20+ years of banking experience across conventional and Islamic finance. He shares fascinating insights into how corporates are demanding greater autonomy through API banking, self-administration, and real-time reconciliation.

We discuss the growing role of FinTech partnerships, the challenges banks face balancing innovation with cost (or the famous 'ROI' phrase!) and why hyper-personalisation will be key for digital banks.

Mustafa also offers advice for those looking to enter the sector, his thoughts on AI’s potential in wholesale banking and even some travel tips for anyone considering a visit to Muscat/Oman!

Thank you for taking the time, Mustafa! You can connect and find out more about Mustafa via his LinkedIn profile.