Author

Farhan Al Bastaki

Currently, I serve as the head of economic registry and compliance at the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism. Building upon my extensive background in financial governance and investment, I am also the CEO and Co-Founder of TokenizeAD, a forward-looking company currently under establishment in the digital asset and tokenization space.

I have the privilege of being a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (MBRCLD), specifically the Impactful Leadership program of 2018. This center was established by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with the goal of “creating leaders for tomorrow” to sustain the UAE’s growth for generations to come. Previously, in 2007, I also graduated from the center’s Young Leaders program.

Most of my career has been dedicated to corporate and investment banking, holding key roles at ANZ Grindlays Bank, Citibank, and Dubai Islamic Bank. My banking career ultimately led to heading the Islamic Banking Department in the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and contributing to the establishment of pioneering financial initiatives globally.

Academically, I have completed my Executive MBA from Georgetown University, and I hold a Master’s Degree (LL.M.) in International Business Law from the University of Paris II, Panthéon-Assas. Additionally, I hold a postgraduate diploma in strategic leadership from Cranfield University in the UK and a Bachelor of Applied Science in business administration management from the Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE.

Outside of my professional pursuits, I am an amateur endurance horse race rider and an amateur GT car racing driver. Alongside these activities, photography has always been a main interest of mine. Finally, my deep passion for and knowledge of the automotive and motorsport worlds have gained me the trust of the prestigious Italian automotive and design house Zagato, serving as their brand ambassador to the Middle East.