Atif Abdulmalik

Atif Abdulmalik retired as CEO of Arcapita on 31 December 2024 after 30 years of leadership, transitioning to a role as Board Member at Arcapita. He established Arcapita in 1997 and the company now has more than 300 employees working out of Bahrain, Atlanta, London and Singapore. Recognized as a transformative leader, Abdulmalik established Arcapita as the world's first Shari'ah compliant alternative investment firm, completing groundbreaking transactions including the first Shari'ah compliant leveraged buyout in the United States.

Abdulmalik holds a BBA in Accounting, Finance and Management from Saint Edward's University, Texas, and is a Certified Public Accountant from the State of Maryland. He was named Islamic Banker of the Year in 2005, and in 2007, he was awarded The Proficiency Medal First Class by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in acknowledgement of his outstanding contribution to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Arcapita pioneered sophisticated Shari'ah compliant investment products and structures, which have now become industry norms, and which led to the rapid growth in Islamic finance over the last 30 years. Under Abdulmalik's leadership, Arcapita has completed investment transactions exceeding $28 billion.

Career history

• Professional at Investcorp, an alternative investments manager (prior to founding Arcapita)
• Founding Partner and CEO, Arcapita (1997–2024)
• Board Member, Arcapita (2025–present)

What Atif Abdulmalik could bring to the Arcapita Board: His three decades of experience building a global alternative asset manager from inception, pioneering Shari'ah-compliant investment structures that became industry standards, and navigating multiple market cycles positions him as a strategic steward of Arcapita's long-term vision. His deep relationships with regional and international investors and his reputation for integrity and innovation in Islamic finance make him a valuable advisor during periods of industry evolution and macroeconomic change.