Esam Janahi was born in 1965 in Bahrain. He holds a diploma from the Petroleum and Minerals University of Saudi Arabia and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Hull University (United Kingdom). In 2008 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations.

Esam Janahi started his career as an auditor for Arthur Anderson, and then as a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch. He later went on to work as senior executive, providing strategic and management counsel for multiple companies in the financial sector such as TAIB Bank, the Islamic Investment Company of the Gulf, and the First Islamic Investment Bank. Esam Janahi also participated in the creation and management of several industrial and financial companies. He specialises in investment funds, large infrastructure projects and Islamic finance.

A regular speaker at high level conferences and events such as the World Economic Forum, he has been awarded many prizes during his career, including the titles of Islamic Banker of the Year in 2003, CEO of the Year in 2005, and he also received an Award for Excellence and Contribution to Islamic Finance Development at The International Islamic Finance Forum in 2006. Esam Janahi was also listed amongst the “Gulf Power 25” by Times Magazine, London.