About Us – Arab Federation of Exchanges

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About Us

OUR HISTORY

The Arab Federation of Exchanges was established in June 1978 to be the guiding body for the Arab stock exchanges, under the recommendation of the Arab Central Banks Conference, held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The headquarters of the Arab Federation of Exchanges is located in Beirut, Lebanon.

The AFE is the Arab industry group for 17 exchanges and 4 Clearing houses (CSD’s), and multiple of affiliate members (financial institutions, brokerage firms) from all around the Arab regions (GCC, Levant and Arab African countries). The Federation was set up to contribute to the “development of regulations and promoting harmonized and proactive legislations, and exchanging viewpoints and providing opportunities for cooperation among members”.

MISSIOn & VISION

The mission of the Federation is to create a transparent environment for the Arab capital markets, develop market members and reduce the barriers of security trading across the countries through establishing harmony across the laws and regulations of the Arab countries, adopting new technologies and advanced trading and clearing settlements. The Federation’s Vision:

Facilitating the exchange of views and providing collaborative opportunities for the members
Knowledge transfer through workshops and conferences
Developing the legislations in the Arab financial markets
Resolving potential disputes
Cooperating with regional and international federations
Increasing the value of the Arab stock markets

The AFE is the Arab industry group for exchanges and Clearing houses (CSD’s), and financial institutions (brokerage firms) around the Arab regions (GCC, Levant and Arab African countries). The Federation was set up to contribute to the “development of regulations and promoting harmonized and proactive legislations, and exchanging viewpoints and providing opportunities for cooperation among members”.

BOARD AND SECRETARIAT

Reforming AFE's Governing Bodies

Financial Institutions Committee

Exclusive
to Affiliate Members

Fintech & Innovation Committee

Members allowed from full members, affilate members & Independent members

Business Development Committee

Members allowed from full members, affilate members & Independent members

Sustainability & ESGs Committee

Members allowed from full members, affiliate members & Independent members

Chairman

The Chairman of the Board of Stock Exchange who hosted the latest annual board meeting and appointed until the next annual board meeting.

The General Assembly

The general assembly consists of all the AFE members full and affiliated, besides all members have the right to vote.
The general assembly holds an ordinary annual meeting according to an agenda prepared by the General Secretariat. However, they might meet in an extraordinary meeting upon the request of the chairman also.
The general assembly meetings are valid in the presence of at least half of the working members.
The Chairmanship of the GA is taken by the member who hosted the last annual ordinary meeting.

The General Assembly undertakes the following tasks:

1. Approving the work plan submitted by the Board of Directors and its execution mechanism.
2. Approving the Federation’s annual report, budget, final accounts, and approving the budget.
3. Election of the members of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee.
4. Approving the amendment of the articles of association of the Federation.
5. Any other topics duly presented to it.

The Board

1. The board of directors is made up of nine members, the membership duration is two years, and the representation of the members shall take into account the following:

a. Six full members representing the exchanges, distributed on the following basis:

•   Two active members representing the Arab Gulf region.
          •   Two active members representing the Levant region.
          •   Two active members representing the Arab African countries.

b. Two active members representing Arab clearing houses.

c. Chairman of the federation representing the host country for the annual meeting. In case the chairman is a member of the board already, then the number of members in this case is limited to only eight members instead of nine

AFE COMMITTIEES

Audit and Governance Committee

Dr. Abdul Razak Kassem

Damascus Securities Exchange (DSE)

Dr. Ali Khaled Fuwail

Khartoum Stock Exchange (KSE)

Haitham Al Salmi

Muscat Clearing

Financial Institutions Committee

The Board of Directors constitutes the Financial Institutions Committee with only affiliate members with a minimum of three members and a maximum of seven members elected by all affiliate members. The committee shall elect a chairman from among its members at its first meeting after the members’ election.

Fintech and Innovation Committee

The Board of Directors constitutes the Fintech and Innovation Committee from a minimum three members and maximum seven members that is elected by the Board. It is required to include at least one full member, at least one affiliate member and an independent member with experience and influence in the above-mentioned field after the Board of Directors approval. The Fintech and Innovation Committee elects its Chairman from among its members at its first meeting after the election of its members.

Business Development Committee

The Board of Directors shall form a committee for developing the rules of work in the financial markets with a minimum of three members and a maximum of seven members who shall be elected by the Board. It is required to include at least one full member, at least one affiliate member and an independent member with experience and influence in the above-mentioned field after the Board of Directors approval. The committee shall elect a chairman from among its members at its first meeting after the members’ election. The Fintech and Innovation Committee elects its Chairman from among its members at its first meeting after the election of its members.

Sustainability & ESG Committee

The Board of Directors constitutes the Sustainability Committee with a minimum of three members and a maximum of seven members who are elected by the Board. It is required to include at least one working member, at least one affiliate member and an independent member with experience and influence in the above-mentioned field after the Board of Directors approval. The committee shall elect a chairman from among its members at its first meeting after the members’ election. The committee shall elect a chairman from among its members at its first meeting after the members’ election. The Fintech and Innovation Committee elects its Chairman from among its members at its first meeting after the election of its members.

THE CHAIRMAN

During 2019, The Arab Federation of Exchanges (AFE) embarked in an aggressive reform plan to develop a robust sustainable federation with appropriate governance mechanisms. Among these steps was the renovation of its website to reflect the achievements and activities of the federation. It is my pleasure and honour to present the new version of The Arab Federation of Exchanges (AFE) website. The new website comprises new features of value to member exchanges, affiliates and the capital market community worldwide interested in the activities of the AFE. On top of which is providing members with an archived section that includes AFE Chapter, strategy of the federation, minutes of previous meetings among other information of value to its members. Also the site has the statistics page including up to date information of all member exchanges. Last but not least, the new website will incorporate data on its annual event with all its news and activities. I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to the AFE team for their continuous effort for the development of the Arab Federation of Exchanges. Wishing the Arab Federation of Exchanges and all its members’ success and prosperity.

Dr. Mohamed Farid SalehExecutive Chairman, The Egyptian Exchange