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Our team

Our team combines Shariah scholarship, investment banking, risk management, fintech and human-capital expertise.

Maria Alam

Executive Director

Sameer Muhammad Saeed

Senior Business Consultant

Muhammad Aslam

Senior Consultant

Maria Alam

Executive Director

FCMA, FCPA, CGMA, CSAA

Maria Alam is an accomplished strategic advisor, Islamic Banking & Finance expert, and business leader with extensive international experience of over 20 years in investment and corporate banking, financial structuring, risk management, and business transformation.

As Executive Director of Unknown Talent FZ LLC, she leads a multidisciplinary consultancy providing strategic business advisory, transaction advisory, Islamic finance consulting, fintech and IT advisory, accounting services, and professional training.

  • Strategic Advisory
  • Islamic Banking & Finance
  • Investment Banking
  • Transaction Structuring
  • Business Transformation
  • Risk Management

With a strong combination of technical expertise, commercial insight, and entrepreneurial vision, Maria specializes in addressing complex financial and organizational challenges, structuring innovative solutions, and translating strategic objectives into practical, measurable outcomes.

Her expertise spans Islamic financial products and structures, investment and corporate finance, sukuk and syndicated transactions, financial analysis, governance, and risk management. She brings a solutions-oriented approach to advising businesses, financial institutions, investors, and senior decision-makers on strategic initiatives, institutional development, and sustainable growth.

Maria combines international professional exposure with a deep understanding of financial systems and business environments, enabling her to bridge the gap between strategy, execution, and value creation.

  • Fellow Chartered Management Accountant (FCMA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA-UK)
  • FCPA designation, CPA Australia
  • Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), powered by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), USA and CIMA, UK
  • Fellow, Certified Shari’a Adviser and Auditor (CSAA), Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI, Bahrain)
  • Omega Performance Credit Skill Development certification, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland
  • One-year diploma, Certified Sukuk Professional, Al Huda Center of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE)

Unknown Talent FZ LLC, UAE — Executive Director
Leads a business and management consultancy serving organizations through strategic advisory, transaction structuring, Islamic finance, fintech, IT advisory, accounting, and professional development services, focused on practical, commercially sound solutions that support institutional growth, operational excellence, and sustainable business transformation.

Marz Natural LLC FZ, UAE — Founder & Chief Executive Officer, since October 2023
Founded and leads an ethical cosmetics venture focused on vegan, Halal-certified, and cruelty-free beauty products, responsible for corporate strategy, business development, brand positioning, and growth initiatives.

Sameer Muhammad Saeed

Senior Business Consultant

CIFP, CMP

Sameer Muhammad Saeed is an accomplished banking professional and business consultant with over 24 years of experience in the UAE banking sector, specializing in branch and operations management, retail banking, SME banking, corporate banking, and Islamic financial services.

He holds a Master’s degree in Banking & Finance and is a Chartered Islamic Finance Professional (CIFP), complemented by extensive professional training in leadership, fintech, and process optimization.

  • UAE Banking
  • Retail, SME & Corporate Banking
  • Branch Operations
  • Islamic Banking
  • Sales Strategy
  • Compliance

Sameer brings a strong combination of strategic business insight, operational expertise, and leadership capabilities, with a proven track record of driving business growth, enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening customer relationships, and improving organizational performance.

Throughout his career he has led diverse banking functions and high-performing teams, executing strategic sales initiatives, managing high-value customer portfolios, and coordinating cross-functional operations across multiple business segments. With a strong commitment to the principles of Islamic finance, he combines commercial banking acumen with a thorough understanding of Shariah-compliant banking practices.

  • Banking & financial services: retail, SME, and corporate banking, with extensive UAE market experience.
  • Islamic banking & finance: Shariah-compliant banking practices, operational compliance, and Islamic financial services.
  • Branches & operations management: branch performance, operational efficiency, service delivery, and process improvement.
  • Business development & sales strategy: strategic sales planning, portfolio growth, customer acquisition, and revenue enhancement.
  • SME & corporate banking advisory: business banking relationships, portfolio management, and client-focused financial solutions.
  • Regulatory & Shariah compliance: regulatory requirements, internal controls, and Islamic banking principles.
  • Customer relationship & portfolio management: high-value portfolio oversight, customer satisfaction, and relationship development.
  • Leadership & team development: team leadership, mentoring, talent development, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Fintech & process optimization: technology-enabled banking solutions, operational innovation, and process improvement.
  • Banking operations and branch performance improvement.
  • Retail, SME, and corporate banking business development.
  • Islamic banking operations and Shariah-compliant service delivery.
  • Sales strategy, customer relationship management, and portfolio development.
  • Operational efficiency, process optimization, and service quality enhancement.
  • Regulatory compliance, operational controls, and institutional development.
  • Leadership development, team performance, and organizational capacity building.

Muhammad Aslam

Senior Consultant

AAOIFI certified

Muhammad Aslam is a seasoned Islamic Banking and Shariah expert with extensive experience at HBL, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan Banking Council and First Habib Bank Modaraba. He holds a Master’s degree in Islamic Banking & Finance and AAOIFI certification.

As Head of Shariah Compliance at HBL, he provided senior leadership in Shariah governance, Islamic product review, Shariah risk management and compliance with SBP’s Shariah Governance Framework and AAOIFI standards. His earlier assignments with SBP provided valuable exposure to banking regulation and policy.

  • Shariah Compliance
  • Shariah Governance
  • Islamic Product Review
  • Shariah Risk
  • SBP Regulation
  • AAOIFI Standards

As a Senior Consultant at Unknown Talent FZ LLC, he provides specialist advisory support for Islamic bank establishment and conversion, Shariah governance and compliance frameworks, Islamic product development, Shariah risk management, regulatory alignment and implementation of Shariah-compliant banking structures.

His distinctive strength lies in combining senior banking experience, Shariah expertise and regulatory exposure, enabling Unknown Talent FZ LLC to provide practical, institution-level advisory solutions for complex Islamic Banking and Shariah assignments.

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