Born in 1965, Dr Suwailem is a prominent expert in the field of Islamic Finance, a senior economist, Islamic researcher and author of several specialised books. Dr Suwailem holds an MA in Economics, from Southern Illinois University and a PhD in Economics from Washington University, St Louis, Missouri. He was the Deputy Director at IRTI from 2007-2009. Dr Suwailem is currently a lecturer with The Knowledge International University KIU teaching "The Fiqh of Finance". He regularly contributes to the online Distance Learning lectures delivered by IRTI to MIHE’s Islamic Finance students.