HSBC Amanah remains the undisputed regional heavyweight, but the 2006 award has gone to Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), ahead of HSBC and last year’s winner National Commercial Bank. DIB’s list of achievements is extensive, particularly its project financing and sukuk work (see best sukuk house). According to Aref Kooheji, executive vice-president of investment and corporate banking, as the world’s first Islamic bank – it opened in 1975 – DIB has been able to capitalize on its long experience and has become involved in providing innovative structural financing solutions for a number of large projects and institutions in the GCC region and elsewhere.