Doha, Qatar - In an era of complex regulatory landscapes, cybersecurity risks, and the need for dynamic governance structures, few professionals have shaped the future of internal audit and risk governance as substantially as Muhammad Omair Arfeen. With over 16 years of international experience in a diversified and complex environment, authorship, lecturing, and ongoing leadership at the highest levels in the field of Internal Audit, Fraud Risk, and controls Management, Omair Arfeen has distinguished himself as one of the very few at the top of the global internal audit profession.
Omair serves as the Internal Audit Manager (Chief Audit Executive) and Audit Committee Secretary at Ali Bin Ali Holding, a Qatari conglomerate encompassing over 36 companies across 18 diversified industries. From retail and luxury to information technology including information security and cybersecurity, manufacturing, logistics, printing press, travel and tourism to hospitality his governance innovations span critical business sectors, impacting not only corporate resilience but also contributing to regional regulatory and compliance transformation initiatives along with substantial cost savings and efficiency to the companies while ensuring the safeguarding controls across the conglomerate for securing shareholders’ investment and public interest.
This press release highlights the extraordinary breadth of his contributions and why he belongs to the small percentage of individuals who have reached the very top of their field, both in recognition and in the substantial benefit he offers to U.S. institutions through his continued excellence.
A Legacy of Continued Prominence and Global Recognition
Corporate titles mark Muhammad Omair Arfeen's rise in the audit profession and a long-standing pattern of institutional leadership, original intellectual contribution, and international recognition.
He is the author of the widely praised professional book “Be the Internal Audit Champion in 60 Minutes,” published by Primedia eLaunch LLC in 2023 (ISBN: 9798890745521). The book translates the complex International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) into actionable strategies and visuals, empowering internal auditors worldwide. It has become a seminal tool in professional training and is utilized in academic and corporate contexts.
His work as a global Udemy instructor has attracted over 6,500 students across multiple continents, particularly in emerging audit sectors, where professionals seek to adapt international auditing standards, Cybersecurity frameworks, IT Audits, and AI systems, which are the key emerging risks worldwide. His flagship course earned a Highest-Rated Award and has been integrated into corporate learning programs.
Furthermore, Omair is a recognized media figure in Qatar, where his expert commentaries and thought leadership have been featured in several major newspapers, including:
- Gulf Times – “IIA Qatar and Protiviti host seminar on internal auditors’ role in ESG and data governance”
- Qatar Tribune – “IIA Qatar explores corporate branding for auditors”
- The Peninsula Qatar – “Tech-Driven Transformation in Internal Audit”
- Qatar Tribune – “IT Auditing Skills for Internal Auditors”
He is also an emerging LinkedIn leader, with more than 7,000 followers. He regularly posts and writes articles to keep the internal audit community worldwide up to date. He also runs the IAChampion page on LinkedIn, where thousands of individuals and companies worldwide benefit from internal audit education and updates. These pages have been extensively used as learning hubs.
This extensive public recognition reflects sustained prominence and influence nationally and internationally.
Judging the Future of the Profession
Omair’s reputation for excellence has been formalized through his appointment to judge others’ work, a central recognition criterion for top professionals globally. As a member of the Global Content Advisory Group for the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) USA, Omair plays a pivotal role in:
- Writing and reviewing professional manuscripts and technical publications
- Advising on editorial planning
- Serving as a judge for the Emerging Leaders and Magazine Awards
These responsibilities place him at the helm of shaping discourse in one of the world's most prestigious professional audit organizations.
Leadership in Distinguished Organizations
At the core of Omair’s impact is his proven record of leading critical internal control and risk functions in globally respected institutions. His roles have been consistently at the executive and strategic level, including:
- Chief Audit Executive, Ali Bin Ali Holding (Qatar, GCC, and Europe)
- Lead Internal Auditor, QTerminals (Qatar, Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine)
- Internal Audit Supervisor, Mowasalat (FIFA World Cup 2022 partner)
At Ali Bin Ali Holding, Omair leads Internal Audit, Governance, and compliance across the whole group, including luxury retail (Cartier, Montblanc), beverage production (Pepsi, Tropicana), ICT, and many others. He implemented agile audit methodologies, continuous data analytics systems using Arbutus, and Power BI dashboards to track control gaps in real time, automating processes that previously required teams of 5-6 audit staff.
Based on his extensive profile in internal audit he has been nominated with below positions to strengthen the Institute.
- Board Member & Seminar Chair - Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) USA – Qatar Chapter
- Director Research & Education - The Institute of Internal Audit (TIA) Pakistan
- Director Learning & Academics Qatar, KSA and Middle East - The Institute of Associate Forensic Accountant (AFA) Pakistan
- President Qatar Chapter - Institute of Forensic Experts Pakistan
His leadership helped establish a region-wide standard for proactive risk mitigation, budget controls, and regulatory alignment (e.g., COSO, SOX, GDPR), positioning his work as a benchmark for internal audit modernization in the Middle East and beyond.
Intellectual Contributions that Transformed the Field
Omair’s impact extends far beyond operational leadership. His intellectual and training contributions have fundamentally shaped how the audit profession adopts international frameworks and how professionals approach risk.
Major Original Contributions:
- Published Book: Be the Internal Audit Champion in 60 Minutes
- Audit Training Portal: Founder of www.iachampion.com, providing audit resources and templates globally
- Courses Designed and Delivered: Covering AI auditing, cybersecurity compliance, 2024 global audit standards, and IT Audits
- Framework Implementation: Introduced enterprise-wide audit automation systems across conglomerates and port authorities
In parallel, he is actively pursuing a Ph.D. in Internal Audit, where his research focuses on:
- The use of Computer-Assisted Audit Techniques (CAAT) in the mobility, supply chain, and logistics sector
- Cost-saving advisory strategies embedded into the audit.
These areas reflect his forward-thinking commitment to aligning internal audit with predictive analytics and strategic advisory functions, a direction increasingly adopted by U.S. institutions.
International Collaborations and Strategic Influence
Muhammad Omair Arfeen’s work intersects with multinational frameworks, including:
- SOX compliance standards (Netherlands)
- COBIT/ISACA controls (Middle East)
- National Cybersecurity Frameworks
- Audit process automation via TeamMate, Arbutus, ACL, SAP Integration
He has also co-sourced key assignments with Big Four firms for internal control reviews across multiple countries, including:
- The Netherlands
- Qatar
- Turkey
This has resulted in cross-border best practices on cybersecurity audit, ERP system governance, fraud risk assessment, and AI-enhanced risk assessment models.
Substantial Benefit to the United States
Omair Arfeen's continued excellence brings direct and substantial benefit to the U.S., particularly as:
- U.S. corporations face growing exposure to fraud, ESG non-compliance, and cybersecurity breaches
- Public and private institutions transition to continuous monitoring and automated risk controls
- There is a documented shortage of qualified professionals in internal audit, fraud risk assessment, governance, and risk analytics, particularly those with hybrid technical and operational audit skill sets
Omair’s methodologies - including real-time audit dashboards, automation scripts, and audit committee interfacing models - are adaptable to U.S. banking, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and public sector institutions.
His work helps close compliance gaps under:
- Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)
- SEC ESG Disclosure Rules
- GAO and IPPF Auditing Standards
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- Data Privacy Framework
In an economic environment increasingly vulnerable to cross-border risks, Omair's expertise will enable cost-efficient oversight, data-driven governance, and safeguards against operational and IT control failures.
Sustained Impact and Continued Prominence
Over the course of his career, Omair Arfeen has received repeated recognition and held influential roles year after year a hallmark of continued prominence in the field of extraordinary ability in internal audit.
From leading pre- and post-audits for FIFA World Cup 2022, to designing multi-country risk control systems, to training the next generation of audit professionals, Omair’s work exemplifies long-term excellence and a visionary approach to risk governance.
Muhammad Omair Arfeen is a global leader in internal audit and a transformational figure whose expertise is vital to the future of enterprise governance, cybersecurity compliance, and regulatory risk management. His work offers immediate, scalable, and nationally beneficial value to U.S. institutions seeking to evolve their risk postures in the face of rising challenges.
With a published book, executive leadership in distinguished conglomerates, judging roles in global professional bodies, and original systems that have reshaped internal audit strategy, Omair Arfeen belongs to the top echelon of professionals in his field worldwide.
He is, unequivocally, among the small percentage of individuals who have reached the very top, and his continued recognition, leadership, and impact make him an extraordinary talent worthy of national interest and recognition in the United States.
Media Inquiries, Speaking Engagements, or Collaboration Opportunities
Muhammad Omair Arfeen welcomes opportunities to collaborate with U.S.-based corporations, public sector agencies, regulatory bodies, and professional associations seeking to strengthen internal audit, governance, risk management, and cybersecurity compliance frameworks. Drawing on his 16+ years of global experience leading audit functions across conglomerates, port authorities, and public transportation mega-projects, including FIFA World Cup 2022 audits, he brings a rare combination of technical expertise, strategic leadership, and educational impact.
Omair’s published work, “Be the Internal Audit Champion in 60 Minutes” (Primedia eLaunch LLC, 2023), along with his globally recognized Udemy courses and leadership roles in the Institute of Internal Auditors USA and in Qatar Chapter, have positioned him as a trusted voice in audit transformation. He provides expertise in:
- Designing and implementing continuous audit and data analytics systems for real-time risk oversight
- Developing governance and compliance strategies aligned with SOX, COSO, COBIT, NIST, and SEC ESG disclosure rules
- Leading scalable audit automation and AI-powered assurance frameworks for diversified industries
- Training and mentoring audit professionals to elevate organizational compliance, reduce costs, and enhance operational transparency
For inquiries related to partnerships, policy collaboration, speaking engagements, or media features, please contact:
Email: info@innovatorsprofessionals.com
Website:www.innovatorsprofessionals.com
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