MFAMacroeconomic and Financial Advisory
العربية
Portrait of Dr. Maher Hasan

Founder

Dr. Maher Hasan

Dr. Maher Hasan has spent more than 25 years on the inside of economic and financial policymaking — at a national central bank, at the International Monetary Fund and at a regional financial institution. That experience, from analyzing individual banks to sitting at the decision-making table, is what MFA brings to every mandate.

Experience behind the advice.

Career

  1. Sep 2026 – present
    Founder, Macroeconomic and Financial Advisory (MFA), Abu DhabiFounded MFA, licensed in Masdar City Free Zone in September 2026, to advise central banks, governments, regulators, financial institutions, public entities and boards on macroeconomic, financial-sector and institutional decisions.
  2. 2022 – Sep 2026
    Counsellor and Chief Economist, Arab Monetary Fund, Abu DhabiOversaw the activities of the Surveillance and Finance, Economic Policy, and Capacity Building and Innovation departments. Led the introduction of Preferred Creditor Status; oversaw resolution of more than 90% of member arrears (by value); shaped institutional strategy; chaired the Lending and Research committees; member of the Investment Committee.
  3. 2012 – 2022
    Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Jordan, AmmanMonetary policy, financial stability, supervision, reserve management, crisis response (including COVID-19), payments, financial inclusion, consumer protection and enterprise risk. Led high-level IMF and World Bank engagement and six major legal reforms; reorganized departments to match an expanded mandate.
  4. 2009 – 2012
    Deputy Division Chief, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, International Monetary Fund, Washington, DCLed FSAP and technical-assistance missions in Europe and the Middle East; financial-sector input to IMF program conditionality; research on the global financial crisis, stress testing, Islamic finance and macroprudential policy.
  5. 2005 – 2009
    Senior Economist/Economist, Middle East and Central Asia Department, International Monetary Fund, Washington, DCExecutive Board country work on Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE and Oman; research on exchange-rate regimes, inflation, capital markets and financial stability.
  6. 2003 – 2005
    Director, Governor’s Office, Central Bank of JordanAdvised the Governor on banking supervision; shaped supervisory strategy and problem-bank resolution; guided prompt corrective action, Basel II and universal banking.
  7. 1994 – 2003
    Senior Financial Analyst / Financial Analyst, Banking Supervision Department, Central Bank of JordanBuilt an early-warning system, sectoral analysis and stress testing; analysis informing bank mergers, liquidation, licensing and branching. (1994–1997 and 2001–2003, with doctoral studies in between.)

Boards and national roles

  • Board Chair, Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation (2012–2022)
  • Board Member and Chair of the Governance and Risk Management committees, Social Security Corporation, Jordan (2012–2022)
  • Board Member, Jordan Payments and Clearing Company (2017–2022)
  • Chairman, a U.S.-based bank under liquidation (2012–2021)
  • Vice-Chairman, National Committee for Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing, Jordan (2012–2022)
  • Vice-President, Jordan National Payment Council (2012–2022)
  • Chair, Technical Committee, National Financial Inclusion Strategy, Jordan (2018–2020)
  • Member, national committees for the management of general and external public debt, Jordan (2012–2022)
  • Member, management committee, Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (2018–2022)
  • Observer Board Member, Banking Association of Jordan (2012–2022)
  • Council Member, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Jordan (2012–2022)

International expert roles

  • Member, Panel of Independent External Experts on the Safeguards Assessments Policy, International Monetary Fund — advising the Executive Board (2021–2022)
  • Member, Regional Consultative Group for MENA, Financial Stability Board (2012–2022)
  • Delegate, G20 Finance Track, Saudi presidency (2019–2020)
  • Member, Task Force on Making Basel III Work for Emerging Markets and Developing Economies, Center for Global Development (2017–2019)
  • Vice-Chairman, Public Interest Monitoring Consultative Committee, AAOIFI, Bahrain (2021–present)
  • Member, Financial Inclusion and Literacy Advisory Working Group, Central Bank of the UAE (2025–present)
  • Member, Capital Adequacy Working Group, Islamic Financial Services Board, Malaysia (2003–2005)

Education

  • PhD in Economics (field: Econometrics) — Washington State University, USA
  • MS in Statistics — Washington State University, USA
  • MA in Economics — University of Jordan
  • BA in Economics, minor in Finance — Yarmouk University, Jordan

Awards and academic roles

  • IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Department awards for Exceptional Effort and Exceptional Leadership (2011)
  • Winner, William R. Wiley Research EXPO, Washington State University (2001)
  • Teaching Assistant Excellence Award, Washington State University (2000–2001)
  • Visiting Professor, Washington State University (summers 2002 and 2004); independent instructor in Money and Banking (1999–2001)
  • Member, Beta Gamma Sigma honor society

Media & interviews

Selected earlier research

Speak directly with Dr. Hasan about your mandate.

Discuss a mandatemacrofin@macrofinadvisory.com