Offa Boosts Bridge Sales Team with Two New Hires

WHY THIS MATTERS

The expansion of Offa’s bridging team comes at a critical time for the UK property market, where high interest rates and chain delays have moved bridging finance from a niche contingency to a mainstream funding tool. For the UK’s Muslim population, which has historically suffered a “faith penalty” due to a lack of competitive Sharia-compliant options, this growth is a major step toward financial parity. By hiring seasoned veterans with deep roots in both commercial and residential banking, Offa is scaling the human infrastructure needed to manage increasingly complex, high-velocity transactions.

The timing is significant as Offa transitions from a specialist bridging lender into a full-service Islamic fintech powerhouse. Following its 2024 acquisition of Bank of Ireland’s Alburaq portfolio and the 2026 launch of its ultra-fast Home Purchase Plan (HPP), the firm is now challenging high-street banks on speed, not just ethics. These hires are the “engine room” required to support a paperless, digital-first model that promises finance offers within an hour, effectively removing the historical “slow-to-market” stigma often associated with Islamic finance structures.

Offa, an award-winning British Islamic property finance fintech firm, has increased the headcount of its bridging finance team with two new hires.

Tahir Ahmad joins Offa – the first company to provide halal bridge finance in the UK – as Business Development Manager. He brings 20 years of industry experience, having worked for UBL UK, Habib Bank Zurich Plc, Cynergy Bank, Punjab National International Bank Ltd, and Whitehall Capital Ltd.

Tahir has extensive knowledge, experience and skills in property finance within both commercial and residential banking. Commenting on his new role, he said: “What drew me to Offa was its unique combination of ethical, Sharia-compliant finance and a genuinely entrepreneurial approach to the market.

“Offa’s ability to structure practical solutions across bridging and buy-to-let aligns perfectly with my own experience and values. In my new role I will be focused on leveraging my network and market insight to strengthen broker relationships, originate high-quality business, and support clients in achieving their investment ambitions while contributing to the company’s continued growth.”

Hasan Ilyas joins Offa as Business Development Support Officer, having previously worked for Paragon on their buy-to-let team for three years, liaising with Business Development Managers and brokers on end-to-end cases.

He said: “What really drew me to Offa was the chance to work somewhere where my professional life and personal values are in total sync. I’m excited to grow alongside a firm that’s proving you don’t have to compromise your beliefs to be a leader in the financial world.

“I see business support as the engine room of the office. By streamlining our internal processes, I want to create the space we need to scale and reach more people.”

Tahir and Hasan report to Naseer Ahmed, Managing Director of Bridging & Development Finance. He said: “Hasan’s appointment strengthens Offa’s origination support capability as the business continues to scale, and he will play a key role in maintaining the high service standards our brokers and customers expect, ensuring efficient progression from enquiry to completion.

“Tahir brings extensive experience across both commercial and bridging finance together with a strong track record of building effective broker relationships. With his dedicated coverage across the Midlands and North regions he will play a key role in expanding Offa’s bridging presence and deepening relationships with strategic introducers.”

The appointments reflect Offa’s continued commitment to sustainable growth, further strengthening its ability to deliver well-structured, Sharia-compliant finance solutions to brokers and property investors across the UK. The company had already more than doubled its headcount to 50 in the past year as the business continues to expand its service offering and plans to continue hiring.

In February, Offa launched its innovative and family-friendly Home Purchase Plan, a Sharia-compliant alternative to a conventional residential mortgage, with offers being made within an hour depending upon credit rating and risk criteria thanks to a modern, paperless and ultra-fast application process.

Prior to that, in July 2025, Offa launched an innovative bridge-to-let finance service combining its ultra-fast bridge product with its modern, paperless buy-to-let. The company also recently purchased Bank of Ireland’s Alburaq Sharia-compliant home finance portfolio in a landmark deal.

FF NEWS TAKE

Offa’s rapid doubling of its headcount to 50 employees signals that the “Islamic Fintech” category has officially matured into a high-growth sector. What stands out here is the firm’s ability to blend traditional property expertise with a modern, paperless application process that rivals the slickest conventional neobanks. By recruiting talent from established institutions like Cynergy and Habib Bank, Offa is ensuring its “bridge-to-let” and HPP products are backed by the same level of rigorous underwriting and broker relationship management as its interest-bearing competitors.

However, the challenge for Offa will be maintaining this “ultra-fast” decision-making as it moves into the more heavily regulated residential space. While automated valuation models and digital KYC can accelerate the process, the bespoke nature of Sharia-compliant co-ownership structures often requires more hands-on support than a standard mortgage. Success will depend on whether this expanded team can maintain a “human-in-the-loop” approach that satisfies both the FCA’s regulatory standards and the strict ethical requirements of Sharia scholars without sacrificing the speed that made them famous in the bridging market.