Islamic Finance and Economics

Dubai's Sharia Finance Pivots on "Islamic Ecosystem"

February 08, 2017

Dubai's ongoing initiative to ensure the country's position as the global epicenter of sharia-compatible/compliant finance pivots on the concept of an "Islamic ecosystem," comprised of interlocking economic sectors of Islamic finance, halal (sharia-compliant) food products, and Islamic lifestyles products and devices.
Indonesia Eyes Islamic Finance Benefits from US Travel Ban

January 31, 2017

Indonesia's Vice President has suggested that the temporary US travel ban on migration from seven Muslim-majority countries may prove a boon for Indonesia's efforts to position itself as a major global center for sharia finance, since Mideast investors may redirect their capital away from the US and toward Islamic finance markets.
Malaysia Considers Sharia Securities Fund

January 16, 2017

Malaysia's Securities Commission is considering the launch of a government-seeded sharia securities fund aimed to offer multi-currency sharia investment products that would help to grow the country's already-leading role in the $2 trillion global Islamic wealth and finance market.
OIC Positions Kenya as Sharia Finance Hub

January 02, 2017

The Islamic Financial Services Board, an institution of the 57-member-state Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has admitted Kenya as a member in a decision aimed to position the country as the East African hub of the $2 trillion Islamic finance market.
Experts Expect Increasing 2017 Islamic Finance Influence in Africa

December 30, 2016

Development and infrastructure needs in Africa will provide greater opportunities for sharia-compatible financing and other Islamic banking in 2017, especially as Middle Eastern and South Asian Islamic finance players look to expand their influence in non-Muslim-majority sub-Saharan and West African countries.
Pakistan Expands Support for Sharia Finance

December 30, 2016

Pakistan's government continues to expand incentives for banks that provide a widening range of Islamic financial products and resources in an effort to grow the sharia-compliant sector of the economy and to improve Pakistan's position in the global sharia-finance economy.
Iran Steps into Key OIC Finance Position

December 19, 2016

Iran will chair the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Islamic Financial Services Board in 2017, giving the Islamic Republic a key role in standard-setting for global sharia finance and the country's economic re-integration, after years of isolation due to the effects of US economic sanctions, within the 57-member-state global Islamic group.
Morocco Announces Entry into Islamic Finance Market

December 08, 2016

Despite longstanding government concerns about connections between Islamic finance and Islamist extremism, the Moroccan government announced that it will begin issuing sovereign Islamic bonds and will establish sharia banks and insurers in an effort to attract foreign direct investment from the Mideast, North Africa, and Asia.
Survey Signals British Muslim Indifference Toward Islamic Banking

December 05, 2016

A survey by a UK nongovernmental organization of British Muslims shows that a majority of respondents prefer not to use sharia-compliant banking services, raising questions about the rationale for British financial elites' aims to make London a hub for Islamic finance.
Sharia Banking Comes to Scotland

December 05, 2016

Scottish banking authorities have welcomed the first sharia-compliant bank, a retail bank with an extensive branch and office network throughout the UK, to expand Scotland's "ethical finance" profile by offering Islamic banking services.