Sharia-compliant finance is emerging as a significant and growing part of the global financial services market.
The troubles afflicting conventional banks since 2007 have led to more attention being paid to Islamic alternatives. The abundance of wealth and liquidity in the Gulf region, fuelled by high commodity prices and strong economic fundamentals, has significantly increased opportunities for those looking to the Middle East and Islamic finance. This can notably be seen in the success of Sukuks, the most popular Islamic finance instrument; they are becoming a global phenomenon, attracting more issuers from a larger pool of countries than ever before.