Islamic sharia law is emerging as an alternative means of dispute resolution for business and commerce in the secular world, writes Mufti Barkatulla.

As the Islamic finance sector becomes more competitive, innovation will be a key differentiator for attracting customers, writes Joe DiVanna.

The UK budget for 2008 announced measures to promote competitiveness with the increasingly attractive Islamic finance sector, paving the way towards sukuk issuance, writes Stephen Timewell.

Saudi banks performed less well last year than in 2006 and bankers are adjusting to the lower, more sustainable growth levels, but they have every reason to remain bullish, writes Stephen Timewell.

Sheikh Hamad Al-Sayari, governor of the Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency, talks to Stephen Timewell about banking challenges, rising inflation, and planned currency union with the GCC states.

A boom in non-oil wealth looks set to accompany the continuing oil boom as huge projects get under way and economic reform continues, writes Stephen Timewell.

Despite the subprime crisis affecting many areas of Brazil’s capital markets, commodity prices continue to boom, foreign investment remains strong and an investment grade rating is imminent, says Brian Caplen.

The Tan brothers, Nestor and Lorenzo, are helping to reshape the Philippines’ banking industry. Ian Gill reports on how their international expertise is helping to break the shackles of traditional financial empires.

The consumer credit market has been growing but a slowing economy and lax processes have taken their toll on some players, says Kala Rao.

It is a given that larger banks have scale in their favour but Australia’s smaller banks are playing on customer service in a bid to win business, writes Virginia Marsh.