Having undergone a series of consolidations, and operating in a region with a young, largely unbanked population, Africa's banks are attracting the attention of investors from all over the world. However, choosing where to invest remains a challenge.
Slow growth forces UAE banks into new markets
December 1, 2015A slower growing economy and tighter liquidity environment are presenting the United Arab Emirates' lenders with a new set of challenges. Will expanding their international presence provide a solution?
The Banker's Top Islamic Financial Institutions ranking: a bump on a path of progress
November 2, 2015Despite a fall in total assets, The Banker's 2015 survey of the Top Islamic Financial Institutions indicates that the market is continuing to move in the right direction, with sharia-compliant institutions improving access to and delivery of services, developing microfinance services, and forming stronger strategic partnerships across Asia.
The Banker’s Top Islamic Financial Institutions 2015 – Methodology
November 2, 2015A look at how The Banker compiled the 2015 Top Islamic Financial Institutions ranking.
Islamic finance roundtable: filling the SME gap
November 2, 2015Despite high demand for sharia-compliant finance, a lack of expertise and services tailored to SMEs has resulted in significant underfunding of such businesses. Four specialists from the Islamic finance world look at how to make up for this shortfall.
The brighter Islamic finance picture beyond Iran's woes
November 2, 2015The negative growth recorded in the aggregate assets of Islamic financial institutions in this year's survey can almost entirely be attributed to a collapse in the value of the Iranian rial. When delving further into the data, a much more healthy picture emerges.
Digital leaders emerge in Islamic finance industry
November 2, 2015The reputation for conservatism among Islamic financial institutions does not extend to the world of digital banking, where many of its leading players are showing an innovative streak that matches anything coming out of their conventional peers.
Islamic finance targets Indonesia and Africa
November 2, 2015The large unbanked Muslim populations of Indonesia and Africa present a huge opportunity for Islamic financial institutions, with Africa's infrastructural shortfall providing a particularly fertile ground for the sukuk market.
DIEDC chief looks to drive Islamic economy
November 2, 2015The Islamic economy – be it the halal industry, tourism, retail, pensions or telecommunications – needs well-regulated, geographically harmonised sharia-complaint finance if it is to realise its full potential, Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre CEO Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar tells The Banker.
Awakening the sleeping giants of Islamic finance
October 26, 2015Financial institutions are looking to the new markets of south-east Asia and Africa as the Islamic finance industry evolves.