With GCC countries looking to kickstart economic recovery through commercial activity and stimulus, it is time for the Islamic economy, and all its components, to show its true mettle. Have we truly grasped the importance of the Halal economy to the prosperity of regional economies, as well as to the continued growth of Islamic financial institutions? What role will regional Islamic financial institutions play in meeting the challenges of the real economy through mobilizing the funding and liquidity support necessary to stimulate the vital SME and corporate sector? And through socially impactful strategies, how can Islamic financial institutions inspire and support entrepreneurship, thereby creating jobs and improving livelihoods? We seek the views of a distinguished panel.
What do GCC Islamic credit markets look like in the coming 12 months, and what are the options for potential corporate, sovereign and supranational issuers? What are investors demanding in terms of pricing, tenor, rating, structure, as well as other factors such as ESG? What do the major GCC centres offer as listing destinations for Sukuk issuance, as well as other products such as investment trusts and ETFs? How can Shariah compliant instruments, including Sukuk, be further applied to the funding of alternative asset classes in the region? How is technology such as blockchain shaping and influencing Islamic corporate finance and capital markets, considering notable recent innovations by GCC Islamic banks? Finally, how can global and regional regulation and standards applicable to the issue of Shariah compliant financing products, be more effectively aligned for the good of the market?
Alongside ‘Transition to Net Zero’ and decarbonisation targets, what is realistically achievable and what does net zero mean for important sectors in the GCC such as aviation, oil and gas and other asset-based industries? How are Shariah compliant financing products and assets playing a role in this shift and what do green Sukuk offer in relation to transition and sustainability-linked initiatives? How can the financing of Shariah compliant assets continue to contribute to the achievement of the UN SDGs and towards the Paris Accord? Lastly, does Islamic finance and investment have more to offer sustainability-linked finance through Shariah compliant structures such as Waqf? We ask an expert panel.
Through a panel of international investment professionals, we explore current and potential Shariah compliant investment types and asset classes. What are the latest opportunities for Shariah compliant direct investment into real estate, both in the GCC and internationally? Considering the evolution of working practices, what is the future of the office, and what are the implications for regional commercial real estate investment? With an active private equity market, what are potential regional and international targets for GCC investors and what structures are being employed? Aside, what new and interesting asset classes have presented themselves in the past year?
