Qatar - Islamic Finance

Islamic Finance Opportunity In Qatar - What do you think?

The rapid development of the Islamic finance and Islamic banking industry, not only in the Middle East but across the globe, has produced new Shariah compliant products and structures, which have in turn resulted in an estimated growth in demand for Islamic financial services of 15% - 20% per annum. This trend has increased the number of Islamic banking and financial institutions, and a wider variety of Islamic financial services products and instruments ranging from basic deposit products, investment accounts, equity funds, capital-protected funds, Islamic bonds, Islamic hedge funds and Islamic swap equivalents.

Islamic finance and Islamic banking is a regulated activity within the QFC. The QFC Regulatory Authority has developed a rulebook governing the activities of licensed companies providing Islamic financial services. These rules allow for either wholly Islamic finance and Islamic banking institutions or Islamic windows for conventional financial institutions. The QFC Regulatory Authority is a member of the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions, based in Bahrain, and the Islamic Financial Services Board, based in Kuala Lumpur.

The objective of the QFC is to enable the growth of financial services in Qatar and in the wider region, by attracting international financial institutions and multi-national corporates to establish business operations in a "best-in-class" international environment, and to participate in a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership with Qatar. Given the growth of Islamic finance and Islamic banking due to the increasing demand for Islamic financial services, the QFC welcomes applications from qualifying companies wishing to contribute towards Qatar's success