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First Gulf Bank (FGB) has increased its stakes in Aseel Islamic Finance, through a purchase agreement which has raised the bank's ownership from 40% to 100%. With a paid-up capital of AED 800 million, Aseel is now FGB's Islamic banking and finance arm. Aseel will offer a full-fledged range of Islamic solutions, such as Business Financing, Murabaha and Ijarah products for SMEs, Takaful, Investment products, Corporate Deposits, and Trade facilities in addition to Real Estate services. It will also share responsibility for managing the bank's existing Emirati Al Awwal Islamic savings certificates programme, Transaction Accounts and Individual Deposits. Aseel Islamic Finance will maintain an independent board of directors with Hana Al Rostamani as the Chairperson, while Javed Afzal was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer.

The Saudi Arabian and Malaysian cooperative and Islamic insurance (takaful) markets are the only two that are seeing growth especially in new policies and profitability, according to the report 'Global Takaful Insights 2013' by Ernst & Young. Too many operators are pursuing an insufficient number of risks to increase their gross written contributions (GWC). The Saudi Arabian Monetary (SAMA) directed all insurance operators in the Kingdom to align with the cooperative insurance model. Saudi Arabia is the single largest Islamic insurance market in the world. Meanwhile, Malaysia has emerged as the world's largest family (life) takaful market, with a proven model and regulatory clarity. In the near to medium term, traditional growth markets, including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Malaysia, continue to ride on favorable market conditions and a young demographics structure, the report concludes.

Islamic Microfinance is an effective tool for the poverty alleviation and it should be introduced around the globe to state an effective policy for ultimate poverty alleviation from the world, Dr. Fatima Mohamed Yousif Al-Balooshi, Minister (Ministry of Social Development - Bahrain) stated. Dr. Fatima Al-Blooshi was speaking as a Chief Guest in the 3rd Global Islamic Microfinance Forum (GIMF) held on 6th to 8th October, 2013 in Dubai. Muhammad Zubair Mughal (CEO - AlHuda CIBE), said that the involvement of interest in micro financing is one of the major causes behind the increasing poverty in Muslim countries. He said that the forum aimed to streamline the policies for poverty reduction, to promote the Research and Education in Islamic Microfinance industry and to enhance its outreach on global canvas.

Islamic International Rating Agency has upgraded the national scale ratings of Kuveyt Turk Participation Bank on both the short-term and long-term scale to AA-/A-1 + (Double A Minus /A-One Plus) from A+/A-1 (A Plus/A-One) previously. Ratings on the international scale have been reaffirmed with local currency ratings at BBB/A-3 (Triple B/A-Three) and foreign currency assessment at BBB-/A-3 (Triple B Minus/ A-Three). Outlook on the ratings is 'Stable'. The ratings draw on recent, continued business expansion, reinforced by fresh capital provided by the bank's sponsors. Organization level improvements in terms of strengthening the control areas and adding focus to certain business functions, has also been noted.

Bahrain-based Khaleeji Commercial Bank (KHCB) has announced the appointment of Mr Khalil Ismaeel Al Meer as the bank's new Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Al Meer was General Manager of Corporate Banking division in BBK. He has over 28 years of experience in corporate banking, gained in senior roles at National Bank of Bahrain and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait. He holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the University of Bahrain. He also attended the Gulf Executive Development Program at Darden Graduate School of Business in University of Virginia (USA) and the Senior International Bankers Program of the International Centre for Banking and Finance Services at Manchester Business School (UK).

The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will jointly organise a Conference on Islamic Finance for Asia: Development, Prospects and Inclusive Growth and a Roundtable Session for Regulators on 4 - 5 November 2013 in Manila, Philippines. The Conference will explore issues related to further developing Islamic finance, its current state of progress and challenges, while also seeking to create greater opportunities for interaction and cooperation. The Roundtable Session for Regulators will be organised with the aim to provide a unique opportunity for regulators to discuss and share their experiences, issues and challenges. Interested participants are welcome to register their attendance to the Conference at www.ifsb.org.

Abu Dhabi government-owned Al Hilal Bank priced its debut $500m five-year sukuk issue, as Gulf issuers flood back to the market to take advantage of conducive market conditions. The transaction priced at par with a profit rate of 3.267 percent and a spread of 170 basis points over midswaps. The spread had tightened significantly from the initial price thoughts, released on Sunday, which had indicated a spread of 190 bps over the benchmark.

The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) and Bangladesh Bank has successfully organised a "Seminar on Prospects and Challenges in the Development of Islamic Finance for Bangladesh" on 23 and 24 September 2013 in Dhaka. The seminar aimed to create greater awareness on the latest developments on the Islamic financial services industry, and to discuss the issues in further augmenting its role in Bangladesh. The meeting consisted of five sessions where recent developments in the Islamic capital market, regulatory frameworks, microfinance among others were discussed. At the end of the one and a half day seminar, IFSB assured Bangladesh Bank of its constant support for the various initiatives to strengthen the Islamic finance in its member countries.

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry , in partnership with Thomson Reuters , organised the first roundtable discussion for media on 'What is the Islamic Economy?' as a prelude to the 'Global Islamic Economy Summit' taking place in Dubai on November 25 and 26, 2013. Dubai is already enjoying a high status for Islamic banking and is in the process of enhancing halal food industry, trade policies and commercial laws, and Islamic tourism among other sectors and this Summit will provide the impetus to the future growth of the Islamic Economy. The Summit's topics of discussion will include the six major pillars of the Islamic economy: Islamic Finance; Halal Food; Halal Lifestyle; Halal Travel; SME Development; and Islamic Economy Infrastructure.

Oman's government may issue an international sovereign bond and an Islamic bond next year, its central bank chief Hamood Sangour al-Zadjali said. He did not provide details on the size of the bonds, however. While Oman aims to develop its fledgling Islamic finance industry, a debut issue of sukuk by the government would be a major step towards that. Zadjali also said Oman planned a domestic issue of government development bonds worth 100 million rials ($260 million) in the fourth quarter of this year. The procedes will be used for development purposes as well as for projects. Oman's banking sector is expected to grow 15-20 percent this year in terms of assets.

The creation of a credit bureau in the UAE where consumers' information is shared independently is an essential step in ensuring the financial services market and lenders are dealing with borrowers who can genuinely afford to borrow more. Al Etihad Credit Bureau is scheduled to be up and running by 2015. Already officials say that once borrowers' information is opened up for all financial institutions to check, there will be an immediate and freezing effect on lenders. If the agency had existed before - where information was reviewed in a transparent and neutral manner - there would be fewer expatriates to flee, fewer behind bars, and more maturity in the marketplace all around.

The $490 million short-term sukuk program issued by the International Liquidity Management Corporation is an important stage in the evolution of Sukuk product, according to Abdulwahab Al-Roshood, Kuwait Treasury General Manager at Kuwait Finance House (KFH). The corporation has recently issued the first issuance for 3 months with the participation of 8 gulf and foreign banks including KFH. The sukuk issued by the corporation enjoys the privilege of being short term, rated as the short- term highest credit rating A-1 by the international Standard and Poor's. Al-Roshood expressed his confidence that KFH 's participation of the corporation's businesses since establishment will add value to its efforts and its role in sukuk market.

Maisarah, Islamic window of BankDhofar announced the launch of Oman's pioneering Sharia compliant priority banking services. Maisarah's teams of relationship managers are offering special products and personalised services. Ease of access is one of the features among other privileges that Maisarah has to offer through priority banking centers in the Muscat and Dhofar region. Customers can reap the benefits of savings accounts based on the Mudharaba contract as well as auto financing based on the Murabaha concept without lengthy procedures at preferential prices and services. Under the guidance of the Sharia compliant Board of Directors, Maisarah's banking solutions are on display at their stand-alone branches, which have been designed to minimize wait time and enhance each customer's experience.

Bahrain's Al Salam Bank has agreed to acquire fellow Bahraini lender BMI Bank , an affiliate of Oman's Bank Muscat , through a share-swap deal. Al Salam will exchange 11 of its shares for each BMI Bank share to create the kingdom's fourth-largest commercial bank. The tie-up is still subject to shareholder approval, with meetings to vote on assent due to be held in either September or October. Shares in Al Salam were 5.9 percent higher at 0726 GMT in muted trading. The tie-up will create a bank with assets worth BD1.79bn ($4.75bn), according to second-quarter results from both institutions.

Dubai-based GFH Capital is snapping up central London property in search of attractive yields and may launch technology funds with a U.S.-based partner as it seeks to capitalize on business startups in the GCC. GFH Capital has been buying London properties with values between $15 million and $50 million. It is currently looking at purchasing a pair of properties for about GBP20 million, according to chief executive David Haigh. Those investments aim to exploit good prospects for returns on luxury flats in central London. In addition to its London property strategy, GFH Capital is looking at launching private equity funds that seed startups in the region. Besides, the investment in Leeds, Haigh said, was doing well.

Following the introduction of the Islamic Banking Regulatory Framework (IBRF) in December 2012, Omani banks are now allowed to offer Islamic banking services. Moody's views this as credit positive for the banks as expansion into Islamic banking has the potential to strengthen their franchises and diversify revenue generation, particularly for the largest banks in the system, which will be able to leverage their existing infrastructure and networks.

The total value of new issuances in the Aggregate Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC”) Bonds and Sukuk market, during the first half of 2013 (“H1 2013”) was USD 45.5 billion, a 4.6% increase in comparisonto the respective period of 2012 (“H1 2012”).

Qatar-based Barwa Bank recently announcd aseries of changes to its leadership team including the promotions of Khalid Al-Ahbabi to General Manager, Wholesale & Business Banking and Hussain al-Abdulla to General Manager, Personal Banking & Wealth Management, a new role for Keith Bradley as Group Chief Operating Officer & General Manager International as well as the appointment of Nasser Mohamad Al-Hajiri as Chief Administrative Officer. Each individual has several years of experience in the banking sector.

Experts say that 85 percent of Saudi families do not save money and resort to diving into their savings or borrowing to meet their needs. The absence of savings is one of the biggest weaknesses of the Saudi economy. The spirit of consumption is dominant and this negatively affects economic growth and increases the rate of inflation due to the increased rate of consumption. Due to the absence of a culture of saving, Saudi families are exposed to financial woes every month, not because they earn a low income but because they never learned to save money and engage in financial planning. Most Saudi families suffer from over-spending and sometimes spend 10 percent more than they earn. This urges them to borrow money.

The Islamic Development Bank and Saudi Fund for Development have provided finances amounting to $ 21.7 billion for 90 projects in the Bank's Member States in Africa, Asia, and Middle East. In its annual report for the year 2012, the Islamic Development Bank pointed out that the projects were in fields of infrastructures, agriculture, rural development, health, education, transport, energy, and water.