IslamicFinance.de

Oil prices and regional tensions have taken their toll on the Islamic finance sector. Sharia-compliant funds suffered their worst sales in four years, falling more than 74 percent on 2014’s figures. But Magali Mouquet, executive director responsible for IR at Emirates REIT, says that as one of only three sharia-compliant real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the world, adhering to Islamic finance principles has brought only opportunities to the Dubai-based trust. Mouquet says other investors – those perhaps looking for an SRI angle rather than a focus on Islamic finance principles – are also interested in the trust, which offers ‘guaranteed transparency’.

Global assets under management by Islamic funds grew slightly last year and are likely set for rapid growth in coming years as the relatively young Muslim population of the world ages, hedge fund analysis firm Eurekahedge says. Assets under management peaked at about $91 bn in the second half of 2012, but are still up sharply from less than $50 bn at the beginning of 2007, Eurekahedge data shows. The firm says the Islamic finance industry globally now measures about $2 tn, including Islamic banking, sukuk (financial certificates), takaful (insurance) and Islamic funds. Islamic banking accounts for about 80 percent of the sector, while sukuk issuances account for about 15 percent.