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In a statement to Dubai Financial Market, it was reported that Ajman Bank’s AGM has approved and ratified a proposal from the board of directors to increase the bank’s capital base. Under the proposal, Ajman Bank’s authorized capital will become AED 2.1 billion and the paid up capital will increase from AED 1.05 billion to AED 1.55 billion.

Investcorp organised its annual Investcorp Leadership Program at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. The four-day program, held between 29 March and one April 2016, was attended by 41 aspiring young business leaders from the GCC. The program officially began with a keynote address by Mohammed Al Ardhi, Executive Chairman of Investcorp, who spoke about the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship. Faculty from Oxford Saïd delivered a series of interactive sessions on shaping the markets in which companies operate, embedding entrepreneurship in organizations and scaling family businesses. Demonstrations of the latest research in bioresearch and microscopy were also organised at the University’s Advanced Bioimaging Unit.

The Iranian Ministry of Finance issued IRR 5 trillion of four-year lease-based Sukuk on 16 March. The bonds were sold through Iran Fara Bourse, Tehran’s over-the-counter market. The issue marks the first use by the Government of Iran of such bonds. Previously, in September 2015, another first had been notched up with the issuance of some $295 million in Islamic Treasury Bills on Iran Fara Bourse. Meanwhile, in banking, the State Bank of Pakistan called a special meeting of all banks/ financial institutions on 14 March 2016 to discuss progress made by the Pakistani banking sector for facilitating trade transactions with Iran. Later in March it was reported that Bank Melli Iran had expressed interest in opening a branch in Pakistan while Pakistan’s Habib Bank may open a branch in Iran.

Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and Saturna Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based Saturna Capital Corporation, plan to sign an agreement to cooperate in offering sustainable Islamic investment vehicles. The parties sign the agreement at the Responsible Finance Summit in Kuala Lumpur on March 30. This partnership highlights ICD’s dedication to promoting the adoption of responsible investment principles in Islamic finance. In choosing Saturna as its partner, ICD will be tapping the firm’s expertise in global values-based investing and its experience in managing US-based Amana Funds as well as Saturna Sustainable Funds.

In a statement to Qatar Stock Exchange on 30 March, it was revealed that Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) is planning a Sukuk issue of up to QAR 3 billion. The bank’s General Assembly gave the nod to the extension of its approval to issue Additional Tier 1 Sukuk nonconvertible into ordinary shares of up to QAR 3 billion. The meeting delegated the bank’s board of directors' to decide the size of each issuance ,terms and conditions and issuance currency. QIIB CEO Abdulbasit A al-Shaibei was quoted as saying the Sukuk would be issued before the end of April to boost the bank’s capital ratio.

Saudi's Alkhabeer Capital has released the 2016 edition of its report reviewing GCC governments’ budgets. The report analyses the latest budgets of the region’s governments, the recent reform measures announced and the broader, long-term implications of the political will to improve efficiencies, curb wasteful expenditures and instill fiscal discipline. Citing the emergence of government imperatives in the region to refocus budget priorities and reduce extravagance, Alkhabeer’s report expects expenditure levels in the GCC to reflect a cautious stance on spending as the region adopts unprecedented measures to counter the plunge in oil prices since June 2014.

QInvest L.L.C. has announced the acquisition of ERGO Portfoy, one of the largest and fastest growing asset management companies in Turkey. Following the completion of this acquisition, QInvest Asset Management will have assets under management close to $1 billion. ERGO Portfoy has been rebranded as QInvest Portfoy and is a subsidiary of Qatar’s QInvest. The senior management of QInvest Portfoy will remain with the firm and will be led by Mr. Murat Vanli, the General Manager of ERGO Portfoy, and will continue to operate from Istanbul. The company has been granted its license to operate by The Capital Markets Board of Turkey (CMB) and is licenced to offer portfolio management to both individual and institutional investors.

Dubai Islamic Bank returned to the international debt capital markets with a very successful $500 million 5Y Sukuk issue yesterday. This deal is the first GCC bank issuance since November 2015 and essentially marks the reopening of the market after a hiatus of 4+ months. The transaction is being hailed as a tremendous accomplishment in the current environment where the GCC has gone through a well-documented change in onshore liquidity conditions and witnessed multiple rating downgrades, which have been mainly the result of the drop in oil prices. The offering was oversubscribed (2.4x) attracting more than $1.2 billion in demand from 87 investors.

Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) has joined the Pearl Initiative, the Gulf business-led organization promoting a corporate culture of accountability and transparency as a key driver of competitiveness across the Region. As a partner of the Pearl Initiative, Bahrain Islamic Bank will encourage the implementation of corporate governance practices and gender diversity in leadership at workplaces throughout the region. Through its association, BisB will participate in dialogue forums and capability-building seminars, facilitate engagement with peers and work alongside Pearl Initiative to encourage social entrepreneurship across the Region.

Meethaq organised a series of meetings to highlight the role of Islamic finance in the economic development of Oman. The Shua’a initiative by Meethaq to raise awareness on Islamic economics was attended by members of the Majlis Ash’shura Economic Committee. A similar meeting held in the Higher Judicial Institute in Nizwa was attended by scholars, researchers, entrepreneurs and students. The meetings addressed by senior Meethaq officials covered a wide gamut of areas, including savings account, asset management and project finance. Meethaq is focused on developing as a benchmark Islamic financial institution in Oman and the region.

Qatar’s Barwa Ban has announced the appointment of Mr. Nasser Rashid Al-Humaidi as the Group’s Chief Operating Officer (GCOO). Mr. Al-Humaidi, who will be directly reporting to the Acting GCEO of Barwa Bank Group Mr. Khalid Yousef Al-Subeai, will be developing an integrated structural framework to enhance operational efficiency, boost productivity and streamline processes and procedures by employing the latest financial sector technologies. He is backed up by more than 19 years of experience in the ??operations management and information technology sectors. He worked as the Executive Director for Operations & Support at Qatar Development Bank over the past three years.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has issued a $1.5 billion five-year Sukuk as part of its $25 billion Sukuk programme. The issuance was arranged by Emirates NBD Capital, Boubyan Bank, Gulf International Bank CIMB, JP Morgan, Natixis and Standard Chartered. It will be listed in the London, Malaysia and Nasdaq Dubai stock exchanges.

Bahrain-based Ithmaar Bank reported an increase in total income and operating income from its core retail banking operations during 2015 but this improved performance was impacted by recognition of certain investment related impairment provisions. Net income before provisions for impairment and overseas taxation increased 169.2 percent including a 18 percent increase in Operating Income. Overall, the Bank recorded a net loss of $46.4 million in 2015. This compares to a net loss of $8.8 million in 2014. This was mainly due to significant impairment provisions of $95 million in 2015, compared to provisions of $26.1 million in 2014.

Many tout the promise of Islamic banking in Africa, but retail consumers have been hesitant in many markets. hough Muslims make up a large portion of the unbanked population in many target countries, they just weren’t coming into the fold—at least not at a significant rate. This admission may come as a surprise to anyone reading the parade of headlines about ‘unlocking the potential’ for Islamic banking in Africa. There’s been quite a few. While this is still true, the reality on the ground—literally, because we’re talking about retail here—is more complicated than that. In its recent 2016 Outlook, Moody’s Investor Services largely predicted challenging times in African banking due to sinking commodities prices, China’s slowdown and regulatory difficulties.

Speaking at the launch of the participation banking unit of state-owned Vakibank, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the share of Islamic banking is around five per cent now, but the target was earlier defined to increase this share to 15 per cent by 2025. He stated his opinion that the share should reach 25 per cent instead. In December 2014 Vakifbank’s Board of Directors had authorized the bank to carry out all necessary transactions to obtain financing from Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to pledge capital for the Bank's participation banking project, amounting to $300 million with Turkish Treasury guarantee.

Iran’s leading financial conglomerate and senior members of Iranian government bodies met over 150 international investors in Muscat, Oman today to discuss inward investment opportunities across a range of Iran’s sectors and industries. The roadshow was hosted by Sina Financial & Investing Holding Co, Iran’s leading financial holding company. The agenda focused on opportunities created by the re-opening of the Iranian economy to foreign participation, as well as an in-depth discussion of Iran’s capital markets. The roadshow concluded with a business-to-business networking between Iranian and international delegates.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Qatari insurer Al Khaleej Takaful Group (KTG) to positive from stable. At the same time, the ratings agency affirmed its 'BBB' long-term insurer financial strength and counterparty credit ratings on KTG. The outlook revision follows a significant improvement of KTG's operating performance in 2015, which has strengthened the company's competitive position, said S&P. Last year, KTG reported a stronger combined (loss and expense) ratio of 86 per cent compared with 97 per cent in 2014. This was mainly thanks to organizational changes during 2014 and 2015 that helped optimize the use of resources and enhanced claims management.

The Shari’ah Advisory Council (SAC) of the Central Bank of Malaysia discussed the issue of application of Tabarru` contract (voluntary gift) in Takaful, transfer of ownership of Hibah asset, breach of condition in Wakalah bi al-istithmar contract (agency contract for investment) and Wa`d (promise) which is attached to action, time or situation. The SAC has decided the following: 1) The underlying concept for Takaful scheme is Tabarru` and Ta`awun among the Takaful participants. 2) Tabarru` in Takaful is applied through contributions from the participants to the Tabarru` fund which is managed by Takaful operator. 3) Financial obligation (Zimmah maliyah) of Tabarru` fund is independent from the financial obligation of Takaful operator and individual Takaful participant.

Takaud and Bahrain-based Takaful International are partnering to provide Takaful’s individual and corporate life insurance clients with Sharia-compliant investment solutions. The new partnership will enable Takaful to provide customers of its unit-linked savings policies with the opportunity to invest the savings portion of their policy in Shari’ah-compliant growth, balanced or prudent investment strategies. In support of the agreement, Takaud will provide a complete range of services, along with tools enabling customers to identify their investment profiles. Takaud will also provide marketing assistance and training for Takaful agents and others who will be presenting these new investment strategies to customers. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Takaud’s CEO Mr Luc Métivier and Takaful’s CEO Mr Younis J. Al Sayed.

Islamic International Rating Agency (IIRA) has reaffirmed its Shari’ah Quality Rating of AA (SQR) assigned to Jordan Islamic Bank (JIB). Rating derives strength from JIB’s evident commitment to Shari’ah compliance, which stems at the helm of the institution and is cultivated across management cadres. It is in majority owned by Albaraka Banking Group (ABG). The rating is also supported by Jordan’s effective regulatory Shari’ah governance standards, which with recent revisions are closely aligned with best practice. The bank has been proactive in adopting the revisions in central bank guidelines, and their full implementation is targeted to be achieved within the ongoing year.