Geneva Islamic Finance

With an estimated 1.6 billion Muslims making up a quarter of the world's population, global financial institutions are increasingly creating Islamic investment alternatives. Islamic financial products are aimed at investors who want to comply with the Islamic laws (Shariah) that govern a Muslim's daily life.

The global market for Islamic financial services is currently estimated at close to US$250bn worth of assets with annual growth of some 15%. Financial products that comply with the set of shari'ah laws are evolving from a small niche market into a mainstream business. As well as growing rapidly in Muslim countries, Islamic finance is now drawing attention from Western financial institutions which are keen to be part of this expanding sector.

In this context, it is crucial for private banks, investment banks, asset managers, brokers, investment and insurance companies, to understand how to succeed in Islamic Finance. What are the cutting edge opportunities? What is the legal framework? And what sectors of the economy can benefit?