Majlis and Markets

In recent years, Islamic finance has gained traction in Australia. With Muslims comprising 3.2% of the population and a median age of 27, their financial needs align closely with their religious beliefs. Moreover, Australia's trade with Muslim nations like Indonesia and the UAE underscore the growing importance of Islamic finance.Yet despite these positive trends, the industry face

Since the 2011 revolution ousted long-time leader Muammar al Gaddafi, Libya has been in turmoil, with rival factions fighting for control amidst vast oil reserves. However, conflicts intensified notably after 2014, worsening the nation's instability.Last year, the IMF highlighted Libya's economic paradox: despite high GDP per capita, challenges persist due to heavy reliance on hydr

Over the last two decades, sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), particularly those from the Gulf, have emerged as significant economic players.With Gulf SWFs holding nearly $4 trillion in assets, they wield considerable influence on both local and global economies, investing across sectors like finance, infrastructure, and even sports teams! But what hurdles do they encounter?In our 17th

In recent decades, the global venture capital industry has experienced a significant surge, propelling ground-breaking start-ups like Uber and Airbnb into mainstream recognition.Despite the promising emergence of venture capital hubs in OIC countries like Dubai, Pakistan, and Malaysia, challenges persist, including regulatory hurdles and restricted access to funding.In our 16th epi

The shift from the US dollar to non-dollar currencies in trade, known as de-dollarization, impacts capital markets, global trade, and geopolitics.Moreover, the influence of BRICS, a coalition of major emerging economies, is reshaping the global economic landscape. With more nations exploring alternative currencies and key Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Egyp

The Arab monarchies of the Arabian Peninsula have become key players globally in politics, economics, and security, largely due to their extensive oil and gas reserves. With their substantial wealth, these Gulf states exert significant influence in energy markets and global investments. Furthermore, the hosting of major events like the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and COP 28 in Dubai ha

Since 2011, Egypt has faced political and economic challenges, worsened by a surge in foreign debt and unfavourable policies. COVID-19 in 2020 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 hit hard, especially as Egypt is the world's largest wheat importer.Today, Egypt is dealing with soaring inflation, a weakened currency, and heightened climate and geopolitical risks. Yet, recent aid,

Foreign direct investment or FDI is a vital driver of economic growth for many nations. This can be through job creation, tax revenue, and technology exchange.FDI also faces challenges including data collection accuracy, regulatory hurdles, and domestic economic policies.Despite its importance, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), representing nations like the UAE, KSA, a

Since the Presidential elections in May 2023, Turkey has shifted back to orthodox economic policymaking. This included the appointment of Mehmet Şimşek, a well-respected figure, as finance minister, and adopting more conventional economic policies.With a renewed focus on containing inflation, stabilising the currency, and attracting foreign investors, Turkey is slowly recovering

In our 10th episode, we spoke to Matteo Mantovani, co-founder of Baly, an Iraq-based ride-hailing and super app. Matteo has dedicated a significant portion of his career to Iraq's advancement, managing multimillion-dollar projects in Basra and overseeing critical infrastructure initiatives.As a co-founder of Baly, Matteo has observed first-hand Iraq’s thriving entrepreneurial spi