Spring 2013

EGYPT: Searching for treasure

The historic centre of the Arab world is undergoing a fraught transition to democracy. Is Egypt a compelling investment opportunity or ‘a basket case’?...

SHARIA FUNDS: The new home of Islamic finance?

Is Dubai’s ambition to be a hub for sharia-compliant finance realistic? Orlando Crowcroft finds some optimism, though there is a need for trained financial...

SPONSORED ARTICLE: Why has Shariah outperformed in the crisis?

Islamic investing has been around for a number of decades, and in recent years this market has seen significant growth. The Middle East and...

INTERVIEW: A recurring discussion

The biggest asset manager in Saudi Arabia could benefit if the country opens up its capital markets. But chief investment officer Faysal Badran says...

ABU DHABI: Is Abu Dhabi the next Dallas?

The UAE capital is the seat of the country’s power and owns a tenth of the world's oil. Fund managers there are bullish about...

ABU DHABI ROUNDTABLE: A large pool of assets

Companies in Abu Dhabi have cleaned up their balance sheets and the stock market is growing fast. Asset managers say the UAE capital is...

IN NUMBERS: Trade with Asia

Rising trade flows between Asia and the Mena region hint at investment opportunities, which sovereign wealth funds are already exploiting. George Mitton reports. The Asian...

INSIDE VIEW: Serving the poor and infirm

There may be $270 billion in Islamic endowments in Saudi Arabia alone, much of which is over-exposed to real estate. But Thomas Woods, of...

RISK MANAGEMENT: A focus on risk

The Arab Spring and the eurozone crisis have compelled sovereign wealth funds to take risk management more seriously. Orlando Crowcroft reports. The secretive and fabulously...

OUTSOURCING: Is it time to outsource?

Asset managers in the Mena region have outsourced fewer back and middle-office functions than their peers in the West. Funds Global asks whether this...