Jeddah
By the end of 2018, Islamic finance assets in Saudi Arabia reached a remarkable $879.2 billion (SR 3.297 billion), making the kingdom the largest Islamic finance market globally in economies with dual financial systems comprising both conventional and Islamic financial sectors, said the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group in its Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Islamic Finance Country Report, the first detailed study of its kind covering the Islamic finance sector in the kingdom.
Under the theme “Islamic Finance in Saudi Arabia: Leading the Way to Vision 2030”, the report analyses the outlook, trends, and prospects of Islamic finance in the kingdom. The report finds that Islamic finance has a promising future in Saudi Arabia, especially considering the country’s position in the global landscape.
With its vast natural and human resources, a unique position as a religious tourism centre, an advanced and resilient financial system, and a visionary leadership, the kingdom has the necessary ingredients to tap into the immense value that Islamic finance can bring to economic progress and social prosperity. In his Foreword to the report, Dr Bandar MH Hajjar, the President of the IsDB Group, stated: “Saudi Arabia is unquestionably a major hub of the Islamic financial industry not only in the Middle East but also worldwide. With Vision 2030, and with an energetic and innovative youth population, Saudi Arabia has a great potential to lead the industry in the 21st century. Not surprisingly, Islamic finance is one of the key pillars of the Financial Sector Development Programme set out by the government of Saudi Arabia.”
According to the report, the banking sector will continue to play a vital role in the implementation of the Vision 2030 to achieve sustainable development and a flourishing economy for the kingdom.
The report further highlights the kingdom’s actions in the area of digital transformation, evidenced by the formation of “Fintech Saudi” to act as a catalyst to develop the Fintech ecosystem alongside the vibrant regulatory sandbox set out by the monetary authority. In his comments, Acting Director General of IRTI, Dr Sami Al-Suwailem, said: “The kingdom is endowed with a unique set of advantages and has the potential to lead the Islamic finance industry at the global level. We hope that this report contributes to the progress of the industry to fulfil the Vision of 2030.”—Tradearabia News Service
