When originally published this was the first reference book to address itself to Islamic banking and finance and it offers comprehensive information on all major institutions which have commercial or banking interests in this field. It includes analysis of the principles behind interest-free banking and indicates its relationship with financial institutions in both Islamic countries and Western ones. It also lists the laws governing interest-free banking in countries where it is extensively in operation and provides essential information for all international financial institutions. The Directory lists all banks and financial institutions by country, giving details of their specific role and areas of operation.

When originally published this was the first reference book to address itself to Islamic banking and finance and it offers comprehensive information on all major institutions which have commercial or banking interests in this field. It includes analysis of the principles behind interest-free banking and indicates its relationship with financial institutions in both Islamic countries and Western ones. It also lists the laws governing interest-free banking in countries where it is extensively in operation and provides essential information for all international financial institutions. The Directory lists all banks and financial institutions by country, giving details of their specific role and areas of operation.

The first comparative survey of the experiences of Islamic banking across the Muslim world, covering Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Sudan, Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Introduction to Islamic Banking and Finance is a succinct guide to the key characteristics of Islamic banking highlighting how these differ from conventional banking. This detailed book illustrates how Islamic banking is consistent with the Sharia'a, a key element of which is the prohibition on collecting and paying interest. This central religious precept appears to rule out most aspects of modern finance but it does allow money to be used for trading tangible assets and business, which can then generate a profit. Brian Kettell's book looks at all aspects of Islamic banking, including chapters on its creation and evolution through to detailed discussions of the issues involved in the Sharia'a contracts of Murabaha, Mudaraba, Musharaka, Ijara, Istisna'a, and Salam. Islamic insurance (Takaful) is also covered. Finally the book takes a look at Sharia'a law and Sharia'a boards, indicating the roles and responsibilities that come with membership. Islamic banks have been operating in places such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Dubai for some time. Conventional bankers have traditionally viewed the sector as a small, exotic niche but recent years have seen a dramatic surge in popularity. A number of Western investment banks have started working with Muslim clerics to create new ranges of financial products designed for devout Muslims, a large and growing market. Although estimates of the size of the Islamic finance industry vary greatly, everyone agrees that it is expanding rapidly and this is the perfect book for anyone looking to understand the industry.

When it was originally published this volume was the first comprehensive survey of the experience of Islamic banking throughout the Muslim world in Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Sudan, iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Drawing comparisons between the countries in economic terms, it shows that the success of Islamic banks to a large extent reflects the immediate political environment. The complete Islamization of the financial systems of the more fundamentalist countries of Iran and Pakistan is compared with the divide between conventional interest-based systems and the new Islamic banks in Kuwait, Turkey, Egypt, Sudan and Jordan. Islamic Financial Markets explores both international Islamic finance and the national markets in which Islamic banks operate, raising for the first time the issue of competition in Islamic banking. It also looks to the future, to retail development and wholesale possibilities which seem to be the next step forward in Islamic finance. Setting the subject in historical, religious and economic perspective, the book offers a comprehensive survey of the successful adaptation of an ancient financial system to meet the requirements of modern commerce.

This book examines the international investment agreements and the dispute settlement mechanisms contained therein, which bind the Gulf Cooperation Council member States. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, is complex and unique. Recently, all member States have experienced increasing investor–state arbitration claims, while their nationals are increasingly instituting investor–state arbitrations to protect their own foreign investments. Intra-GCC disputes, though relatively rare, have also appeared, largely as a result of the recent Gulf crisis. While focussing particularly upon the investor–state dispute settlement experience of member States as respondents, the book also explores the experiences of their nationals as claimants to determine how they can approach investor– state dispute settlement in the future. The book also reflects on existing treaty-making practices, making recommendations for regional-level dispute settlement to improve upon investor–state dispute settlement outcomes. This book provides a detailed analysis of the global investor–state dispute settlement regime and international investment agreements, and it will be of interest to students, academics, and practitioners with an interest in international investment law and arbitration.