Continuation
The favourable legal framework combined with the UCITS qualification
allows Islamic funds domiciled in Luxembourg to be a successful instrument for
Gulf investors wishing to tap the European market.
2.4.6 UNITED KINGDOM
The UK has one of the most advanced Islamic financial markets
in the western world.
This country is quickly becoming a key destination for
foreign Shari’ah-compliant institutions.
The country is home to the west’s first fully fledged
Shari’ah-compliant retail bank.
There are currently five true Islamic banks.
London in particular is an important financial centre, with:
ü major international firms
ü and the Middle East’s biggest
traditional banks
offering Islamic products in this city.
From the research paper of
European Central Bank
(Authors: F.Mauro, P.Caristi, S.Couderc, A.D.Maria, L.Ho,
B.K.Grewal, S.Masciantonio, S. Ongena and S.Zaher)