Dubai, 27 October, 2025: S&P Global Ratings and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, has jointly hosted the 15th Annual Islamic Finance Conference at the DIFC Atrium.
The 15th Islamic Finance Conference highlighted the industry’s strong performance in 2024, marked by 10.6 per cent growth and total sukuk outstanding surpassing USD 1trn for the first time. The conference covered the global outlook for the Islamic finance industry, highlighting the opportunities and challenges for future growth, and provided a deeper dive into the GCC’s evolving capital markets.
Hadi Melki, Regional Head at S&P Global Ratings said, “The Islamic finance industry continues to demonstrate resilience, supported by the growth of banking assets and sukuk issuances. With financing requirements for economic transformation programs in the GCC continuing to grow, Islamic finance is well positioned to maintain its momentum in 2025 despite the prevailing uncertainty. In collaboration with DIFC, the fifteenth edition of the Islamic Finance Conference serves as a vital platform to convene stakeholders, exchange perspectives, and address both the opportunities and challenges shaping the continued development of the Islamic finance sector.”
The first panel, “Islamic Finance 2025–2026: Resilient Growth Amid Upcoming Headwinds,” examined the key drivers of growth, future opportunities, and the challenges ahead. Panellists include Abdul Kadir Hussain, Head of Fixed Income at Arqaam Capital, Ali Taufeeq, Head of Sukuk Financing MENAT at HSBC, and Hitesh Dhoot, CFO, DAMAC Properties.
S&P Global Dow Jones Indices presented insights on the fixed income landscape including trends in global, GCC and sukuk market; followed by a session on global credit conditions and their impact on emerging markets and the GCC. The final panel focused on S&P Global Ratings’ GCC cross-sector outlook.
ENDS
Media contacts:
Mohamed Ali, S&P Global Ratings, +971 4 3727146
About S&P Global Ratings
S&P Global Ratings is the world’s leading provider of independent credit ratings. Our ratings are essential to driving growth, providing transparency and helping educate market participants so they can make decisions with confidence. We have more than 1 million credit ratings outstanding on government, corporate, financial sector and structured finance entities and securities. We offer an independent view of the market built on a unique combination of broad perspective and local insight. We provide our opinions and research about relative credit risk; market participants gain independent information to help support the growth of transparent, liquid debt markets worldwide.
S&P Global Ratings is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/ratings.
About Dubai International Financial Centre
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is one of the world’s most advanced financial centres, and the leading financial hub for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA), which comprises 77 countries with an approximate population of 3.8bn and an estimated GDP of USD 11.2trn.
With a 20-year track record of facilitating trade and investment flows across the MEASA region, the Centre connects these fast-growing markets with the economies of Asia, Europe, and the Americas through Dubai.
DIFC is home to an internationally recognised, independent regulator and a proven judicial system with an English common law framework, as well as the region’s largest financial ecosystem of 48,000 professionals working across over 8,000 active registered companies – making up the largest and most diverse pool of industry talent in the region.
The Centre’s vision is to drive the future of finance through cutting-edge technology, innovation, and partnerships. Today, it is the global future of finance and innovation hub offering one of the region’s most comprehensive AI, FinTech and venture capital environments, including cost-effective licensing solutions, fit-for-purpose regulation, innovative accelerator programmes, and funding for growth-stage start-ups.
Comprising a variety of world-renowned retail and dining venues, a dynamic art and culture scene, residential apartments, hotels, and public spaces, DIFC continues to be one of Dubai’s most sought-after business and lifestyle destinations.
For further information, please visit our website: difc.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X @DIFC.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Nivine William |
Burson | +9714 4507600
Rasha Mezher | Dubai International Financial Centre Authority
Consultant, Marketing & Corporate Communications
+9714 3622451