Definition
Islamic finance refers to financial activities that comply with Sharia (Islamic law). The foundational principles include the prohibition of riba (interest), the avoidance of gharar (excessive uncertainty), the prohibition of maysir (gambling), and the requirement that financial transactions be backed by real economic activity or tangible assets.
Islamic finance encompasses banking, insurance (takaful), capital markets (including sukuk, the Islamic equivalent of bonds), and investment fund management.
Key Instruments
- Murabaha — a cost-plus financing arrangement in which the financial institution purchases an asset and resells it to the customer at a disclosed profit margin.
- Ijara — a leasing arrangement in which the financial institution purchases an asset and leases it to the customer for an agreed period and rental payment.
- Musharaka — a partnership in which two or more parties contribute capital and share profits and losses according to agreed ratios.
- Sukuk — certificates of ownership in an underlying asset, project, or investment, which provide returns based on the performance of the underlying asset rather than interest payments.
- Takaful — cooperative insurance based on mutual assistance, where policyholders contribute to a pool that is used to compensate members who suffer losses.
Qatar’s Islamic Finance Sector
Qatar has one of the most developed Islamic finance sectors in the Gulf region. Islamic banks — including Qatar Islamic Bank, Masraf Al Rayan, and Dukhan Bank — hold a substantial share of total banking assets. The Qatar Central Bank requires a strict separation between conventional and Islamic banking: conventional banks are not permitted to offer Islamic products through dedicated windows.
Qatar is also an active issuer of sovereign sukuk, using Sharia-compliant instruments to raise capital in both domestic and international markets. The sukuk market has contributed to the deepening of Qatar’s capital market infrastructure and the diversification of the government’s funding sources.
Significance
Islamic finance is integral to Qatar’s financial sector identity and serves both domestic demand (where a significant portion of the population prefers Sharia-compliant products) and Qatar’s international positioning as a hub for Islamic capital markets and banking.