Ernst and Young awarded 'Best Takaful Advisory Firm'

The event was organized under the auspices of the Middle East Business Forum - a consortium of institutions that work with governmental and regulatory bodies across the Middle East and Europe to promote development in the field of Islamic Finance.

Congratulating the Islamic Financial Services Group, Phil Gandier, Advisory Leader, Ernst & Young Middle East, said:

"Our very competent team at Ernst & Young's Islamic Financial Services Group (IFSG) have made us immensely proud with this achievement. Their commitment and their line of expertise in the Shari'a compliant services sector have enabled us to remain the advisor of choice for takaful operators worldwide. Being a firm with a global presence, we support local clients through our worldwide network, providing the opportunity to transfer knowledge and skills to support clients locally. We firmly believe that this recognition will go a long way in consolidating the market leadership that we currently and hopefully continue to enjoy."

Sameer Abdi, who heads the IFSG added, "We are extremely honored to have been chosen for this award. Our practice has had the opportunity to play a key role in the development of the industry. In addition to the annual World Takaful Report that have evolved to become the most authoritative guide to the sector and helping to set the first Islamic insurance provider in the UK, we have worked with leading takaful providers and regulators of the industry."

"The recognition will prove to play a major role in not only reiterating our commitment to the sector and strengthening the relationship and trust that our clients continue to repose in us, but also honor the tireless efforts of every team member in our practice whose collective and individual contribution has made this possible," Abdi added.

Ernst & Young's Islamic Financial Services Group, headquartered in Bahrain, is one of the largest specialized Islamic Financial Services Advisory Groups in the Middle East dedicated to Shari'a-compliant and Shari'a-based financial services. With a presence across all the Middle East offices and in major financial centers worldwide, it offers a wide range of Islamic finance services to clients that include regulators, banks and financial institutions and family businesses.