International growth of Islamic finance highlighted

High-level executives from more than 36 countries will descend on Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the record breaking International Islamic Finance Forum.

With over 50 speakers from more than 20 countries, the world's leading Shariah scholars and the backing of the most important global institutions, the forum will be the biggest yet with over 350 participants.

The forum, since its inception in 2002, has been consistently backed by the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Defence Minister of the UAE. It is now popularly known as "The Premier Event In Islamic Finance."

The forum's dedicated website www.iiff.net has built a worldwide Islamic finance community many thousands strong. In the past 30 days alone, the site registered 5006 new visitors who spent an average of between six and seven minutes browsing for information about the forum.

"Through the www.iiff.net website we are receiving registrations for the Dubai event from delegates in all corners of the world where there is growing interest in Islamic finance -whether they are Muslim or not," said forum director Chris Mullinger.

"Even those that cannot attend are determined not to miss out and are registering with us for updates and to receive forum documentation - which includes full audio.

"The largest number of participants in next month's forum will be from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia but the third largest contingent will be from the United Kingdom, followed by Malaysia, Bahrain, Turkey, USA, Pakistan, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Singapore, Switzerland, China and Lebanon, in that order.

"In addition, the UAE will be welcoming participants from Australia, Brunei, Cameroon, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Tanzania. It is a truly international event."

The forum takes place from 7 to 9 March and is organised by the Dubai offices of the Institute for International Research in association with Dow Jones Indexes of New York and the Saudi Economic and Development Company (SEDCO).

The forum, which meets once a year in Dubai and at another international location six months later, has earned a worldwide reputation for the openness and frankness of its debates.

Mullinger added: "The forum explores both the political and economic contexts in which Islamic finance operates throughout the world. It does so by debating new markets and opportunities, challenging assumptions and contributing to correcting misconceptions about Islamic banking and finance."

As well as the forum's associations with Dow Jones and SEDCO, it has also attracted high-level, international sponsorship from:

• National Commercial Bank, Saudi Arabia (Diamond Sponsor)

• Al Tawfeek Company for Investment Funds, Saudi Arabia (Diamond Sponsor)

• ABCIB Islamic Asset Management, Bahrain and the UK (Platinum Sponsors)

• Dubai International Financial Centre (Platinum Sponsor)

• Oasis Global Management, South Africa and Ireland (Gold Sponsor)

• FWU-Group, Germany and Luxembourg (Silver Sponsor)

• Guidance Financial Group, USA (Silver Sponsor)