Oasis Asset Management wins HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Islamic Finance Award

The award was presented to Oasis Group Holdings Chairman Shaheen Ebrahim, CEO Adam Ismail Ebrahim and Marketing Director Nazeem Ebrahim for the Group's pioneering work in developing the field of Islamic Fund Management.

In a formal statement, the judges said, 'The Oasis Group has emerged and built up its profile as a serious player in a relative short period of time. To that end Oasis deserves recognition not only for what it has achieved in its own right but more importantly as an example for others to emulate.'

'When we launched Oasis Group in June 1997 we set out to establish equity funds that, first and foremost, preserved our investors' assets while building long-term real wealth. At the time many believed this risk-averse strategy would yield low returns. Our inaugural effort, the Oasis Crescent Equity Fund, which was launched in August 1998, has weathered the Asian, Russian and South American financial crises, the bursting of the Tech bubble and 9/11, yielding a return of 33.2% per annum since inception. Our Crescent Global Equity Fund, which is the top-performing Shariah-compliant global equity fund has been awarded a five star rating by Morningstar. By any standards the performance of this and other Oasis Asset Management funds, has shown the way for a balanced approach to Shariah-compliant investment. We have been able to offer the top-ranked equity fund performance at the lowest risk. We are deeply honored and gratified for this recognition of our efforts.'

According to Ebrahim the secret of the Group's success in fund management is its focus. 'This is our core business, not an add-on.' Nazeem Ebrahim added that Oasis has been able to achieve its remarkable success rate through really thorough research. 'We have brought these research skills completely in-house. We know every side of the business. We understand Islamic finance as Muslim professionals with a deep understanding of conventional finance.'
Headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, Oasis Holdings Group was launched in 1997. In 2003 Oasis Group Holdings launched Oasis Global Investment Fund (Ireland) plc and Crescent Global Investment Fund (Ireland) plc were launched in the Dublin Financial District to serve Europe and the Middle East. Oasis Group Holdings is now poised for a major entry in to the Middle East market during 2005 and is currently in discussion with potential partners across the GCC.