IFN Investor Weekly Round-up: 12th – 18th May 2026

The IFN Investor Funds Database, being the leading resource on Islamic public fund offerings around the globe, recorded 2,734 public Islamic funds managed by 515 asset management firms, with a combined total of US$447.17 billion in AuM as at the 18^th May 2026.

Among insights obtained from this resource is that Shariah compliant assets domiciled in Ireland reached US$11.76 billion in Q1 2026, rising 52.69% year-on-year and up 7.56% from Q4 2025, largely on the performance in the equities sector. In Pakistan, the fixed income sector was dominant – with total Shariah fund AuM reaching nearly US$7.95 billion in Q1 2026, marking a 7.1% increase quarter-on-quarter and 29.2% year-on-year.

Iran’s Securities and Exchange Organization announced the reopening of the Farabourse for regular trading in equities and related instruments starting the 19th May 2026 – 80 days after suspension with the US-Israel attack from the 20th February 2026.

Exclusive reports

This week, we look at how in Switzerland – despite managing multitudes in Muslim-owned wealth – meaningful onshore Shariah compliant wealth management remains largely absent, highlighting persistent structural limitations within Europe’s Islamic finance ecosystem.

Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, a water venture project is showcasing an exportable model of Shariah financial engineering that rewrites Western investing rules of public-private partnerships.

Such innovation is also emerging in the US, where access is being opened to a wider pool of investors to the select sector of global warehouses, logistics hubs and industrial centers – which has long been a walled garden, reserved for sovereign wealth funds and other giants.

Self-sustainability initiatives and the building of regional champions have become rising themes for GCC-based investors, amid ongoing tensions along the Strait of Hormuz.

Deals and offerings

Ajyad Capital acquired a 643-unit multi-family residential property in Houston, Texas through its private market Shariah compliant dedicated vehicles. The Bahrain-based asset manager also officially launched eMYAA, a Shariah compliant digital trading platform built for GCC investors.

Investcorp's portfolio company TruKKer inked a US$300 million cross-border trade securitization facility with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank – with originators based in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye – pitched as the first such multi-jurisdictional facility in the Middle East.

Sovereign fund Qatar Investment Authority committed another US$500 million to General Atlantic’s global growth equity investment strategies.

Shariah compliant SHUAA Capital partnered with VC secondaries asset manager Key Capital to launch the US$50 million Key Fund I LP focused on acquiring positions in high-growth technology companies.

Fasset, a global neobank and investment platform with Islamic solutions, raised US$51 million in its Series B round with contributions from Japan’s SBI Investment, Bahrain’s Investcorp and Turkiye’s Arz Portfoy.

Significant developments

To broaden Shariah compliant investment avenues in Pakistan’s capital market for both individual and institutional investors seeking Islamic financial products, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan allowed five unnamed brokerage firms to introduce dedicated trading services through Islamic windows.

The Saudi Capital Market Authority granted a license to Standard Chartered Capital Saudi Arabia for investment and fund management activities in the securities business.

Switzerland-headquartered Partners Group promoted Ismail Afara to head of infrastructure investments across the Middle East. He was previously part of the European infrastructure leadership team.