The IFN Investor Funds Database, the leading resource on Islamic public funds around the globe, registered 2,710 public Islamic funds managed by 517 asset management firms, with a combined total of US$449.89 billion in AuM as at the 27th April 2026.
This week is about taking stock and recognizing what the Islamic investment industry has achieved so far. We had the honor of hosting some of the region’s (and the world’s) best-performing fund managers in Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday at the inaugural IFN Investor Awards Ceremony.
The Securities Commission Malaysia Executive Chairman Faiz Azmi in his keynote posed a question which really resonated with the room of 250 Islamic finance leaders: do we have the conviction to act as demanded by our values?
This is a timely reminder of considering the social impact of the industry’s investment strategies; a theme we have seen in this past week: the IsDB Group’s insurance arm intends to catalyze private investments in climate-smart sectors by introducing a credit insurance-backed blended finance instrument in collaboration with the UN Development Programme while India’s Selathaar Ventures has concluded a fundraise for a solar power company, which is notable due to the rarity of Islamic capital raising exercises in India.
As investors continue to deploy capital into energy sectors, some are avoiding them, and are reaping benefits. Oman’s Gheras Endowment Investment Fund has grown its 2025 AuM by 163.05% year-on-year by focusing on ports and other infrastructure. This rise moves in lockstep with the near 150% growth Omani Islamic funds posted collectively last year. This healthy momentum is seen elsewhere including in Malaysian Islamic commodity funds which surged by 200%.
Such optimism is nonetheless coupled with cautious considerations by Islamic investors in more nascent markets such as South Africa and in changing sectors such as the pension funds space in Pakistan.
Acquisition is another theme this week: Ashmore Investment Saudi Arabia purchased more assets for its Shariah compliant Education Investment Fund; AFFIN Bank took over Pheim Asset Management while Soren Invest Company bought Al Salam Bank (Bahrain)’s stake in Shariah compliant Gulf African Bank in Kenya.
