Islamic finance and sukuk
Sharia-compliant investing is mainstream, not niche, across Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Gulf.
Why it's attractive
Large Muslim-majority populations across Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Gulf have built deep, mainstream markets for sharia-compliant funds, sukuk (Islamic bonds), and Islamic banking — Malaysia and Bahrain in particular are recognized global centers for this asset class.
How to get access
Most major banks in these markets offer sharia-compliant unit trusts and savings products directly alongside conventional ones; sukuk trade on the same exchanges as conventional bonds in most Gulf and Southeast Asian markets.
What to watch out for
Sharia-compliance screening methodologies differ between certifying bodies, so two "Islamic" funds can hold meaningfully different portfolios — worth checking the screening standard, not just the label.
Where this shows up most
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