Hassan Jivraj

London

Senior Correspondent at Salaam Gateway

Financial Journalist at Freelance

Writer, editor and contrarian thinker. Also host of Majlis & Markets podcast @MajlisMarkets. Views and opinions are mine. RTs and likes are not endorsements.

Articles

Abu Dhabi's Financial Ascent

3 weeks ago | gfmag.com | Hassan Jivraj

Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a major hub for international asset managers and hedge funds, challenging Dubai’s long-standing dominance in the region. The emirate currently ranks second in the Middle East and Africa and 35th globally on the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 36).
De-Globalisation or Re-Globalisation? What Trump’s Tariffs Really Signal

3 weeks ago | substack.com | Hassan Jivraj

A recent Financial Timesarticle quoted HSBC’s Chair as saying that “globalisation, as we once knew it, is over.”That got me reflecting on how far we’ve come — and how much has changed. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. I remember a module I took at university in 2009 called Global Economic Issues.
Iraq’s potential as an Islamic and cultural tourism hotspot

1 month ago | salaamgateway.com | Hassan Jivraj

Iraq does not spring to mind as an obvious place for tourists. Many may argue that this widespread opinion is not without good reason. Decades of conflict, political instability, and security concerns have weighed heavily on the country and its international image. This coupled with an oil-dependent economy, endemic corruption and underdeveloped infrastructure have undermined Iraq’s potential and perception as a sought-after tourism destination.
fDi Intelligence - Your source for foreign direct investment information - fDiIntelligence.com

2 months ago | fdiintelligence.com | Hassan Jivraj

Over the past decade, the automotive industry has become an important pillar of Morocco’s economy. It attracted significant investment from global auto manufacturers, turning the north African nation into Africa’s leading automotive manufacturing hub. Morocco’s advancement in electric vehicle (EV) component production has further enhanced its reputation as an automotive hub, drawing interest from major US, European and, more lately, Chinese car companies.
Islamic ETFs find favour among investors, though growth challenges persist

Jan 16, 2025 | salaamgateway.com | Hassan Jivraj

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become a cornerstone of the global investing landscape, offering investors a flexible, cost-effective way to diversify their portfolios. These instruments often track major indices like the S&P 500 or the MSCI Index, offering liquidity and exposure to various asset classes. For Sharia-compliant investors, Islamic ETFs combine portfolio diversity with the ethical principles of Islamic finance.
Islamic finance: East Africa presents opportunities amid ecosystem challenges

Oct 18, 2024 | salaamgateway.com | Hassan Jivraj

East Africa hosts several opportunities for Islamic finance to thrive. The region is home to a burgeoning Muslim customer base which presents significant demand for Islamic finance products and services, as well as offers substantial opportunities to develop and deepen the existing ecosystem. However, the industry has struggled to realise its potential owed to several challenges, including regulatory gaps and a lack of adoption stemming from limited awareness and education.
Could a new Shariah standard disrupt the sukuk market in 2025?

Aug 28, 2024 | salaamgateway.com | Hassan Jivraj

The sukuk market could face significant disruption next year with the uptake of a new Shariah standard, industry experts say. The new benchmark could question the viability of sukuk as an asset class as well as the broader landscape, too. The draft standard released by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), the Bahrain-based body responsible for setting Islamic finance standards, seeks to redefine the concept of sukuk and its underlying structure.
UAE seeks solo trade agreements as intra-Gulf rivalry heats up

Aug 13, 2024 | finance.yahoo.com | Hassan Jivraj

UAE Seeks Solo Trade Agreements as Intra-Gulf RivalryThe United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Arab world’s second-largest economy, is increasingly pursuing independent bilateral trade agreements, bypassing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Saudi Arabia-led regional political and trade bloc.
Long-standing challenges beset Australia’s modest Islamic finance sector

Jul 19, 2024 | salaamgateway.com | Hassan Jivraj

On surface level, Australia offers several opportunities for the growth of its Islamic finance sector. The country has a young Muslim population which continues to propel the demand for Shariah-compliant products. It has developed a well-regulated and thriving financial sector, too, and can potentially capitalize on its Islamic finance space to prompt foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows as well as beckon prominent Islamic financial institutions to set up shop.
The ‘Brexit’ effect: How has it influenced UK's halal meat market?

May 27, 2024 | salaamgateway.com | Hassan Jivraj

The UK officially left the European Union in 2020. Four years on, how has the departure impacted the country's halal meat market? Challenges across the UK’s halal meat market have compounded in the wake of the country’s departure from the European Union (EU) in 2020 – widely known as the Brexit. Increased supply chain disruption, a regulatory divergence with the EU and lack of a clear policy from the top are a few of the difficulties facing the UK’s halal meat sector.