Dubai: Three new and unique solutions were launched in Dubai on Wednesday at the 3rd Session of the International Innovative Platform for Islamic Economy Products (IIPIEP 2018). The event, which was organised by Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) in cooperation with International Center of Islamic Economy (ICIE), helps to establish Dubai’s leading position as the capital of Islamic Economy across the globe.

The first product launched was the ‘Exchangeable Sukuk’, which has been created to mobilise resources using Sukuk that are tradable and don’t require the utilisation of bank assets. Other specific properties for the Sukuk include obtaining high credit card ratings and allowing for additional returns to economise on the costs of the structure. The Sukuk was developed by a team of experts at the Islamic Development Bank in collaboration with international investment banks. It was also approved by the Shar’iah Committee of the Islamic Development Bank and cleared by several technical committees.

The second product announced was the ‘Awqaf Fund’ which aims to create a new simple sustainable product for anyone who wants to put their money into ‘waqf’ - an endowment made to a religious, educational or charitable cause. The ‘Awqaf Fund’ will be combined with a number of diverse financial risk products allowing greater control over assets in order to achieve better returns on capital.

The ‘Flexible Credit Card’ was the third product launched at IIPIEP 2018, which seeks to combine investment with funding, whereby the customer gets balance in credit and at the same time an investment account. This product falls under Sharia compliance for both investments and funding.

Commenting on the event, Nasser Al Madani, Assistant Director General at DAFZA highlighted the key role that IIPIEP 2018 plays in supporting the growth of the national economy and specifically Islamic Economy. He explained that: “IIPIEP provides the ideal platform for innovative Islamic Economy products, services, and mechanisms that support the development of the sector and increases public trust and awareness in Islamic banking.”

Al Madani also commented that “IIPIEP supports the three main pillars of DAFZA’s strategy for Islamic economy, which is based on detailed and insightful market studies and research. The strategy aims to attract direct foreign investments and new investment opportunities. In order to realize these objectives, the market must have a well-established legal and procedural system, as well as developed services that foster trust amongst investors.”

Abdullah Mohammed Al Awar, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, said: “It is important that we witness innovation of this type as it sets a great precedent within Islamic economy. These innovations have helped us create products that are focused on achieving important goals, such as sustainability, growth and economic and social fairness. These solutions mark a qualitative shift in the functionality of investment and reflect the essence of culture within Islamic economy, which shifts the balance from elite to social.”