Standard Chartered has unveiled its inaugural report on Islamic Banking for Corporates, highlighting a significant market opportunity worth US$5.5t for global corporates. The report, published on 3 November 2025, identifies key growth markets such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and the UAE, where Islamic finance is integral to national strategies. Despite the potential, 65% of corporates interested in Shariah-compliant solutions lack familiarity with Islamic banking products.
The report, titled “Islamic Banking for Corporates: Broadening Horizons,” underscores the lack of product familiarity as a major barrier preventing corporates from accessing the projected US$7.5t in global Islamic finance assets by 2028. The number of corporate Sukuk issuers has nearly doubled since 2020, with issuance volumes increasing by 38% to US$58.8b in 2024.
Khurram Hilal, CEO of Group Islamic Banking at Standard Chartered, stated, “Islamic banking has evolved into one of the world’s fastest-growing sources of capital, but awareness amongst corporates has not kept pace.” He emphasised that corporates developing Islamic finance capabilities could access specialised capital pools, preferential pricing, and government incentives in high-growth markets.
The report also highlights the alignment of Islamic finance principles with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, noting that sustainable Sukuk were oversubscribed by an average of 4.3 times their issuance value in 2024. Digital innovations such as tokenised Sukuk and AI-enabled Shariah-compliance tools are expected to further transform capital management.
Islamic banking offers strategic access to emerging markets, particularly across the GCC, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa. The Halal economy alone presents a US$2.2t market opportunity. Standard Chartered, the only international bank with a global Islamic banking franchise, has arranged over US$200b in Islamic financing, supporting corporates with Shariah-compliant solutions.
