#DIFC #Wealth and #Asset Management Report 2017

DIFC published a report about the Wealth and Asset Management industry.

From the abstract:

"Continued growth in Islamic asset management

Islamic asset management [IF: Islamic mutual fund business only] continues to grow, at a moderate CAGR of 2.44% since 2012 to reach US$58.89 billion in AuM by the end of 2016, despite the economic challenges in the GCC caused by falling oil prices. The industry is still highly concentrated in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, however.

Shariah-compliant investments have strong demographic demand but remain under-utilised. Targeting different
market sectors and regions has been largely ineffective, due mainly to poor marketing strategies. Inadequate government support and recent market conditions have also impaired market performance.

Despite developments in Islamic finance and growth in Islamic assets, Islamic wealth management remains a niche market, and with local services still largely underdeveloped, most Middle East investors continue to invest overseas. Islamic pension funds’ potential scarcely tapped Pension funds in particular present one way to add scale
and grow Shariah-compliant asset management. By value, pension funds represent less than 1% of global Islamic funds. However, since 2012 the number of pension funds has almost doubled and AuM is up more than eight-times. The outstanding AuM mix consists of 56% equity funds, 27% mixed assets, 12% sukuk and 5% money market.

The significant potential of Islamic pension funds remains scarcely tapped. According to EY, public pension funds — both conventional and Islamic — in the GCC alone amount to around US$400 billion. If just 30% of these funds were invested in an Islamic manner, the region would be home to a US$120 billion Islamic pension fund industry."

Full report at the link below