Is the global financial axis permanently shifting? At Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025, decision-makers representing $62 trillion in assets—equivalent to over 50% of global GDP—gathered to answer that question.

Hosted within the high-growth ecosystem of ADGM, this exclusive series of interviews moves past the headlines to analyse how Abu Dhabi is officially "Engineering the Capital of Capital."

Join Majlis & Markets for a deep dive into private credit, geopolitics, and the future of institutional wealth.

Featured Global Experts:

• Ted Koenig (Chairman & CEO, Monroe Capital): Explains why Monroe Capital chose to establish a presence in ADGM and why he views the Middle East as the next hotspot for private credit activity and regional dynamics.
• Richard Banks (Soling Partners): A deep dive into the maturing private markets landscape in the region, the outlook for private credit both in the GCC and globally, and how the regional ecosystem is evolving.
• Zongyuan Zoe Liu (Council on Foreign Relations): Analyses the Chinese economy's growing relations with Gulf and MENA economies, providing a 2026 outlook for this critical geoeconomic corridor.

🔗 Follow Majlis & Markets for more insights on Islamic and Global Markets:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MajlisMarketspod/videos
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/majlis-and-markets/
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Can a $6 trillion industry survive its own stagnation? In Episode 82 of Majlis & Markets, we confront the "elephant in the room": why Islamic finance is standing still despite massive global asset growth. We are joined by industry veteran Khalid Howladar to unpack why the sector remains stuck in "business as usual" and why technology, (specifically AI and digital assets) is the only path forward for the Ummah.

In this deep-dive conversation, we break down the controversy surrounding AAOIFI Sharia Standard 62, the structural limitations of traditional Sukuk, and the urgent need for a shift toward a truly asset-oriented economy.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The Innovation Gap: Why $6 trillion in assets doesn't equal industry success.
• Sharia 2.0 & AI: How technology can solve the governance crisis and democratize expert knowledge.
• The Future of Assets: A critical look at the role of Crypto and Gold in reclaiming the Ummah’s economic future.
• Investment Dynamics: Insights into the world of Venture Capital and the lessons learned from firms like Sequoia.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:
Sukuk Standards Document: https://acreditus.docsend.com/v/8vcxb/sukukstandards

Deep Dive on Sukuk Credit Ratings: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/khalidhowladar_sukuk-credit-ratings-activity-7398971887407575041-JFFa/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAAAFZMoB5RmqEhJNfCrLeK9AeUCobjuvkLM

🤝 Connect with Khalid Howladar:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khalidhowladar/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/khalidhowladar

📺 Watch & Listen More:
The Sequoia & VC Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WjPn7UeeTQ

Previous Khalid Howladar Interview: https://majlisandmarkets.buzzsprout.com/1907033/episodes/15162664-episode-22-redefining-islamic-finance-the-tech-disruption

📱 Connect with Majlis & Markets:
🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MajlisMarketspod
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/majlis-and-markets/
🔗 X (Twitter): https://x.com/MajlisMarkets
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majlismarkets/
🔗 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@majlis.markets

⚠️ Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. Viewers and listeners are encouraged to do their own research or seek professional advice before making any financial decisions.

Pakistan is moving towards an interest-free Islamic financial system, but can Islamic finance really fix economic challenges or are public expectations misplaced?

In Episode 81 of Majlis & Markets, Farrukh Raza from IFAAS explains why Islamic finance is not designed to create jobs overnight, how liquidity surpluses and sovereign debt complicate reform, and why this transition is ultimately about aligning Pakistan’s financial system with its Constitution, the Qur’an, and the Sunnah.

We explore the ethical foundations of Islamic finance, the risks of misunderstanding its role and what success should realistically look like as Pakistan moves toward an Islamic economy.

This episode builds on an article from April 2025 on the challenges facing Pakistan’s interest-free banking push:
👉 https://salaamgateway.com/story/pakistans-push-for-an-interest-free-banking-system-faces-challenges

Topics covered

• Islamic finance and Pakistan’s economy
• Interest-free banking in practice
• Job creation myths and public expectations
• Liquidity and sovereign debt challenges
• Constitutional principles, Qur’an and Sunnah
• Ethics, transparency, and trust

Follow Majlis & Markets
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MajlisMarketspod
💼 LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eXKNRVcF
🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/MajlisMarkets
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majlismarkets/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@majlis.markets