Islamic Finance and Economic Development

A comprehensive guide to mitigating risk and fostering growth in the Islamic financial sector

Islamic finance, like conventional finance is a business of financial intermediation.  Its distinctive features relate to the requirement that it abides by  Shari'a rules that promote fairness of contracts and prevention of exploitation, sharing of risks and rewards, prohibition of interests, and tangible economic purpose. Islamic finance should not fund activities considered “haram” or sinful. In Islamic Finance and Economic Development: Risk, Regulation, and Corporate Governance, authors Amr Mohamed El Tiby and Wafik M. Grais expound how these distinctive features bear on the opportunities and challenges facing    the Islamic finance industry’s development, risk management, regulation and corporate governance.

An experienced banker with various Middle East banking institutions, notably as former Vice President at UAE Union National Bank and Mashreq bank, Dr. El Tiby  offers an informed perspective on  corporate finance from within the Islamic finance industry. With a long experience in international development and finance, notably as former Director at the World Bank and  Founder and Chairman of a Cairo-based Financial Advisors company, Dr. Grais brings global financial experience on the topics of financial systems assessments, corporate governance, Islamic finance, and public  policy.

• Covers the history and basics of Islamic finance, and provides insight into current conditions and future landscape
• Explores regulatory framework, including opportunities and challenges for the industry’s development and mainstreaming
• Presents an approach to developing a systemic Shari'a governance framework to govern operations in the Islamic finance  industry

AMR EL TIBY earned his B.A in Commerce from Cairo University in 1980, majoring in Business. He earned his Diploma in Finance from Cairo University in 1985 and his MA in Economics from The American University in Cairo in 2003. In 2009, he earned his PhD from The American University in London. Dr. El Tiby has over 30 years of banking experience in the Middle East and the Gulf Region in both conventional as well as Islamic finance. His area of research focuses on banking risk and regulations. He is also the author of Islamic Banking, published by Wiley in 2011.

WAFIK M. GRAIS is senior international adviser on finance, investments and public policy. He was founder and chairman of Viveris Mashrek Financial Advisors. He held senior positions at the World Bank in Washington, DC, where he notably managed country programs on countries of the Middle East and North Africa as well as Europe and Central Asia. He has been published on the subjects of finance, corporate governance, Islamic finance, macroeconomic policy, and energy policies. He holds a PhD in Economics and degrees in Mathematical Economics and Political Science from the University of Geneva.