LUXEMBOURG - Structuring Islamic real estate investments through Luxembourg

www.kpmg.com - Real estate is the preferred asset class of many Islamic investors, and European located properties seem to be more and more in their focus.
For tax efficiency purposes, these investments are commonly structured through real estate investment vehicles established in a tax efficient jurisdiction such as Luxembourg. The present article provides an overview of real estate in Islamic asset management and the Luxembourg vehicles that may be used for such investments.

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IRELAND - CAPITAL MARKETS - Goldman Sachs to list $2bn bond

www.irishtimes.com - IRELAND’S BURGEONING Islamic finance industry got a boost yesterday when financial behemoth Goldman Sachs was approved by the Central Bank to list a $2 billion “sukuk” bond on the Irish Stock Exchange, the Global Sukuk Company.  (source)

EUROPE - EVENTS - IFN 2011 Europe Forum - CIMA and KPMG

KPMG AND CIMA have drawn attention to the burgeoning field of Islamic finance of late, as the firm has appointed a new global head and the institute today launched a new qualification. (source)

UK - UK leading the world in Islamic Finance

Manama, Bahrain: Following the success of the World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC) in Bahrain, the UK has been praised as the leading Western centre for Islamic finance and one of the world's most attractive destinations for Islamic banks.

The conference, supported by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), included an expert panel from the UK, which led debates on the future of the sector, both in the UK and around the world.

This panel included three members of the UK Islamic Finance Secretariat, as well as representatives of leading advisory firms.