In the last decades, the Islamic Financial Services Industry (IFSI) has been witnessing an increased growth doubling in size almost every 5 years. This growth trend has attracted the interest of many global players from traditional and non-traditional Islamic finance markets, being at the forefront for introducing and developing Islamic financial services in their markets. The Mediterranean region is seen as a well-positioned market to take the opportunity and gain the momentum of this global trend.

Islamic finance, with its primary objective being the promotion of economic prosperity and human welfare, may play a vital role for further economic development and fostering prosperity in the Mediterranean and African region. With both its values and modalities aligned well with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), Islamic finance represents a clear opportunity to help achieving sustainability and enhancing responsible practices within the financial sector.

As a system, Islamic finance helps to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship towards addressing poverty and inequality, ensuring financial and social stability and promoting comprehensive human development and fairness. Innovative Islamic financial instruments, such as Sukuk and green Sukuk, represent great tools to mobilise resources to finance infrastructure, thus addressing, for example, water and sanitation projects, sustainable and affordable energy and resilient infrastructure.

The 5th Mediterranean Islamic Finance Forum, to be held in Barcelona, will be hosting a large audience of industry leaders seeking to take advantage of the high-growth prospects of Islamic finance across the Mediterranean, Europe, Middle East and Africa and discuss key topics to address the main challenges for the effective adoption of Islamic finance within the region. The Forum will offer a unique networking opportunity for regulators, industry practitioners, business leaders and Shariah scholars to share their views and experience and will focus on some of the more contemporary areas, regionally as well as globally.