Islamic banks 'facing market challenges'
Despite the fact that islamic banks have outperformed their conventional peers in most markets, a closer look presents the market dynamics are changing, revealing a new trend.
Two key indicators are cause for reflection: slowing growth rates and eroding profitability, as A T Kearney, a global management consultancy, states.
Cost income ratios are increasing in most markets, putting pressure on profitability. At the same time, declining growth rates are occurring in key geographies including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE.