Why are major financial institutions struggling to scale sustainable Islamic finance?

In this episode of Majlis & Markets, we sit down with Maya Marissa Malek, CEO of Sābiq Advisory, to unpack the critical operational gaps, compliance tensions, and commercial realities shaping modern Shariah-compliant finance.

We dive deep into the hard corporate finance mechanics that the industry often avoids, exploring:

• The Green Dilemma: The true potential of green Sukuk and regional net-zero agendas in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
• The AI Disruption: The deployment of AI screening tools and why human expertise remains irreplaceable.
• Global Expansion: How the market is expanding into new jurisdictions like Central Asia and Africa.

Whether you want to understand how to structure cross-border transactions or how Maqasid al-Shariah aligns with global ESG frameworks, Maya delivers a masterclass in bridging market reality with ethical principles.

🔗 Featured Links & Resources

• Sābiq Advisory: https://sabiqadvisory.com/
• Connect with Maya Marissa Malek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-marissa-malek-3574b917/
• Read (Wired Middle East): Can Islamic Finance Shape Fintech? — https://www.wired.me/story/can-islamic-finance-shape-fintech
• Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95NlwRw5fy0

📲 Connect with Us

• LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eXKNRVcF
• X / Twitter: https://x.com/MajlisMarkets
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• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@majlis.markets

Disclaimer
This podcast is a Majlis & Markets production and is not affiliated, associated, or aligned with any organisation. The topics discussed and views expressed in this episode belong solely to the host and guests, and do not reflect any official policy or position.

The content provided within this production is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or professional advice.

The $6 trillion Islamic finance market faces an existential tension: it was built to champion equitable risk-sharing, yet it remains heavily dominated by rigid, rule-based legal screening.

Can artificial intelligence resolve this bottleneck? Can advanced machine learning models move beyond basic compliance checklists to automate substantive, purpose-driven ethical screening?

In this episode of Majlis & Markets, host Hassan Jivraj sits down with Mujtaba Khalid for an executive briefing on the intersection of Halal Value Investing and generative AI.

We strip away the fintech marketing jargon to analyse how algorithmic frameworks are actively reshaping portfolio optimisation, equity screening, and asset management across the MENA region.

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🚀 MUJTABA KHALID'S PLATFORMS & TOOLS

• Access the live Maqasid Equity Dashboard (Use Access Code: MK-Maqasid786):
https://mujtabak-maqasid-equity-dashboard.hf.space/?access=MK-Maqasid786

• Explore the official Bagh-e platform:
https://www.bagh-e.com/

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📌 RELATED ARCHIVE & REFERENCE EPISODES

If you are tracking the structural evolution of global ethical markets, catch up on our definitive reference sessions:

• Watch our industry critique with Farukh Raza analysing Pakistan’s transition to an interest-free economy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2iaMjvFJ9s

• Watch our foundational industry critique featuring Dr Ryan Calder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSZW-OpRFXM&t=1960s

• Listen to our pilot audio masterclass on Buzzsprout:
https://majlisandmarkets.buzzsprout.com/1907033/episodes/14019052-pilot-episode-a-deep-dive-into-the-history-and-practice-of-islamic-finance

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💡 KEY THEMES ANALYSED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Halal Value Investing: How deep learning systems and algorithmic indexing filter corporate equity data at unprecedented velocity.
• Automated Maqasid Screening: Assessing the structural shift from binary legal checklists to sophisticated, objective-driven ethical evaluations.
• Code vs. Scholarship: Evaluating the systemic limitations of AI in replicating the highly coordinated, human negotiation required by elite Sharia boards.

Who should listen? Institutional allocators, Sharia fintech founders, and value investors navigating global Islamic markets.

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💡 JOIN THE MAJLIS & MARKETS INSIDER FEED
Subscribe to access institutional-grade market updates, sovereign investment briefs, and macroeconomic intelligence curated explicitly for global ethical markets.

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• YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@MajlisMarketspod]

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#IslamicFinance #HalalInvesting #MaqasidAlSharia #AIinFinance #Fintech #ValueInvesting #ShariaCompliance #MENAMarkets #AssetManagement #MajlisAndMarkets #MujtabaKhalid

While global headlines fixate on macro volatility and regional tensions, the underlying data tells a completely different story for Gulf technology.

In this episode of Majlis & Markets, we sit down with Forbes Top Venture Capitalist Hasan Haider, Founder and Managing Partner at PlusVC, to unpack his contrarian investment thesis. Hasan lays out exactly how the GCC startup ecosystem, spearheaded by an unprecedented liquidity boom in Saudi Arabia, has structurally decoupled from broader regional conflicts.

We look deeply into the realities facing Sharia-compliant startups and the distinct innovation landscape of Islamic fintech. Hasan also tackles the taboo topics facing the ecosystem head-on, addressing the harsh criticisms surrounding the regional lack of a proven exit track record and how founders must realistically navigate failure.

Finally, we look outward to draw parallels from global success stories like Revolut, the structural scale of SpaceX, and the strategic implications of tech giants like OpenAI acquiring media networks like the TBPN show. If you are an institutional allocator, a growth-stage founder, or an angel investor navigating the current Middle Eastern capital crunch, this conversation provides the definitive playbook for deploying risk capital.

🤖 EPISODE BRIEFING

• How is geopolitical risk affecting venture capital deployment in the MENA region? While the Iran War and macro instability has created a short-term capital contraction from Western funds, domestic sovereign wealth and regional venture capital are moving aggressively. The GCC market is experiencing a structural decoupling, where domestic regulatory reforms and internal liquidity shield tech infrastructure from external geopolitical shocks.
• What are the primary structural challenges for Islamic fintech and Sharia-compliant startups? The main challenge lies in transitioning from niche alternative banking into a core driver of regional financial infrastructure. By blending automated AI asset validation with authentic Sharia compliance, these platforms are moving past regional boundaries to capture massive, unserved retail and commercial liquidity pools across the GCC.
• Is the criticism regarding the lack of a startup exit track record in MENA valid? Historically yes, but the infrastructure is shifting rapidly. Saudi Arabia’s capital markets have transformed via deep regulatory restructuring, creating an accessible pipeline for corporate IPOs, robust secondary markets, and late-stage tech exits that reduce reliance on Western exchanges.

📖 STRATEGIC REGIONAL READING

• PlusVC Targets 40 Startup Deals Amid Growing Saudi Pipeline (Bloomberg): https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-03/plus-vc-targets-40-startup-deals-in-2026-as-saudi-pipeline-grows
• Why Saudi Arabia is an IPO Magnet: https://gfmag.com/capital-raising-corporate-finance/saudi-arabia-ipo-magnet/

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