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Leading the way in Islamic Banking

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Inspired by the Arabic word for ‘truthful’, Saadiq is our global Islamic banking network, spanning Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. With our dedicated Islamic banking team working alongside a renowned Global Shariah advisory committee of scholars  – as well as local Shariah supervisory committees for Pakistan, Malaysia, UAE, and Brunei – we combine deep Shariah expertise with strong business acumen to meet the needs of our Financial Institutions and Corporate clients.

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Islamic Finance insights

Stay informed with expert perspectives and insights into the growth and potential of Islamic finance.

Islamic Banking yearly insight reports by Standard Chartered

  • Sukuk’s rise as a mainstream financing tool

    Discover how Sukuk is moving mainstream – helping issuers access global …

    30 Sep 2025

  • Form or Substance: five reflections shaping Islamic finance

    Explore how Islamic Finance is evolving – balancing tradition, innovatio…

    07 Aug 2025

  • Opportunities in Pakistan’s Islamic finance growth

    Explore how Pakistan’s shift to Shariah-compliant finance unlocks opport…

    25 Sep 2025

  • Kingdom Centre.

    Client stories

    Enabling sustainability growth with Al Rajhi Bank’s landmark USD 1bn Sustainable Sukuk

    Al Rajhi Bank appointed Standard Chartered as sole structurer for its first sustainability sukuk – a USD1 billion Additional Tier 1 Perpetual Non-Call 5.5 RegS instrument, and the first rated AT1 sukuk from Saudi Arabia.

    The deal, part of Al Rajhi’s USD5 billion AT1 programme, achieved a USD 3.5 billion orderbook (3.5x oversubscribed) with 40 per cent allocated internationally, pricing 50bps tighter at 6.375 per cent. Proceeds support green and social projects including renewable energy, water management, and affordable housing — showcasing Standard Chartered’s ability to deliver innovative, sustainable capital markets solutions.

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    Client stories

    Pioneering Malaysia’s first Green Islamic Repo with RHB Islamic Bank

    Standard Chartered partnered with RHB Islamic Bank Berhad to execute Malaysia’s debut Green Islamic repo through an ESG-backed Sale and Buy Back Agreement (SBBA) structure.

    This first-in-market transaction integrates Shariah compliance, ESG principles, and market-standard rigour, setting a new benchmark for sustainable risk and liquidity management in Islamic finance.

    The deal reflects our ongoing commitment to mobilising capital for meaningful environmental and social impact, both in Malaysia and across our global footprint — reinforcing Standard Chartered’s role in advancing innovative, sustainable Islamic finance solutions.

    Our global network

    • 30+

      markets with Islamic banking capabilities across the Bank’s network

    • 14+

      markets with Saadiq onshore capabilities

    • 1st

      bookrunner in International Sukuk league tables for period 2020 – 1Q 2024

    Helping your business succeed the Islamic way

    Whether you’re expanding your business internationally or looking for short-term financing to fund working capital, we can put together the right solutions for you.

    For Corporate Clients

    Corporate banking needIslamic banking solution
    Transaction bankingCash ManagementShariah-compliant cash accounts, liquidity management tools
    Payments and CollectionsMurabaha-based payment structures, Shariah-compliant receivables management
    Trade FinanceImport/export financing via Murabaha, Wakala, and Istisna structures
    Financing solutionsWorking CapitalShort-term financing through Murabaha or Tawarruq structures
    Term FinancingMedium to long-term asset-backed financing (Ijara, Diminishing Musharaka)
    Structured FinanceSyndicated Shariah-compliant facilities, project finance using Istisna or Ijara
    Risk managementHedgingShariah-compliant hedging tools (e.g., Wa’ad-based FX solutions)
    Credit Risk MitigationGuarantees and credit enhancement tools structured under Islamic principles
    Investment and advisoryCorporate AdvisoryStrategic advisory with Shariah-compliant structuring
    Capital Markets AccessSukuk issuance, Islamic syndications
    Treasury InvestmentsSukuk issuance, Islamic syndications
    For Financial Institution Clients

    We provide a wide range of products for our FI clients to meet your various objectives.

    Product needs

    Financial Institution banking needsIslamic banking solution
    Nostros & Savings Accounts– Saadiq USD Nostro
    – Saadiq EUR Nostro
    – Saadiq AED Savings Account
    – Saadiq SNG Savings Account

    Value to you:
    Returns on balances in transaction accounts without any deposit / withdrawal restriction
    Term Deposits and Investments– Saadiq Term Deposit
    – Saadiq Structured Investments
    – Sukuk Investments

    Value to you:
    – Term deposits based on the concept of Commodity Murabaha
    – Yield enhancement through Structured Investments which also allow leverage
    – Access to Sukuks in primary or secondary markets
    Trade Finance– Saadiq FI Trade Finance
    – Saadiq Risk Participation

    Value to you:

    – FI Trade Finance which provides finance against trade assets outstanding on your books
    – Risk participation which allows you to participate in transactions originated by us on funded of unfunded basis
    Hedging & Risk Management– Saadiq Profit Rate Risk Hedging
    – Saadiq FX Risk Hedging
    – Saadiq Commodities Risk Hedging

    Value to you:
    Hedging solutions to manage your profit rate risk, FX risk and commodities risk hedging requirements
    Security Services & Structured Funding– Saadiq Custody Services
    – Saadiq Fund Administration Services
    – Saadiq Structured Funding

    Value to you:
    – Custody and fund administration services for securities
    – Structured funding solutions that allows you to raise finance against your securities holdings
    Capital Markets & Syndications– LCY and FCY Debt Capital Markets
    – Syndicated Financing Solutions

    Value to you:
    DCM (Sukuk) solutions such as senior, Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital Sukuks & Syndicated financing – both local currency and USD to meet your capital and funding requirements

    Business needs

    Financial Institution banking needsIslamic banking solution
    Access to working capital for additional liquidity to facilitate trade transactionsShort term financing solutions to support your business requirements

    Value to you:
    – Quick access to funds
    – Improve cash flows
    Choice of multiple currency options to finance in major currenciesFinancing available in multiple currencies, including those other than the currency of underlying transactions

    Value to you:
    – Flexibility
    – Convenience
    Consistent service standards across the global, to support transactions within your time zoneBook finance across our footprint in Asia, Africa and the Middle East

    Value to you:

    – Consistency
    – Fast transaction processing
    Customised structure for varying demandsDifferent modes of submission available for a large number of underlying transactions

    Value to you:
    – Flexibility
    – Convenience
    – Quick processing
    Security Services & Structured Funding– Saadiq Custody Services
    – Saadiq Fund Administration Services
    – Saadiq Structured Funding

    Value to you:
    – Custody and fund administration services for securities
    – Structured funding solutions that allows you to raise finance against your securities holdings
    Capital Markets & Syndications– LCY and FCY Debt Capital Markets
    – Syndicated Financing Solutions

    Value to you:
    DCM (Sukuk) solutions such as senior, Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital Sukuks & Syndicated financing – both local currency and USD to meet your capital and funding requirements

    Explore our banking services

    Our awards

    We have won over 520 awards in the last 17 years across our global network.

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    Islamic banking disclaimer

    Shariah-compliant

    Standard Chartered Bank considers as Shariah-compliant a product or service if (i) it has been approved as such by one of its Shariah Supervisory Committees, in the case of Saadiq proprietary products and services or if (ii) it has been approved as such by the Shariah supervisory committee of its originator in the case of products (such as sukuks and mutual funds) originated by third parties.  In some of the jurisdictions in which our products or services are offered, these are also subject to the additional approval of a governmental Shariah authority. Notwithstanding that, Standard Chartered Bank encourages its customers to make their own investigation into and satisfy themselves as to the Shariah compliance of such products and services and to undertake in our contractual documentation that they will not claim any dispute on the grounds of Shariah compliance or otherwise of such products and services

    Product Offering

    Standard Chartered Bank offers both Shariah-compliant products and services and conventional product and services to our Retail, Private Banking and Wealth customers. Customers are individually responsible for choosing the products and services most suited to their religious and ethical beliefs.

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    Our Shariah Supervisory Committees

    We have an extensive Shariah Resource Base comprising of 16 of the most eminent and recognised scholars of the Islamic banking industry.

    Global Shariah Committee

    • Dr. Mohamed Ali Elgari
      Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank

    Dr Mohamed Ali Elgari holds a PhD in Economics from the University of California. He is also a Professor of Islamic Economics and the Director of the Centre for Research in Islamic Economics at King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia. Dr Elgari is also an expert at the Islamic Jurisprudence Academy (OIC), Jeddah and has published several articles and books on Islamic Finance. He is a Shariah advisor to several international and local financial institutions worldwide.

    • Sheikh Nizam Yaquby
      Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank

    Sheikh Nizam Yaquby was educated in the classical Shariah sciences in his native Bahrain and in Makkah. He received his Bachelors in Economics and Comparative Religion from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Since 1976, Sheikh Yaquby has taught Tafsir, Hadith and Fiqh in Bahrain. He is a Shariah Advisor to several international and local financial institutions worldwide. He is also the author of several articles and publications on Islamic Finance.

    • Dr. Aznan Hasan
      Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank

    Dr Aznan Hasan holds a PhD in Islamic Law from the University of Wales, Lampeter, United Kingdom. He received his degree in Shariah from the University of Al-Azhar and a Masters degree in Shariah from Darul Ulum, Cairo University. He is an Associate Professor in Shariah at the Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, International Islamic University Malaysia. He is currently the President of the Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance (ASAS). He serves as a Shariah Advisor and Shariah Consultant to several international and local financial institutions, government bodies and corporations.

    Shariah Committee, UAE

    • Prof Dr. Ashraf Md Hashim
    • Internal Shariah Supervision Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank UAE

    • Dr. Ibrahim Al Mansoori
      Internal Shariah Supervision Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank UAE

    • Dr. Ahcene Lahsasna
      Chairman Internal Shariah Supervision Committee, Standard Chartered Bank UAE & Shariah Board Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Shariah Committee, Malaysia

    Shariah Committee, Malaysia

    • Prof Dr. Zurina Binti Shafii
      Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia

    • Dr. Ahcene Lahsasna
      Chairman Internal Shariah Supervision Committee, Standard Chartered Bank UAE & Shariah Board Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia

    • Mufti Muhammad Abdul Mubeen
      Group Head of Shariah Department Standard Chartered Bank, Shariah Board Member Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan and Malaysia

    • Mufti Yousuf Sultan
      Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia

    • Dr. Hakimah Binti Haji Yaacob
      Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia

    Shariah Committee, Pakistan

    • Sheikh Nizam Yaquby
      Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank

    • Dr Mufti Irshad Ahmad Aijaz
      Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan

    • Mufti Muhammad Abdul Mubeen
      Group Head of Shariah Department Standard Chartered Bank, Shariah Board Member Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan and Malaysia

    • Mufti Muhammad Sarfaraz Nihal
      Resident Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan

    Shariah Committee, Brunei

    • Yang Mulia Dr. Lutfi Abdul Razak
    • Yang Mulia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Metussin bin Baki
    • Yang Mulia Dr. Haji Noralizam Aliakbar