The UK will proceed because the main Western hub for Islamic finance, supported by the London Inventory Alternate (LSE) serving as a key itemizing venue for international US-dollar sukuk and the widespread use of English legislation to manipulate worldwide issuances, in keeping with Fitch Rankings.
The London Metallic Alternate can also be broadly utilized by Islamic banks to facilitate money financing.
The UK’s deep monetary, skilled and authorized ecosystem—plus human capital—underpins the worldwide trade.
Islamic finance within the UK
UK banks act as key arrangers and counterparties throughout sukuk, Islamic interbank and derivatives markets, whereas Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) traders stay main shareholders in all UK Islamic banks.
Regardless of this position, Islamic banking’s home market share within the UK stays low.
The LSE supplies entry to a deep, various investor base and is the most important international itemizing venue for hard-currency sukuk with greater than a 40 per cent share as of end-1H25.
It’s also the second-largest venue for hard-currency ESG sukuk after Frankfurt Inventory Alternate.
Almost all sukuk listed on the LSE originate from GCC issuers. Center Japanese sukuk and bond issuers raised $65bn on the LSE within the first seven months of 2025, rating second solely to UK issuers.
Competitors, nonetheless, is intensifying from Euronext Dublin, Frankfurt Inventory Alternate and Nasdaq Dubai.
Fitch charges about 80 % of hard-currency sukuk listed on the LSE (end-1H25), with round 85 per cent investment-grade and most issuers on a Secure Outlook.
Islamic funds within the UAE
UK-based Islamic funds are the most important contributors to the home trade, with AUM greater than $12.5bn at end-June 2025, up 22.1 per cent 12 months on 12 months (IFN Investor).
Allocations are primarily to equities (84 per cent), adopted by commodities (10 per cent).
UK Islamic banking belongings rose 38 per cent YoY to $11.4 billion at end-2024. The UK added an Islamic financial institution in 2024 through the conversion of Ahli United Financial institution (UK) PLC to Kuwait Finance Home PLC.
Fitch charges two UK Islamic banks at ‘A’ with Secure Outlooks. All UK Islamic banks have GCC shareholders and primarily serve GCC purchasers, providing actual property finance, non-public banking, wealth administration and digital merchandise.
The UK now counts greater than 50 Islamic fintechs, together with a digital Islamic financial institution. Europe Arab Financial institution launched Islamic banking providers in Might 2025, whereas Offa acquired Financial institution of Eire’s Islamic residence finance portfolio in late 2024.
Nonetheless, Islamic banks characterize simply 0.1 per cent of UK banking belongings (3Q24). Obstacles embrace restricted product ranges, increased charges versus standard merchandise, gaps in understanding and the notion Islamic finance is just for Muslims (Gatehouse Financial institution survey), alongside the UK’s minority Muslim inhabitants share.
Coverage and issuance outlook
The UK Treasury started consulting on Section 1 of the Shopper Credit score Act reform in Might 2025. In Section 2, the federal government intends to evaluate limitations to sharia-compliant finance and take into account steps to deal with unmet wants—signalling momentum to broaden entry and inclusion.
The federal government additionally goals to introduce Various Scholar Finance—a sharia-compliant pupil mortgage—“as quickly as attainable” following the rollout of the Lifelong Studying Entitlement from the 2026–2027 educational 12 months.
The UK was the primary Western sovereign to problem sukuk (2014) and returned in 2021, however doesn’t plan a sukuk in 2025–2026. Excellent sukuk from UK-based entities stood at ~$740m in July 2025, largely sovereign paper maturing in 2026.
