Islamic banking global leadership: What will matter in 2026

Islamic banking is shifting from regional liquidity to globally deployable capital. Discover what this means for clients today.

25 June 2026

4 mins

by:

Khurram Hilal Head of Group Islamic Products

Corporate & investment bankingGlobal banking

Winning The Banker’s Islamic Bank of the Year 2026 – International is an important milestone for Standard Chartered Saadiq. For Khurram Hilal, CEO, Group Islamic Banking, this recognition reflects a structural shift in Islamic banking, from an integrated financing model. It also signals what clients now expect from a banking partner operating at scale.

Why this recognition matters

Winning The Banker’s Islamic Bank of the Year 2026 – International is a proud moment for all of us at Standard Chartered Saadiq. We see it not simply as recognition of what we have delivered, but as a reflection of the role Islamic banking is now playing more broadly across markets, client segments and geographies. More importantly, it signals what clients increasingly value: a partner that combines Shariah expertise with international reach, and solutions aligned to real business needs.

What clients expect from a global Islamic bank today

Islamic banking is becoming more international, more integrated, and increasingly valued for the resilience it provides across funding, liquidity and cross-border activity. Sovereigns, financial institutions and corporates are looking not only for Shariah-compliant products, but for partners that can help them navigate funding, liquidity, trade and cross-border growth with confidence.

This requires seamless integration of structuring, investor access, transaction banking, risk management and network strength in a way that supports clients across jurisdictions. The question is no longer whether Islamic finance is available, but which banking partner can deploy it effectively across markets.

How Standard Chartered supports clients across Islamic banking

This breadth translates into execution, connecting issuers to global liquidity pools, supporting cross-border transactions and delivering solutions across financing, risk and investments. This is where our Saadiq franchise continues to matter. In 2025, Standard Chartered ranked number one in the Bloomberg International Sukuk League Table by value, reflecting the trust clients place in our capital markets platform and our ability to connect issuers with international investors.

We supported landmark sukuk transactions across key markets, while continuing to serve clients more broadly through transaction banking, trade finance, financing, investments and risk management solutions.

For clients considering Standard Chartered Saadiq, that breadth matters. It means access to an Islamic banking platform that is not limited to one product or one market, but can support a wider set of treasury, financing and growth priorities across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

What it takes to lead globally in 2026

Looking ahead, I believe three priorities will define global leadership in Islamic banking in 2026. As the industry scales, a key differentiator will be the ability to balance consistency in Shariah principles with innovation, ensuring solutions remain resilient and relevant as client needs become more complex.

• Cross-border execution –As capital, trade and investment flows deepen across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, banks must deliver consistent execution across corridors, helping clients navigate complexity while maintaining reliable access liquidity across markets.
• Integrated solutions – Clients expect Islamic banking solutions to be embedded within broader financing, liquidity and risk frameworks; helping them build more resilient balance sheets rather than relying on standalone products.
• Ecosystem depth – Leadership will depend on strengthening market infrastructure, including liquidity, governance, innovation and investor depth, to support the industry’s next phase of growth.

For us, leadership is not about participating in growth, but enabling it by helping clients access opportunities with confidence, while building resilience across their funding, liquidity and cross-border activities – through solutions that are commercially relevant, internationally connected and grounded in strong Shariah principles. This remains our focus at Standard Chartered Saadiq, and why this recognition matters.