Islamic Finance Goes Mainstream in 2014

LONDON - Islamic finance can be traced as far back as the early Ottoman Empire, but it is only in the past few decades that it has exploded onto the scene, its constituents now ranking alongside their conventional counterparts. The Islamic finance industry has grown to such an extent that the market is forecast to tip $2.6trn by 2017 and extend its influence to previously untapped markets.

However, Islamic finance would not be anywhere near its present-day success were it not for the sector's finest organisations, the best of which can be found in World Finance's Islamic Finance Awards 2014.

We at World Finance have taken it upon ourselves to name the firms that we believe are spearheading the most impressive developments in Islamic finance, as well as those who have really boosted its mainstream appeal across the globe.

This year is already shaping up to be an extraordinary one for the sector; many believe it will reach $2trn by the end of 2014 and gather steam in new markets around the world. While sources in the Middle East have lead the bulk of the boom so far, non-Muslim consumers are seeing it as an increasingly attractive option in the post-crisis world, and, as a result, Muslim consumers are placing far more faith in the sector than ever before.

The winners of this year's Islamic Finance Awards represent the very best the market has to offer, and without them Islamic finance would not be the formidable force it is today.