By Santhosh V Perumal
Business Reporter
Kuala Lumpur

Eight prominent people from Qatar have made it in the top 500 people in the world who have demonstrated leadership, achievement and contribution to the development of Islamic economy.

Five among them are bankers, one each in the academic, real estate and construction, according to Islamica 500, which was launched at the 11th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) here.

QNB chief executive Ali Ahmad al-Kuwari, QIIB chief executive Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei, Qatar Islamic Bank chief executive Basel Gamal, Qatar First Bank's former chief executive Ahmed Meshari Muhaidi and QInvest chief executive Tamim Hamad al-Kuwari were among the bankers who figured in the list.

Ezdan Holding Group chief executive Ali Mohamed al-Obaidili, Qatar Building Company general manager Issa Kopty and Dr Tariqullah Khan, Professor of Islamic Finance, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation also found their places in the Islamica 500, which has been analysing the capabilities of the individuals across the world with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global Islamic market.

Islamic 500 is a publication of the ISFIN Institute, the academic and training subsidiary of ISFIN, the World’s leading advisory for the Islamic markets.

"The global leaders recognised in the Islamica 500 witness a variety of profiles and industries showing the diversity of the achievements made at a global scale," Professor Laurent Marliere, publisher of Islamica 500 said.

Because the Islamic economy is multi-sectorial and global, the Islamica 500 focuses on personalities from different sectors, markets and nationalities, said the publisher.

The Islamic economy is a vibrant part of world's economy and in economic terms, it is obvious that the Islamic economy goes beyond the Islamic countries or OIC, he said, adding most of the suppliers in the halal industry are based in the West.

At a time when many markets are reaching a saturation point, the Muslims comprise one of the fastest growing markets in the world and offer a major growth opportunity for businesses around the world. The market for halal or Shariah-compliant products and services will soon total $3trn annually.