Majlis & Markets

Episódios

• 
  Ep. 96. The Problem With Sustainable Sukuk | Maya Marissa Malek 05.07.2026 53min

  Why are major financial institutions struggling to scale sustainable Islamic finance? In this episode of Majlis & Markets, we sit down with Maya Marissa Malek, CEO of Sābiq Advisory, to unpack the critical operational gaps, compliance tensions, and commercial realities shaping modern Shariah-compliant finance. We dive deep into the hard corporate finance mechanics that the industry often avoids, exploring: The Green Dilemma: The true potential of green Sukuk and regional net-zero agendas ...
• 
  Ep 95. Halal Investing in the AI Age | Mujtaba Khalid 09.06.2026 58min

  The $6 trillion Islamic finance market faces an existential tension: it was built to champion equitable risk-sharing, yet it remains heavily dominated by rigid, rule-based legal screening. Can artificial intelligence resolve this bottleneck? Can advanced machine learning models move beyond basic compliance checklists to automate substantive, purpose-driven ethical screening? In this episode of Majlis & Markets, host Hassan Jivraj sits down with Mujtaba Khalid for an executive brie...
• 
  Ep 94. MENA VC: Cashed Up but Cautious? | Hasan Haider 31.05.2026 38min

  While global headlines fixate on macro volatility and regional tensions, the underlying data tells a completely different story for Gulf technology. In this episode of Majlis & Markets, we sit down with Forbes Top Venture Capitalist Hasan Haider, Founder and Managing Partner at PlusVC, to unpack his contrarian investment thesis. Hasan lays out exactly how the GCC startup ecosystem, spearheaded by an unprecedented liquidity boom in Saudi Arabia, has structurally decoupled from broader regi...
• 
  Ep 93. Private Credit: Bubble or GCC Boom? | Sharif Eid 18.05.2026 59min

  Is the multi-billion dollar private credit market a global financial crisis in the making, or is the GCC region building a bulletproof alternative capital haven? In this episode of Majlis & Markets, we sit down with Sharif Eid, Portfolio Manager at Amwal Capital Partners, for a comprehensive look at the realities of alternative lending, macro liquidity risks, and the massive capital migration toward the Middle East. 🔴 PART 1: THE GLOBAL PRIVATE CREDIT DEBATE (00:00 - 27:02) We bre...
• 
  Ep 92. Iran War: Egypt’s Breaking Point? | Angus Blair 07.05.2026 42min

  As the 2026 Iran War escalates, the Middle East faces a defining moment of economic reckoning. While the world watches the missiles, the markets are watching the financial lifelines of Cairo, Beirut, and the Gulf. Expert Angus Blair (Signet Institute) returns to Majlis & Markets to discuss whether the regional economy has finally reached its breaking point. The instability of 2026 has created a $7 billion revenue void in the Suez Canal, but the ripples extend far beyond Egypt’s borders. W...
• 
  Ep 91. Istanbul: The New Safe Haven? | Serhat Süha Çubukçuoğlu 30.04.2026 50min

  As regional volatility grows, is Turkey emerging as the ultimate refuge for global capital? In this episode of Majlis & Markets, we are joined by Serhat Süha Çubukçuoğlu to explore Turkey’s strategic positioning amidst the Iran conflict and shifting global market dynamics. We discuss how Ankara is blending "geonomics" and active diplomacy to secure its role as a resilient regional hub for investment and innovation. The Safe Haven Advantage: Turning regional uncertainty into a strate...
• 
  Ep. 90 | Building the "Bloomberg of Iraq" with Jameel Amir 25.04.2026 53min

  Is the "Bloomberg of Baghdad" finally a reality? 🇮🇶☕️ In Episode 90 of Majlis & Markets, we sit down with Jameel Amir, the co-founder and host of the Tajarib podcast. Jameel is doing more than just creating content; he is architecting the "knowledge infrastructure" Iraq desperately needs. His mission? To build a high-trust, digital-first powerhouse that provides the institutional weight of Bloomberg or CNBC, curated specifically for the Iraqi economy. Jameel shares his journey from ...
• 
  Can Islamic Finance Rebuild Syria's Economy ?| Ep 89 ft. Najib Al Aswad 21.04.2026 1h 16min

  Is Syria the $215 billion "clean slate" the global financial system needs? 🇸🇾🏗️ In Episode 89 of Majlis & Markets, Hassan Jivraj is joined by Shariah governance expert Najib Al Aswad (CEO of IFCAB) to deconstruct the roadmap for Syria’s economic rebirth. Following years of conflict and a 98% currency devaluation, we explore if Islamic finance can move beyond "halal stickers" to provide the essential financial plumbing for a nation in rebirth. In this episode, we discuss: 🏗️ The $215...
• 
  Hormuz Blockade: The Gulf Reset? | Ep 88 ft. Issam Al-Tawari 14.04.2026 48min

  Is the GCC facing a structural point of no return? With the Hormuz Blockade effectively "locking in" the region's economy, the old rules of Gulf growth are being rewritten. In Episode 88 of Majlis & Markets, Issam Al-Tawari re-joins us for a high-stakes briefing on the Gulf economic reset. We move beyond the headlines to analyse why the 2026 conflict is more than just a volatility shock—it is a fundamental devaluation of regional security and credit profiles. Key Briefing Points: The...
• 
  Iran War 2026: Who Rules the Economy? | Bijan Khajehpour (Ep 87) 06.04.2026 1h 1min

  Is the Iranian state effectively in receivership? As the 2026 conflict intensifies and the IRGC maintains its "toll booth" blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, the question of who actually holds the economic lever has never been more critical. Is President Pezeshkian’s administration a mere figurehead for the economy? In this episode, renowned strategist Bijan Khajehpour joins Majlis & Markets for an institutional autopsy of the Iranian state. We move past the headlines to deconstruct the "E...
• 
  Iran War & The Global Market Reset (ft. Hasnain Malik) Ep 86 27.03.2026 58min

  The old world order is dead. As the Iran-Israel conflict reaches a point of no return, we aren’t just looking at a news cycle—we are witnessing a permanent Global Reset of the financial and geopolitical map. In this briefing, Hasnain Malik (Head of Geopolitical Risk and EM Equity Strategy Research at Tellimer) joins us to navigate the high-stakes intersection of war and wealth. With oil prices volatile and the Strait of Hormuz facing a historic "chokehold," the traditional rules of geopolitic...
• 
  Ep 85: Is Saudi Arabia Taking Over World Football? 🇸🇦 (ft. Kristian Ulrichsen) 09.03.2026 45min

  Saudi Arabia is no longer just a spectator in global sports—it’s becoming the epicenter. From the "Ronaldo effect" to the 2034 World Cup, is the Public Investment Fund (PIF)’s $trillion strategy actually working? In this episode of Majlis & Markets, recorded on 24 February 2026, we sit down with Dr. Kristian Ulrichsen to dismantle the strategy behind Saudi Arabia's massive sports investments. We go beyond the headlines of "sportswashing" to explore how football serves Vision 2030, the eco...
• 
  Ep 84: The Secret to Building Muslim Wealth - Ibrahim Khan (IFG) 20.02.2026 59min

  Why is there still a massive gap between the wealth in the Muslim community and the financial products available? In Episode 84 of Majlis & Markets, Hassan Jivraj is joined by Ibrahim Khan, co-founder of Islamic Finance Guru (IFG) and Cur8 Capital. Together, they explore the evolution of Islamic finance, the mission to help the community "level up" financially, and the real reasons behind the industry's most significant structural gaps. Ibrahim shares his journey from running a blog to bu...
• 
  Tunisia: Africa’s Hidden VC Gem 🇹🇳 ft. Oussama Messaoud | Ep. 83 09.02.2026 46min

  Is Tunisia the most undervalued tech hub in Africa? While the global spotlight often falls on the "Big Four" (Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa), Tunisia is quietly building a powerhouse ecosystem rooted in a unique culture of resilience. In this episode of Majlis & Markets, we sit down with Oussama Messaoud to uncover the reality of the "Tunisia Advantage." We discuss what it truly takes for founders to thrive in this Mediterranean tech powerhouse and why global investors are final...
• 
  $62 Trillion in One Room: Insights from ADFW 2025 19.01.2026 19min

  Is the global financial axis permanently shifting? At Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025, decision-makers representing $62 trillion in assets—equivalent to over 50% of global GDP—gathered to answer that question. Hosted within the high-growth ecosystem of ADGM, this exclusive series of interviews moves past the headlines to analyse how Abu Dhabi is officially "Engineering the Capital of Capital." Join Majlis & Markets for a deep dive into private credit, geopolitics, and the future ...
• 
  Is Islamic Finance Broken? (ft. Khalid Howladar) | Ep. 82 16.01.2026 1h 1min

  Can a $6 trillion industry survive its own stagnation? In Episode 82 of Majlis & Markets, we confront the "elephant in the room": why Islamic finance is standing still despite massive global asset growth. We are joined by industry veteran Khalid Howladar to unpack why the sector remains stuck in "business as usual" and why technology, (specifically AI and digital assets) is the only path forward for the Ummah. In this deep-dive conversation, we break down the controversy surrounding AAOIF...
• 
  🎙️ Episode 81: 🇵🇰 Can Islamic Finance Fix Pakistan’s Economy? 01.01.2026 59min

  Pakistan is moving towards an interest-free Islamic financial system, but can Islamic finance really fix economic challenges or are public expectations misplaced? In Episode 81 of Majlis & Markets, Farrukh Raza from IFAAS explains why Islamic finance is not designed to create jobs overnight, how liquidity surpluses and sovereign debt complicate reform, and why this transition is ultimately about aligning Pakistan’s financial system with its Constitution, the Qur’an, and the Sunnah. We exp...
• 
  🎙️ Episode 80: Why Islamic Finance Is Losing Its Purpose 23.12.2025 49min

  Islamic finance is now a multi-trillion-dollar global industry. But has it drifted away from what it was originally designed to achieve? In Episode 80 of Majlis & Markets, Hassan Jivraj is joined by Harris Irfan, CEO and Co-founder of Cordoba Capital Markets, to examine why Islamic finance struggles to reform and why meaningful change remains so difficult. The conversation questions whether blind support for an established industry has created unhealthy, asymmetric financial relationships...
• 
  🎙️ Ep. 79 | Sequoia Takes Muslim Money. So Why the Silence? 16.12.2025 51min

  Sequoia Capital, Islamophobia, and the limits of Muslim capital in global markets. In this episode of Majlis & Markets, we examine the controversy surrounding Sequoia Capital following public comments by Shaun Maguire, the firm’s response, and what this episode reveals about power, free speech, and discrimination in venture capital. FT article from October 2025 [https://www.ft.com/content/8e6de299-3eb6-4ba9-8037-266c55c02170] But this conversation goes well beyond one firm or one incident...
• 
  🎙️ EP.78 – Iraq’s Economy: Progress or Pressure? 🇮🇶 01.12.2025 1h 1min

  Is Iraq’s economy truly progressing or is new pressure starting to build? In this episode, economist and strategist Ahmed Maan Tabaqchali breaks down the real state of Iraq’s economy, covering stability since 2019, the Iraqi dinar, de-dollarisation, banking sector challenges, fintech adoption, digital payments, tokenisation, the Iraq Stock Exchange and Iraq’s post-election outlook following the 11 November 2025 parliamentary vote. As Chief Strategist of Asia Frontier Capital’s Iraq Fund, Ahme...