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We bring you insightful conversations with leaders in Islamic and global markets. 🌐💬
Join us as we explore the landscape of Islamic finance, delve into Middle Eastern and global financial markets as well as enter the realms of venture capital and much more!
Email us: hassan@majlisandmarkets.com
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88 Episodes
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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
In this episode, we sit down with Dr Lisa Gulesserian and John Gollifer from the GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI) to discuss how governance, board effectiveness and investor relations are developing across the GCC. We explore key regional differences in board maturity, the role of IR as Gulf markets deepen, and the challenges boards face around composition, diversity, succession and disclosure. This discussion offers a clear, research-based view of the issues shaping boardrooms a...
Why is Dubai still booming while global real estate slows? And is Saudi Arabia’s transformation—from home ownership to hospitality—actually sustainable? In this episode, we speak once again with Faisal Durrani, Partner & Head of Research at Knight Frank Middle East, to unpack what’s really driving the Gulf’s property cycle. We discuss affordability, foreign ownership, migration trends, rental pressures, hospitality demand, and the rise of Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. Reports mentio...
In our 75th episode, we’re joined once again by Abdul Kadir Hussain, Head of Fixed Income Asset Management at Arqaam Capital, to unpack the transformation reshaping GCC bonds and sukuk. From Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030-driven borrowing and UAE corporate issuance, to Kuwait’s market comeback and the future of AAOIFI sukuk standards, we explore how the region’s fixed income landscape is evolving and what it means for investors, policymakers, and global markets. Revisit our last episode with Abdu...
In this episode, we welcome back Issam Altawari to unpack Kuwait’s political and economic crossroads. We explore Kuwait’s unique political dynamics, the challenges of reform and the country’s efforts to diversify beyond oil. From parliamentary deadlock to infrastructure and tourism projects, citizenship issues, and the role of the sovereign wealth fund, the conversation dives deep into what’s holding Kuwait back and what could unlock its potential. We also discuss Kuwait’s geopolitic...
In this episode, Hassan Jivraj speaks with George Huang, CEO of SenseTime MEA and a key player in Saudi Arabia’s AI ecosystem. They discuss George’s journey into AI, the role of SenseTime in the Middle East, and how AI fits into Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The conversation explores the opportunities and challenges facing the Kingdom, the importance of cultural sensitivity and ethics, and why localisation and talent development are critical for long-term success. George also shares insig...
We’re joined once again by Beth Morrissey of Kleiman International Consultants to unpack Trump’s tariffs, dollar dominance, and the latest wave of EM debt restructurings. Why is EM unique, and what can history teach us about today’s turbulence? We also dive into her new book, Emerging Economies and Financial Markets-A Career-Tested Approach to Analyzing the Markets 🔗 Follow Beth’s work: 📰 Substack → Kleiman International 🐦 X (Twitter) → @KleimanIntCon 🎧 Related Episodes on Emerging Markets: P...
Are your stocks really halal? In this episode, we sit down with Saad Malik, co-founder of Zoya, to unpack the realities of halal investing. From stock screening and Shariah standards to Islamic ETFs, fintech, and the future of the Islamic economy, this conversation explores the opportunities — and challenges — facing Muslim investors today. 🌐 Zoya: zoya.finance | Download the app 🐦 Saad Malik: https://x.com/SaadMalik 🔗 Subscribe & Listen 🎧 YouTube: @MajlisMarketspod 🎙️ Listen on al...
In this episode, we sit down with Robert Mogielnicki, Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW), to unpack the political and economic forces shaping the Gulf. We discuss the region’s economic diversification journey, the influence of political dynamics on decision-making, and the role of international capital, as well as Gulf relations with China, Russia, and the U.S. From Kuwait’s investment landscape to currency pegs, and from energy dependence to fut...
In this episode, we reconnect with Odilbek Isakov, Managing Partner at Infrasia Capital and former Deputy Minister of Finance of Uzbekistan. Since launching market reforms in 2017, Uzbekistan has opened up to foreign investors, embraced privatisation and begun reshaping its banking and financial landscape. But can the momentum last? In this episode We unpack: The state of Uzbekistan’s reform agenda in 2025What global politics (including Trump tariffs and BRICS shifts) mean for Tas...
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