Positive Start To The Year For Offshore Centers

As noted in the press, both S&P Global Ratings and Refinitiv predict that the number of global Sukuk issuances will be higher in 2021 as compared with last year. S&P expects that higher oil prices and the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines will contribute to the greater activity in the Sukuk markets. Refinitiv believes that the renewed economic access by Qatar to the rest of the GCC will be a contributing factor. Although we have seen a slower start to the year in terms of the number of public global Sukuk issuances, one offshore center in particular has featured in a number of them. This trend will be sure to continue particularly as volume is expected to pick up in the coming months.