Al Rayan Investment’s offering of sharia-compliant GCC listed equities and sukuk is in high demand. Over the last year, the manager’s assets under management reached $929m, a 28% increase, and a 105% increase over the last two years. 

Focused on longer term investment horizons, ARI’s equities segregated mandates have increased from five to nine, leaving its flagship mutual fund, the Al Rayan GCC Fund the largest mutual fund in Qatar. Relative performance has also been impressive in a turbulent market; 4.4% and 35% over 12 and 24 months respectively. 

The firm has pioneered external sukuk provision to external investors; it was the first Qatari asset manager to offer a fixed income investment management service in the region to foreign investors. However, its success comes from offering both sukuk and listed equities, allowing it to offer investors a broad perspective through investments on both sides of the capital structure. 

ARI attributes its accomplishments to a focus on absolute return rather than benchmark tracking. By cultivating an inhouse research team, dedicating to meeting management not only at target companies, but also their suppliers, customers, and competitors, ARI offers the due diligence and research essential to investment in the region. 

Under Akber Khan, the firm’s head of Asset Management, research teams in Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have expanded, solidifying regional expertise. Finally, as of May this year, ARI reached its five year anniversary, allowing a five year track record to be established. Longer track records are a necessity when dealing with larger institutional investors, leaving the firm in a prime position to close more mandates in the near future.