AT A GLANCE

> The number of UAE sukuk issuances had reached $6.4 billion so far this year

> S&P expects $70-80 billion in sukuk issuances in 2018

> GCC Islamic banks still have strong fundamentals, representing a quarter of total assets of the banking system in the Gulf region

> The Islamic banks in the region are sitting on liquid assets which make up 20 per cent of the total assets

> All GCC members are among the 22 sovereigns with liquid assets exceeding 25 per cent of gross domestic product