From Globalarabnetwork.com: Bahrain is looking to consolidate its position as one of the key players in the Islamic finance sector, working to build on its current position of strength and ensure it has the skills base to launch further expansion in the future.

At the end of 2009, 27 of the 140 banks operating in Bahrain were sharia-compliant lenders, with combined assets of $25.5bn, more than 10% of the sector’s total. In addition, at the beginning of 2009, there were 18 takaful (Islamic insurance) companies and one retakaful firm based in the Kingdom, out of a total of 177 insurance policy writers with offices in Bahrain………………………………..Full Article: Source