Mubasher: A report by Standard and Poor's Global Ratings (S&P) showed that assets of the Islamic finance industry amounted to $2 trillion by the end of 2016.

The rating agency expects the industry to continue to grow this year, then lose some momentum in 2018, S&P indicated.

Despite the accelerating Sukuk issuance in the first half of the year, S&P expects it to remain strong in H2-17, and for this rate to remain sustainable.

S&P explained that that there is a probability for a stronger growth subject to the integration between marker authorities and the investors, in order to form an actual global industry.

The agency forecasts the growth of the Islamic finance industry to settle at 5% for 2017 and 2017, less than the average for the last 10 years, noting that new comers such as Morocco and Oman could contribute to a stronger growth rates.