As institutional investors across Asia and the Middle East seek greater access to alternative assets while maintaining Sharia principles, Record PLC is positioning Record Amanah to bridge that gap. In an exclusive conversation with Fintech Business Asia, CEO Dr Jan Hendrik Witte explains how client demand, private markets expertise and regional partnerships are shaping the platform’s growth strategy.

Q: Record Amanah marks a significant step in expanding Sharia-compliant investment solutions. What market opportunities and client demand motivated the launch, and how does the platform address the evolving needs of institutional Islamic investors globally?

A: Record Amanah stemmed from client demand. We had already designed and launched Sharia-compliant private market solutions for institutional investors and, through that process, saw a much broader need in the market. Creating Record Amanah was a natural next step, allowing us to bring together our experience in private markets, structuring, and Sharia-compliant investing under a dedicated platform.

Q: Islamic finance continues to grow rapidly across the Middle East and Asia. How does Record Amanah differentiate itself from existing Sharia-compliant investment platforms, particularly in the private markets and alternative investment space?

A: Many Sharia-compliant investment platforms focus primarily on traditional asset classes, but we’ve seen growing demand from Islamic investors seeking access to private markets as well. Record Amanah combines private markets expertise, structuring capability, and customised mandate design to deliver solutions that meet sophisticated investor objectives and Sharia requirements, without compromising on either.

Q: The announcement highlights Record's experience in delivering Sharia-compliant transactions, including projects in Brunei. How have these engagements shaped the development of Record Amanah, and which regions do you see as the strongest growth markets going forward?

A: Our experience in Brunei gave us first-hand insight into the demand for sophisticated Sharia-compliant private market solutions from institutional investors. It helped shape the governance, structuring and investment frameworks that underpin Record Amanah today. We continue to see strong opportunities across Southeast Asia and the GCC, where institutional investors are seeking greater access to alternative investments within a Sharia-compliant framework.

Q: Institutional investors are increasingly seeking solutions that combine ethical investing with competitive returns. How does Record Amanah balance strict Sharia governance, transparency, and investment performance while meeting the expectations of sovereign funds, pension funds, and family offices?

A: In our view, investors should not have to choose between faith-based investment principles and institutional-quality solutions. Record Amanah combines robust Sharia governance with the same institutional investment discipline, risk management, and transparency standards that have underpinned Record's global client relationships for more than four decades. Our objective is to deliver compelling risk-adjusted returns within a robust Sharia-compliant framework.

Q: Asia is home to some of the world's largest Islamic finance markets, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. What is Record's strategy for expanding partnerships and client relationships across the Asia-Pacific region, and are there plans to collaborate with regional fintech or Islamic financial institutions?

A: Asia is a strategically important market for Record Amanah. We are leveraging our established presence in Hong Kong and Singapore, alongside our partnership with Khalij, to deepen relationships with institutional investors across the region. Our focus remains on collaborating with local partners and delivering solutions tailored to the specific requirements of each market. As demand for Sharia-compliant private markets and alternatives solutions continues to grow, we believe we are well positioned to support investors seeking bespoke solutions delivered at scale.

Q: Looking ahead, how do you see technology—including AI, digital investment platforms, and data-driven portfolio management—transforming Sharia-compliant asset management, and what role will Record Amanah play in shaping the future of Islamic digital finance?

A: Technology is undoubtedly transforming the asset management industry today, improving transparency, operational efficiency, and access. As the market matures, we expect digital platforms and data-driven investment processes to play an increasingly important role in supporting institutional investors. These trends are not unique to conventional markets and will impact Islamic finance in equal measure. Our ambition is to remain at the forefront of these developments, while maintaining the robust governance, oversight, and investment standards that institutional clients have come to expect from Record.