This is no longer a straightforward award to give. There are at least five homegrown houses that can make a good case to be the best in the region.

During a discussion on capital market development at the annual meeting of the African Development Bank in Rwanda, panellists argued sovereign sukuk issuance will finally take off this year in a bid to diversify sources of long-term dollar financing away from the Eurobond market.

Revenues up; costs down; Has autonomy and capital

Issuance in ‘next financial year’; deal likely to be one-off.

On top of the Aldar-Sorouh merger, the financing of the second phase of Emirates Aluminium (Emal) added to Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s resurgent confidence in 2013.

View the results now.

Islamic finance roundtable: The new contest to be the capital of Islamic finance

Best Islamic bank in Bahrain

Best Islamic assurance and advisory services

Best Islamic bank in Qatar

Best Islamic bank in UK

Best Islamic leasing house

Best Islamic legal adviser

Most innovative Islamic deal:

Best Islamic bank in Kuwait

Best sukuk house

Best Islamic bank in the Middle East

Best Islamic bank in Saudi Arabia

Best Islamic bank in Indonesia

Best Islamic project finance deal:

Best sukuk deal:

Best Islamic local-currency deal of the year:

Islamic finance deal of the year:

Best Islamic rising star

Best takaful house

Best Islamic fund manager

Best Islamic bank in Asia