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The Tug of Two Worlds: Embracing Matrescence and My Return to Work

It's been a little over two months since I stepped back into the office after my maternity leave. I remember the mix of emotions I felt that first morning - excitement, guilt, exhaustion, hope. Since then, I've been quietly carrying the weight of two worlds; the one at home, where I'm learning to be a mother, and the one at work, where I'm expected to pick up right where I left off. for weeks, I debated whether to share my experience - wondering if anyone would understand, if it was too personal, or if my words would even matter. But today, the feelings bubbling inside me are too strong to ignore. So, I'm putting them down on paper, not just for me, but for every mother who's walked this road in silence. Because if there's one truth I've come to know deeply, it's this: being a working mom is the hardest job a woman can have - and the most invisible one too. You never really know how heavy it all feels until you're living it - trying to show up fu...

Sukuk’s Best Year Ever

Featured teaser: With sukuk outperforming conventional bonds in the Gulf, the Islamic bonds market will set new records in 2012, writes Zawya’s Celine Salloum. Story page head: The whole world is turning to Islamic bonds By Celine Salloum of Zawya With investor demand for Islamic bonds growing, the growth in Islamic finance as an emerging global financial industry can be attributed to a multitude of factors. These include a growing global Muslim population, rising oil wealth and the emergence of multiple new issuers combined with the increase in the global acceptability, competitiveness and availability of Islamic investment products. Access to a larger investor universe is seen as a key advantage of structuring Islamic products. With sukuk continuing to outperform conventional bonds in the Gulf region in Q2 2012, the Islamic bonds market is set to create new records in 2012.  “Today, countries all over the world are turning to Islamic capital markets for ...

The Qatari Contradiction

Featured teaser: In spite of being one of the richest countries in the world and an aggressive global investor, Qatar saw interest in its funds industry sliding in 2011, writes Zawya’s Celine Salloum. Story page head: Qatar continues to back asset management industry By Celine Salloum of Zawya Qatar, a tiny country situated on a small, thumb-shaped neck of land off the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula, and once one of the poorest Gulf States, has been ranked as the world’s richest country per capita by Forbes magazine. The oil and gas sector dominates the economy with an estimated 56% of nominal GDP in 2011. Qatar, which will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and recently lost a bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games, has been a high-profile global investor. The development of Qatar as a regional hub for asset management is being strongly supported by the Qatar Financial Center Authority, the commercial arm of the Qatar Financial Center. While all types and categories ...