Venture Capital Bank (VCBank) – Pioneering Islamic Investment Banking

VC Bank Logo

Venture Capital Bank is an Islamic investment bank that operates in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Known as the first of its kind in the region, VCBank offers venture capital investment opportunities that drive business growth and risk-adjusted ROI. The bank is mainly active in four investment areas: venture capital, real estate, private equity, and financial advisory services. 

Overview of Venture Capital Bank

Brief History

In November 2005, VCBank announced that it would be the first to incorporate venture capital investment activities in a Shari’ah-compliant investment format. This added an unprecedented new dimension to the global Islamic banking industry. The company vision is to be the foremost organization of its kind and to support the social and economic development of the region by driving business growth. By 2008, VCBank posted a net profit of USD 47 million and achieved an ROI of 27%. 

Geographically

VCBank operates under an Islamic banking license that was provided by the Central Bank of Bahrain. The bank benefits from the financial backing of a prominent group of regional shareholders and offers a comprehensive range of services and investment opportunities to clients around the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the Middle East, North Africa, and GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arad Emirates, Oman and Bahrain. VCBank’s headquarters are located in Bahrain.

Significant Investments

VCBank was the principal backer of a London real estate investment project by HFF Real Estate in 2018. The project involved an investment of over USD 450 million in a 76-unit real estate development in a high-end suburb of London. Earlier that year, VCBank acquired a 69% stake in the development of the Royal Hospital for Women in Riffa, Bahrain. After the development was completed, VCBank announced its exit and sold its shares to Amanat Holdings for USD 39 million. 
Other major investments made by VCBank include:

• The Lounge – A venture capital investment in service offices in Bahrain.
• SVCIC – A private equity investment in a financial company in Saudi Arabia.
• Challenger Limited – A private equity investment in the Libyan oil and gas industry.
• Al Khobar Specialist Hospital – A venture capital investment Saudi Arabia’s healthcare industry.
• MENA SHIPCO – A private equity investment in the Greek shipping industry.
• The World – A real estate investment in the UAE.
• OBA Makarna – A private equity investment in the food and beverage industry in Turkey.

VCBank in the News

In November 2018, the Associated Press featured a press release about a massive real estate investment made possible by VCBank. It was announced that HFF Real Estate received financing of over USD 450 million for Regent’s Crescent, a residential project in the Marylebone section of London. VCBank was named as a principal lender in the deal. In 2010, Trade Arabia reported that VCBank’s net profit for a nine-month period surged to USD 15 million, a massive incline from the previous year’s loss of USD 10.3 million and the start of an upward trajectory in the bank’s success that continues until today. 

More Companies in Asia and Oceania

yj captial

YJ Capital

YJ Capital, a Japanese venture capital firm focused on backing entrepreneurs with a global mindset to successfully build long-lasting internet companies.

Read More
Shandong Ruyi Technology Group

Shandong Ruyi Technology Group Co. Ltd

Shandong Ruyi Technology Group Co. Ltd. is a Chinese textile and clothing manufacturing giant with a significant interest in Europe.

Read More
Pitango Venture Capital - Israel’s Largest VC Fund

Pitango Venture Capital

Sequoia Capital India is a venture capital company located in Delhi, India. Find out about the company’s investments.

Read More
Far East Ventures

Far East Ventures

Far East Ventures is an all-stage, all-sector venture capital firm based in the Asian Pacific. The company has a keen interest in investing in disruptive technologies within every sector including med-tech, e-commerce and information technology.

Read More
Innoven Capital

InnoVen Capital

InnoVen Capital, the top venture lending firm in India. Find out how it started, where it operates from and learn more about its significant investments.

Read More
daiwa

Daiwa Asset Management Co.

Daiwa Asset Management Co. Ltd., a Japanese asset management company with a global presence. Learn more about Daiwa’s history and its investment practices.

Read More
Kickstart Ventures

Kickstart Ventures

Kickstart Ventures, a venture capital company located in the Philippines. Find out more about its history and discover its significant investments.

Read More
SoftBank

SoftBank Group

SoftBank Group is a Japanese conglomerate with various subsidiaries and investments around the world. Read about the company’s history and find out more about its most significant investments.

Read More
Mizuho Capital​ logo

Mizuho Capital

Mizuho Capital is a Japan-based venture capital firm focused on making technology and biotechnology investments.

Read More

Investors with Interest in Asia and Oceania

Ruslan Baisarov

Ruslan Baisarov

Meet Ruslan Baysarov, owner of Tuva Energy Industrial Corporation and majority shareholder of MOST construction company.

Read More
God Nisanov businessman

God Semenovich Nisanov

God Nisanov, Russia’s King of Real Estate is a highly successful Russian entrepreneur who has made billions through a variety of investments.

Read More
Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata, former chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Group and well-known Indian investor, industrialist, and philanthropist.

Read More
Mazen Al-Sawwaf

Mazen Al Sawwaf

Mazen Al-Sawwaf is a Saudi Arabian businessman with investments throughout Europe and Africa, and developing interests in the United States.

Read More
Naveen Tewari

Naveen Tewari

Naveen Tewari is an Indian angel investor and entrepreneur who has been instrumental in the investment of over 30 startups and has personally invested in numerous companies. Tewari is the founder and of InMobi.

Read More
Felix Lam

Felix Lam

Felix Lam is a venture builder and angel investor based in Hong Kong. Lam manages a portfolio of early-stage technology ventures around the world and is a co-founder of 43 Ventures and Red Chapel Advisors.

Read More
Mark Pui

Mark Pui

Mark Pui is an experienced Asian investor known for his interest in blockchain technology.

Read More
Eitan Neishlos

Eitan Neishlos

Eitan Neishlos is a fintech innovator, entrepreneur, corporate attorney, philanthropist, and the chairman of AHNA Group as well as Courage to Care NSW.

Read More
Abhishek Bhatewara

Abhishek Bhatewara

Abhishek Bhatewara is an Indian real estate developer, angel investor, and the Director at Clique Solar. Key investment sectors include clean tech, real estate, AI and big data.

Read More