What Guidance Financial Group does

Guidance Financial Group is a privately held Shariah-compliant financial services firm founded in 2000 by Dr. Mohamad Hammour and operated as a subsidiary of Capital Guidance, a private investment firm. The company serves two primary client sets: Islamic institutional investors seeking Shariah-compliant investment products across private equity, real estate, fixed income, and equipment leasing asset classes, and Muslim consumers in the US and Saudi Arabia seeking values-based residential mortgages. Its core technology is Shariah-compliant financial structuring — partnership equity arrangements, Sukuk issuance, and Ijarah lease finance — overseen by a seven-member Shariah Supervisory Board of Islamic scholars that has served continuously since inception.

The business is organized around four core operating subsidiaries: Guidance Investments (Kuala Lumpur-based Shariah-compliant fund management across PE, RE, fixed income, and opportunistic/leasing), Guidance Residential (the largest US Shariah-compliant mortgage provider, headquartered in Reston, Virginia), Dar Al Tamleek (Saudi Arabia housing finance market leader), and Guidance Capital Markets (DIFC) Ltd (Dubai-based Sukuk advisory and primary debt capital markets). Revenue is generated through four streams: investment management fees on Shariah-compliant funds, advisory fees from Sukuk structuring and capital raising, transactional revenue from consumer finance operations in the US and Saudi Arabia, and income from Shariah-compliant equipment leasing fund investments in the Middle East. Distribution combines direct institutional sales to Islamic pension funds, endowment funds, government institutions, and family offices in GCC and Southeast Asia with subsidiary-led consumer finance operations and strategic partnerships with Navis Capital Partners, CBRE Global Investors, ATEL Capital Group, Kempinski Hotels, and FreddieMac for product development and deal flow.

The firm operates across roughly 70 global staff spanning offices in New York/Washington D.C., Reston (Virginia), Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, and Geneva. Strategic alliances include long-standing collaboration with Navis Capital Partners since 2003 (five private equity funds developed), the Guidance China Opportunity Fund with CBRE Global Investors (2006), the ATEL GCC Leasing Fund with Lembaga Tabung Haji (2013), and the Saudi Public Pension Agency as a government investor in Dar Al Tamleek. To date, the company has originated approximately nine Shariah-compliant international investment funds, executed roughly USD 5 billion in real estate investments across 110 properties globally, and raised nearly USD 1 billion for Shariah-compliant investment products from Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian institutional investors.

Name

Guidance Financial Group

Legal name

Guidance Financial Group

Website

https://guidancefinancial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Guidance Financial Group is a privately held Shariah-compliant financial services firm offering Islamic investment management, Sukuk advisory, and values-based residential mortgages across the US, Middle East, and Southeast Asia for institutional and consumer clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Islamic Financial Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Islamic Investment Banking & Capital Markets Services (FSABAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Debt Advisory & Financing Advisory (FSAEAGAD), Islamic Private Banking & Wealth (FSABAGAD), Fee-Based Advisory (FSAEAAAM)

Keywords

• Islamic finance services
• Shariah-compliant investing
• Residential mortgage lending
• Investment management
• Sukuk advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Management Fees: Fees from managing Shariah-compliant investment funds across private equity, real estate, and fixed income asset classes for institutional investors.
2. Financial Advisory Services: Advisory fees for structuring Sukuk programs, providing Shariah-compliant financing solutions, and assisting corporations with capital raising from Islamic capital markets.
3. Consumer Finance Operations: Revenue from Guidance Residential (US Shariah-compliant mortgages) and Dar Al Tamleek (Saudi Arabia housing finance) subsidiaries.
4. Equipment Leasing: Income from Shariah-compliant equipment leasing fund investments in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Guidance Financial Group is a Shariah-compliant financial services firm that develops and manages institutional investment products (private equity, real estate, fixed income/Sukuk, and equipment leasing funds) and provides values-based residential mortgage solutions through subsidiaries in the United States (Guidance Residential) and Saudi Arabia (Dar Al Tamleek), along with Shariah advisory and Sukuk placement services for Middle East corporations.

Product overview

Guidance Financial Group operates as a diversified financial services organization offering Shariah-compliant investment products and consumer finance solutions. The company is organized around its core subsidiary Guidance Investments, which manages a portfolio of investment funds across three asset classes: Private Equity, Real Estate, and Fixed Income/Sukuk Products. Consumer finance is delivered through two regional brands—Guidance Residential (U.S. residential mortgages) and Dar Al Tamleek (Saudi Arabia residential mortgages). The group also operates Guidance Capital Markets (DIFC) Ltd for debt capital markets advisory and has created the Shaza Hotels luxury hospitality brand. All products are overseen by a seven-member Shariah Supervisory Board to ensure compliance with Islamic finance principles. The company has launched multiple pioneering Shariah-compliant investment funds including the Guidance China Opportunity Fund, Guidance Southeast Asia Real Estate Partners LP, and the Guidance ATEL GCC Leasing Income Financing Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Guidance Residential: Shariah-compliant U.S. residential mortgage company, the largest provider of values-based home finance in the United States.
• Guidance Investments
• Guidance Capital Markets
• Shaza Hotels
• Dar Al Tamleek

Products and services

• Guidance Investments International investment management firm specializing in Shariah-compliant investment management and advisory services in private equity, real estate, and fixed income sectors, for institutional investors including pension funds, endowment funds, government institutions, and family offices.
• Guidance Residential The largest provider of Shariah-compliant consumer and home finance in the United States, offering values-based residential mortgages where interest is avoided through partnership equity structures, for Muslim consumers and families seeking interest-free home financing.
• Dar Al Tamleek Saudi Arabia residential mortgages provider that achieved leading market share in the Saudi mortgage market within three years of operations, providing Shariah-compliant housing finance to civilian and military public employees.
• Private Equity Investment Products Shariah-compliant private equity investment products for institutional investors, including buy-out funds investing in Southeast Asian companies, developed in partnership with Navis Capital Partners.
• Real Estate Investment Products Shariah-compliant real estate investment products including logistics, industrial, residential, and hospitality funds across Asia, Middle East, and North America, with $5 billion invested across 110 properties globally.
• Fixed Income / Sukuk Products Shariah-compliant fixed income products including Islamic bonds (Sukuk) enabling companies in the Gulf Region to tap Asian and other demand for Middle East debt, with advisory and placement services for corporate Sukuk issuances.
• Equipment Leasing / Opportunistic Products Shariah-compliant equipment leasing and opportunistic investment products, including the Guidance ATEL GCC Leasing Income Financing Fund that invests in operating leases of industrial equipment in Saudi Arabia.
• Shariah Advisory & Placement Services In-depth structuring and placement services to companies seeking to raise capital or make their products and services Shariah-compliant, including Sukuk structuring and Shariah compliance advisory.
• Shaza Hotels Luxury Shariah-compliant hotel brand created in the Middle East and North Africa on behalf of institutional investors, operated in partnership with Kempinski Hotels.
• Guidance Capital Markets (DIFC) Ltd Dubai-based subsidiary of Guidance Investments providing debt capital markets solutions, including Sukuk structuring, issuance, and placement advisory services for GCC corporates and Middle East issuers.

Quantifiable outcome

• USD 5 billion in real estate investments across 110 properties globally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and major.

• HSBC Amanah Malaysia BerhadsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 April 2013Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Lead Manager for Al Bayan Group's RM 1 billion Sukuk programme and RM 200 million Sukuk Wakalah issuance.
• Hong Leong Islamic Bank BerhadsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 April 2013Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Lead Manager for Al Bayan Group's Malaysian Ringgit Sukuk issuance.
• Navis Capital PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Long-term collaboration since 2003 developing five private equity funds, beginning with Shariah-compliant buy-out fund investing in Southeast Asian companies. Additional similar funds launched in 2005, 2007, and 2010. Navis established in 1998 by Boston Consulting Group specialists.
• ATEL Capital GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture to develop and fund Shariah-compliant ATEL Leasing Income Fund, L.P. investing in diversified portfolio of equipment leases to investment-grade US Fortune 1000 corporate lessees. ATEL founded in 1977, one of largest independent leasing companies in US.
• CBRE Global InvestorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to develop Guidance China Opportunity Fund in 2006 specializing in Chinese residential real estate. CBRE serves as Investment Manager while Guidance serves as Fund Manager. Targets institutional investors seeking exposure to Chinese residential market.
• FreddieMacmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year strategic partnership supporting Guidance Residential's secondary market activities. Freddie Mac purchases residential mortgages on secondary market and pools them into mortgage-backed securities. Created by US Congress in 1970 to increase mortgage capital.
• Kempinski HotelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating partner for Shaza Hotels luxury brand. Kempinski contributes management expertise to Shaza hotels in Middle East and North Africa. One of world's most prestigious hotel companies with over 60 hotels globally.
• SBI Holdings and Brunei Ministry of FinancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture advising on Shariah-compliant Private Equity fund chartered to invest in minority stakes in attractive Asian companies. Fund launched December 2010. SBI Holdings established 1999 in Tokyo, expanding in emerging markets.
• Kenanga Investment Bank BerhadsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint Lead Arranger and Joint Lead Manager for Al Bayan Group's Sukuk programme.
• Al Hilal BanksupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManager in UAE markets for Al Bayan Group Sukuk issuance, acting as distribution manager for Middle East markets.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arcapita: Bahrain-headquartered global investment firm focused on Shariah-compliant private equity and real estate, with operations across the GCC, US, and Asia. Closely comparable to Guidance's private equity and real estate fund origination business.
• Shuaa Capital: Dubai-based asset management and investment banking firm offering Shariah-compliant investment products and advisory services. Comparable to Guidance Investments' GCC institutional investment management business.
• Jadwa Investment: Saudi Arabian investment banking and asset management firm offering Shariah-compliant investment products. Comparable to Guidance's Saudi institutional investment and Sukuk advisory capabilities.
• Gatehouse Capital: Shariah-compliant investment advisory firm specializing in real estate and capital markets solutions for institutional clients. Directly comparable to Guidance's Sukuk advisory and Islamic investment management activities.
• Rasmala Investment: Middle East-focused asset manager offering Shariah-compliant investment solutions across asset classes. Comparable to Guidance Investments' institutional investment management and advisory activities.

Broad incumbents

• Dubai Islamic Bank: Pioneer Islamic bank in the UAE offering Shariah-compliant retail, corporate, and investment banking including real estate finance and Sukuk. Overlaps with Guidance across GCC consumer finance and capital markets activities.
• Kuwait Finance House: One of the world's largest Islamic banks, headquartered in Kuwait, offering Shariah-compliant banking, investment, and capital markets products across the GCC and globally. Comparable as a broad-based Islamic finance provider.
• Bank Islam Malaysia: Malaysia's leading pure-play Islamic bank, offering Shariah-compliant retail and institutional financial services. Comparable as a Malaysia-based Islamic finance platform serving both consumer and institutional clients.
• Al Rajhi Bank: Saudi Arabia's largest Islamic bank and one of the world's largest Islamic financial institutions. Comparable as a major provider of Shariah-compliant consumer finance (including housing finance in Saudi Arabia) and institutional investment products in the GCC.

Regional players

• NCB Capital: Saudi Arabia-based investment manager and broker (now part of Saudi National Bank). Comparable as a regional incumbent offering Shariah-compliant investment management and capital markets services to Saudi institutional clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/guidance-financial-group

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Guidance Financial Group