Important differences exist between conventional and Islamic finance: mainly on the differing structure of conventional and Islamic bank accounts, financial intermediation services indirectly measured (FISIM) for Islamic banks, profit distributions by Islamic banks, the classification of Islamic finance institutional units, and structural indicators of Islamic banking.

The study presents four research papers on how Islamic finance should be handled in the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008 SNA) and monetary statistics based on discussion and research papers presented in the workshop organized by ESCWA and UNSD on  Islamic finance in national accounts. Research and best practices are needed beyond the financial assets and liabilities and their classification by type of financial instrument described within the framework of monetary and financial statistics, in line with the 2008 SNA.