Asset Manager

Updated:

SAFA Investment Services

Dr. John A. Sandwick is a recognized pioneer in Islamic finance. He created the first application of Modern Portfolio Theory in the context of global portfolio...

SAFA Investment Services logo

SAFA Investment Services

Dr. John A. Sandwick is a recognized pioneer in Islamic finance. He created the first application of Modern Portfolio Theory in the context of global portfolio allocations with sharia certification.

General information

Firm type

Generalist

Year founded

AUM

Undisclosed

Location

Region

Europe

Country

Switzerland

City

Geneva

Corporate office

Geneva, Switzerland

Principals

Dr. John A. Sandwick

Specialist in Islamic Finance

Sector focus

Islamic FinancePrivate CreditAsset ManagementFinTech

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at SAFA Investment Services?

Dr. John A. Sandwick is the sole principal. He draws on prior private-banking experience at Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank (Suisse), and Encore Management, combined with academic work applying Modern Portfolio Theory to sharia-compliant portfolios. No additional investment committee or named analysts are disclosed on the firm's website.

How does SAFA Investment Services source proprietary deal flow?

Deal flow is tied directly to Sandwick's personal network in Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf, built over two decades of structuring sukuk and advising family offices. His academic roles at Al Yamamah University and prior Master Classes for central banks and treasuries in Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, and Almaty provide additional regional origination channels.

Does SAFA Investment Services operate as a regulated asset manager or a consultancy?

The firm's website frames the activity as corporate finance and asset management consulting for Saudi businesses and family clients — not a pooled fund structure. There is no public disclosure of regulatory registration, managed AUM, or fiduciary mandates, which suggests a specialist advisory model rather than a discretionary institutional manager.

What is SAFA Investment Services' track record in sukuk structuring?

Sandwick's credentials include organizing the world's first global sukuk fund, a sukuk participation certificate, and the first-ever mid-market sukuk in Saudi Arabia. Specific issuer names, sizes, and dates are not publicly listed on the firm's website, limiting third-party verification of each transaction.

Is there a succession or team structure beyond Dr. Sandwick?

No. The website presents the practice as a single-advisor consultancy. There is no mention of partners, junior professionals, or a succession plan, making the firm a key-person-dependent entity concentrated in one individual's expertise and regional relationships.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

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