BLME (Bank of London and the Middle East)
By Oliver Mackman · Reviewed 2026-06-29 · FCA regulated · PRA bank
BLME (part of Boubyan Bank, Kuwait, as at 2026) is a wholesale-focused Sharia-compliant UK bank. Engages on larger commercial finance, asset finance and structured deals. Less retail-friendly than Al Rayan; more institutional-feeling counterparty. Best for larger established UK SMEs with structured-deal requirements.
Director, FundBiz
Oliver leads FundBiz's specialty finance comparison and matching engine. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees lender partnerships, eligibility logic and post-decline routing.
Last reviewed: 29 June 2026
Sharia structures offered
- · Murabaha
- · Ijara
- · Wakala
Pros
- ✓ PRA-regulated UK bank.
- ✓ Strong on £500k+ structured deals.
- ✓ Asset finance and Murabaha-based commercial finance.
- ✓ Owned by Boubyan (Kuwait), well-capitalised parent.
Cons
- ✗ Less retail-friendly journey than Al Rayan.
- ✗ Sub-£500k tickets generally declined.
- ✗ Pricing transparency lower than mainstream.
Best for
- · Larger SMEs with structured-deal needs
- · Asset finance £500k+
- · Wholesale-feel counterparty preference
Weak at
- · Self-serve retail journeys
- · Sub-£500k working capital
Sharia governance
BLME states its Sharia Supervisory Board provides ongoing structure approval. Confirm current governance arrangements with the bank directly.
How to apply
Apply directly via www.blme.com. BLME (Bank of London and the Middle East) works on a relationship basis for commercial finance; expect a qualified call before a written term sheet.
Not sure this is the right fit?
Tell us ticket size, the asset or use case, trading history and sector. We match you against the right Sharia-compliant route and the wider FundBiz specialty panel where a conventional structure fits better. Limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4+ only.
Check eligibility →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Editorial only. We are not an FCA-authorised adviser, and BLME (Bank of London and the Middle East) did not pay for or pre-approve this review. See our methodology. Last reviewed: 2026-06-29.