A Bibliometric Investigation of the Islamic Business Literature Landscape

Abstract

Purpose - This study aims to examine the development, trends and main research themes in Islamic business from the perspectives of management and competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach - A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 184 scientific publications indexed in Scopus as of 17 May 2023. VOSviewer and Publish or Perish were used to analyze publication trends, keywords, citations, influential countries and international collaboration.

Findings - The findings show a decline in Islamic business publications in 2020. The most frequently used keywords include company, halal tourism, Islamic bank and performance. Malaysia, Indonesia, the UK, India, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, China and Egypt are among the leading contributors. The analysis identifies four main research themes: halal adoption by companies, service and quality in halal tourism, Islamic financial support and business performance. Strong international collaboration between Muslim- and non-Muslim-majority countries is also evident.

Practical implications - The findings can help business practitioners, policymakers and financial institutions identify key areas for developing Islamic and halal businesses. Particular attention should be given to halal adoption, tourism services, Islamic financial support and business performance.

Originality/value - This study provides a clear overview of the development and major themes of Islamic business research. It also identifies important areas for future research, particularly in relation to management, competitiveness and the development of the halal economy.

Keywords: Islamic business; halal business; competitiveness; halal tourism; Islamic banking; business performance