Abstract

The aim of this research is to compare and identify the determinants of the performance for Islamic banks with Conventional banks operating in GCC countries from 2005 to 2012. Using a sample of 71 Conventional banks and 46 Islamic banks that operate inside GCC countries for the period 2005-2012 and by using CAMEL test, we find that comparing the profitability of the Islamic and Conventional banks shows that for all the ratios used to measure profitability, Islamic banks are on-average more profitable than the Conventional ones. For performance determinants, results show that bank size affect performance of both Conventional and Islamic banks. Operation cost has a positive and significant effect on performance in Conventional and Islamic banks. The coefficient of credit risk is negative and significant in Conventional banks and positive but non significant in Islamic banks. For macroeconomic variables, inflation and DPG growth haven’t a significant effect on Conventional banks performance. For Islamic banks, inflation has a positive and significant coefficient. Results show differences in regards to factors affecting performance between Conventional and Islamic banks. Specifically, credit risk does not affect Islamic bank performance, while inflation and DGP growth do not affect the performance of Conventional banks.

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