The Waqf Fund has bought a £1.9 million Solihull retail property, with annual rental income supporting humanitarian projects through its Islamic endowment model, reports Asian Lite News Desk
The Waqf Fund has acquired a £1.9 million freehold retail property on Solihull High Street, using rental income from the commercial asset to support humanitarian and charitable projects over the long term.
The purchase is the fund’s fourth UK property acquisition in less than two years and takes the value of its British commercial property portfolio to £5.6 million.
The retail unit is located on the pedestrianised section of Solihull High Street, next to the Touchwood shopping centre. It is occupied by a Danish homeware retailer with more than 70 stores across the UK and a growing international presence.
The property is expected to generate around £150,000 in annual rental income. The Waqf Fund said the income will be directed towards charitable projects, with donors able to choose from 13 causes.
The strongest donor interest has reportedly been in support for orphans, clean water projects and ongoing charitable initiatives.
The acquisition operates under the Islamic concept of Waqf, an endowment model in which donated capital is preserved in income-generating assets while the returns are used to support charitable work.
The fund said the approach is designed to create a long-term source of funding rather than relying on donations being spent directly on individual projects. It compared the model with the endowment structures used by institutions including Oxford and Cambridge colleges, where invested capital has helped fund activities over generations.
The Solihull property joins existing commercial assets held by The Waqf Fund, including properties in Stockport and Congleton. The fund said its portfolio is currently performing above its target annual return of 7%.
Morshed Alam, General Manager of The Waqf Fund, described the Solihull acquisition as a significant milestone for the organisation and its donors.
“By pooling generous contributions, thousands of everyday donors now jointly own a piece of prime British commercial real estate that will generate £150,000 in sustainable charitable aid for generations to come,” he said.
The fund said the acquisition demonstrates how commercial property can be used as part of a long-term charitable funding model, allowing the original capital to remain invested while rental returns support humanitarian causes.
With four properties acquired since its launch, The Waqf Fund said it intends to continue building its UK property portfolio and expanding the income available for charitable projects.
