A group of Islamic scholars have told Qatari investors that subscribing to the IPO of <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vodafone.com.qa%2F&ei=XVDsScDYA4S6jAeFzoWbCg&usg=AFQjCNGb4ow0sEsUl0AiXwMjfd8H3ZrqlA&sig2=zd4K_DLdRfTCmthjOr2Nxg">Vodafone Qatar</a>, which will soon break the Middle East's last telecommunications monopoly, does not contravene Shariah law. <a href="http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=285697&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16">According to Gulf Times</a>:<br/><br/> The stock offering, open only to Qatari citizens and companies, , and is likely to be the biggest Middle Eastern telecom stock offering of 2009. It values Vodafone Qatar at Dh8.5 billion (US$2.33 billion), and the 40%, Dh3.3 billion stake on offer makes it Qatar's biggest IPO since 2006.