Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the 12th Doha Islamic Finance Conference opened in Doha, bringing together government officials, international organizations, financial institutions and academic experts to discuss the future of Islamic finance in the age of artificial intelligence.
Held under the theme ‘Islamic Finance in the Age of Agentic Systems’, the Doha Islamic Finance Conference was inaugurated by Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani in the presence of Qatar’s Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanem.
The Doha Islamic Finance Conference examines the role of agentic AI systems in Islamic finance, focusing on technologies capable of making autonomous decisions within Sharia and legal frameworks. Discussions also cover the use of AI to enhance endowments (waqf), strengthen the participatory economy, improve Zakat management and support sustainable development.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dukhan Bank Sheikh Abdulla bin Fahad bin Jassim Al-Thani said that rapid advances in smart technologies are creating significant opportunities to transform financial services, improve efficiency and drive data-based innovation.
He asserted that Islamic banking can further strengthen its leadership position by adopting advanced technologies, noting that digital transformation remains a key pillar of Dukhan Bank’s strategy. The bank maintained strong performance throughout 2025, reflecting financial resilience, sustainable growth and long-term stability, he added.
Sheikh Abdulla also highlighted the bank’s continued investment in digital banking and payment solutions, noting that Dukhan Bank received the award for the Best Digital Transformation Initiative in the Middle East and North Africa in 2025.
Image credits: QNA | Cropped by GBN
Director-General of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf), Eng. Hassan Abdullah Al Marzouqi, said endowments remain a cornerstone of Islamic civilization and modern societal development. He stressed that emerging intelligent systems are reshaping Islamic institutional work and governance, while requiring careful consideration of their legal, regulatory and Sharia implications.
Al Marzouqi said effective governance of these technologies is essential to safeguard public interest, support sustainable development and ensure the growth and sustainability of endowment assets in line with donors’ conditions and Sharia principles.
Key themes of Doha Islamic Finance Conference
The conference agenda focuses on four key themes:
Islamic financial institutions and intelligent systems applications
The evolution of endowments in the era of agentic systems
Virtual influencers and Islamic finance
Zakat and development in an AI-driven environment.
Hamed Al Saadi, Chief Financial and Tax Officer at Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), said that the theme of Doha Islamic Finance Conference reflects the growing impact of AI on the financial sector. While AI solutions offer enhanced capabilities and deeper customer insights, he noted that challenges related to governance, transparency, accountability and system autonomy must be addressed.
Image credits: QNA | Cropped by GBN
Secretary-General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), Dr. Qutb Mustafa Sano, said that the key challenge is not whether to adopt agentic systems but how to guide and utilize them in accordance with the objectives of Islamic Sharia.
Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Doha Islamic Finance Conference, Prof. Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, said that the conference is taking place amid rapid economic, technological and geopolitical transformations that are increasingly interconnected. Al Sulaiti stressed that Islamic finance must not only adapt to these changes but also help shape a financial model that balances technological efficiency with value-based governance.
