Doha, Qatar: The 12th Doha Islamic Finance Conference kicked off yesterday, under the theme ‘Islamic Finance in the Age of Agentic Systems’, in the presence of H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry; H E Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanim, Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs; Prof. Dr. Koutoub Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy; and Sheikh Abdullah bin Fahad bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dukhan Bank.
Held under the patronage of H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and organised by Bait Al-Mashura Finance Consultations in strategic partnership with Dukhan Bank, the conference is supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) as Official Sponsor, the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs as Diamond Sponsor, the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) as Gold Sponsor, and Damaan Islamic Insurance Company (Beema) as Bronze Sponsor.
Hosted at Al Majlis Hall at Sheraton Grand Doha, the conference brings together a wide international participation of government entities, international organisations, and financial and academic institutions specialising in economics, finance, and technology. It also witnessed the launch of the Doha Islamic Finance Conference Award, a pioneering global initiative aimed at recognising outstanding achievements in Islamic economics and finance. The award serves as a dedicated platform to honour pioneers and encourage scientific research across various fields of Islamic banking and finance.
Prof. Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Vice Chairman of Bait Al-Mashura Finance Consultations, said: “The conference is taking place at a time when the world and the region are witnessing rapid transformations in which economic, technological, and geopolitical dimensions are becoming increasingly intertwined. Recent developments have shown how events confined to specific geographies can quickly ripple through global markets, affecting trade flows and energy dynamics. Within this evolving landscape, agenticsystems are emerging as one of the most important tools for managing complexity and accelerating responses to change, given their ability to analyse vast datasets, interact with dynamic inputs, and make decisions in record time—signalling profound shifts in the nature of economic activity and decision-making in the years ahead.”
He noted:“The growing expansion of agentic AI systems in finance and business, as they increasingly assume roles long reserved for humans, makes it a scientific and strategic imperative to examine the position of Islamic finance within this emerging paradigm. This extends beyond technological adoption to a broader effort to anticipate the future trajectory of the financial industry and its development pathways. The responsibility of Islamic finance is not limited to benefiting from or adapting to these transformations, but also includes contributing to the development of a financial model that combines technological efficiency with value-based governance. Such a model ensures that technology remains a tool for serving humanity, promoting justice and development, and advancing prosperity.”
He added: “This conference aims to provide an integrated scientific platform that brings together researchers, experts, and practitioners in Islamic finance and smart technologies to discuss the latest developments in agentic systems and foresee the future of these technologies in Islamic banking, waqf institutions, and zakat management, while examining the Shariah and regulatory frameworks that govern the operation of such intelligent systems. The conference also introduces an innovative topic in the realm of Islamic finance concerning virtual influencers and their role in supporting waqf and charitable ecosystems. Through this platform, the conference aspires to outline an advanced roadmap for adopting agentic systems in Islamic finance, ensuring integration and harmony between technological innovation and Shariah values, and reinforcing the pioneering position of the Islamic financial sector at both regional and international levels.”
Sheikh Abdullah bin Fahad bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dukhan Bank, said: “The world is witnessing a profound shift in the evolution of intelligent technologies, with digital systems advancing to unprecedented levels of analysis, interaction, and decision-making. Against this backdrop, agenticsystems are emerging as one of the key forces shaping the next phase. This transformation presents significant opportunities to reimagine financial services and operations in ways that enhance efficiency, agility, and responsiveness, while paving the way for the next generation of financial innovation driven by data and knowledge.”
He continued: “At Dukhan Bank, we view these developments as an opportunity to further strengthen the leadership of Islamic banking through the adoption of modern technologies in a way that remains fully aligned with its principles and values. With this in mind, digital innovation has become a cornerstone of our strategy, reflecting our conviction that technology will play a defining role in shaping the future of the Islamic finance industry. This vision was reflected in the Bank’s strong performance in 2025, as Dukhan Bank posted a net profit of QR1.3bn, while total assets grew by 5% to QR124bn. Customer deposits increased by 5.3%, and the financing portfolio expanded by 4.4%, underscoring the Bank’s solid financial position and its ability to deliver sustainable growth.”
He added: “Regarding digital transformation, the Bank continued to introduce pioneering initiatives aimed at enhancing customer experience and improving banking efficiency. Among the most notable was the launch of Qatar’s first digital onboarding kiosk, fully integrated with the Qatar Digital Identity system, enabling customers to open accounts and issue bank cards digitally, securely, and within minutes. We also continued to strengthen our digital platforms, expand payment solutions, and roll out smart services that further elevate the customer experience and accelerate our digital transformation journey. These efforts have earned regional and international recognition, including the ‘Best Digital Transformation Initiative in MENA 2025’ award at the MEED Banking Excellence Awards, in recognition of our success in building a fully integrated digital banking ecosystem founded on innovation, operational excellence, and the highest standards of security, while meeting the demands of a rapidly evolving financial landscape in full compliance with Shariah principles."
Eng. Hassan Al Marzouqi, Director-General of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, the Diamond Sponsor, said: “Waqf has long been a cornerstone and a defining hallmark of Islamic civilization and the development of modern societies. Today, amid rapid technological advances and the emergence of AI agentic systems capable of making decisions autonomously, we are entering a new phase of transformation that is reshaping Islamic finance as well as developmental and institutional work. These developments open up broad opportunities to enhance asset management and strengthen operational efficiency, governance, and transparency. At the same time, they place upon us the responsibility of understanding their Shariah, legal, and regulatory implications and ensuring that these technologies are governed and deployed in ways that serve the public interest, promote sustainable development, preserve and grow Awqaf assets, and fulfill the intentions of donors, all within a robust Shariah framework that carefully balances innovation with our deeply rooted values.”
He continued: “The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs’support for this conference stems from the very core of its endowment and developmental mission within society. It also reflects the objectives and aspirations of the Scientific and Cultural Development Waqf Fund, which has made support for conferences, seminars, and dialogue forums, as well as the promotion of innovative scientific research, a key pillar in enriching knowledge and advancing society.”
He added: “At the General Directorate of Endowments, we are following the discussions of this conference with great interest and look forward to the insights and ideas it will generate on the future of Islamic finance in the age of agentic systems. While these technologies offer promising opportunities for financial, developmental, and endowment institutions, they also raise Shariah, legal, and regulatory questions that warrant careful study and sound jurisprudential grounding. We also look forward to the conference’s scientific outcomes and practical recommendations on advancing Islamic financial institutions, improving waqf management, and leveraging modern digital applications in the service of development and society. We hope these outcomes will serve as a practical reference for supporting responsible digital transformation and strengthening governance, efficiency, and sustainability across the various fields of Islamic finance and development. We are also pleased to announce the General Directorate of Endowments’ support for the Doha Islamic Finance Conference Award, which is being launched as part of this year’s conference. We hope the award will become a leading platform for recognising creativity and excellence and a catalyst for advancing knowledge and professional practices across the various fields of Islamic finance, thereby enhancing the sector’s competitiveness and leadership at both the regional and international levels.”
