Qatar Conference To Explore Next Phase of Islamic Finance in AI Era

The 12th Doha Islamic Finance Conference, set to take place in Doha on June 16, 2026, will bring together leading Islamic finance experts, policymakers, academics, technology specialists and representatives of international organisations to examine how emerging artificial intelligence technologies are reshaping the future of the global Islamic financial industry.

Held under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the conference will be conducted under the theme “Islamic Finance in the Age of Agentic Systems.” Organised by Bait Al-Mashura Finance Consultations in strategic partnership with Dukhan Bank, the event aims to deepen dialogue among experts, researchers and decision-makers while exploring how advanced technologies can be harnessed to enhance innovation, sustainability and resilience within Islamic finance.

The conference enjoys broad support from major national institutions. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry serves as the Official Sponsor, while Dukhan Bank is the Strategic Partner. The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs is the Diamond Sponsor, the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) the Gold Sponsor, and Damaan Islamic Insurance Company (Beema) the Bronze Sponsor.

Participants are expected to discuss emerging local, regional and global trends influencing Islamic finance, with a particular focus on agentic artificial intelligence systems—advanced AI technologies capable of autonomous decision-making, learning and task execution.

The conference will begin with keynote addresses from a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Sheikh Muhammed bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, Executive Board Member and Managing Director of Dukhan Bank; Prof. Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of the Doha Islamic Finance Conference and Vice Chairman of Bait Al-Mashura Finance Consultations; Eng. Hassan Abdullah Al Marzouqi, Director-General of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs; Hamed Ali Al-Saadi, Chief Financial and Tax Officer at Qatar Financial Centre; and Prof. Dr. Koutoub Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy.

The conference’s first session, titled “Islamic Financial Institutions and the Application of Agentic Systems,” will examine the transformative impact of AI-driven autonomous systems on Islamic finance.

Chaired by Dr. Osama Al-Deraei, Managing Director and CEO of Bait Al-Mashura Finance Consultations, the session will explore how agentic AI technologies are reshaping business models, governance structures and operational processes within financial institutions.

Participants will discuss how AI agents can improve operational efficiency, strengthen risk management and support the development of innovative Islamic financial products. The session will also address Shariah-related questions concerning automated decision-making, delegation of authority, liability and guarantees.

​Among the featured speakers is Dr. Chawki Tawbi, Data Analytics and AI Sales Leader at Google Cloud Qatar, who will outline emerging agentic AI technologies and their applications across the financial sector.Dr. Al-Ayashi Fadad of Marmara University in Türkiye will present on Shariah rulings related to the use of agentic AI systems, while Dr. Andrew Mazen Dahdal, Associate Professor at the College of Law at Qatar University, will examine the legal framework governing AI agents in Islamic finance.

Dr. Mohammed Damak, Managing Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance at S&P Global Ratings, will discuss automated agent trading and the evolution of smart sukuk structures.

The technical dimensions of AI integration will be explored by Dr. Nasrullah Khan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, who will present research on designing interconnected agentic systems supported by neural networks for Islamic finance applications.

The session will conclude with insights from Prof. Dr. Hussein Abdou of Newcastle Business School, who will discuss neuro-inspired agentic AI systems and their implications for the future development of the Islamic finance industry.

The conference’s second session, “The Evolution of Waqf under Agentic AI Systems,” will focus on the growing role of artificial intelligence in managing and developing Islamic endowments.

Chaired by Dr. Nawaf Fahad Al-Otaibi, a Shariah expert at Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, the session will examine how AI can be used to improve the efficiency, transparency and governance of waqf institutions while ensuring compliance with Islamic principles.

Discussions will centre on Shariah controls governing AI-managed waqf operations, as well as the use of intelligent systems to support investment decisions and optimise the management of endowment assets.

Dr. Ahmed Saad Al-Boraie of Al-Azhar University in Egypt will discuss the objectives and principles of Shariah in the management of waqf through agentic AI systems.

Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Bayoumi, Visiting Professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Islamic Studies, will explore the role of AI-driven systems in managing and investing endowment assets.

The session will also address innovative financing mechanisms. Dr. Sazali Zainal Abidin of Sultan Qaboos University in Oman will present on smart crowdfunding as a tool for strengthening the sharing economy, while Eng. Haiyan Al-Saiyed, Founder and CEO of Saudi Arabia-based Fundraizerly Fintech, will present a case study on crowdfunding models based on crypto assets.

Another key theme of the conference will be the rise of virtual influencers and their potential role in Islamic finance.

The third session, “Virtual Influencers and Islamic Finance,” will be chaired by Qatari media personality Aqeel Al-Janahi and will explore both the opportunities and challenges associated with AI-generated digital personalities.

The session will examine Shariah and legal frameworks governing virtual influencers, focusing on issues such as credibility, accountability and compliance.

Discussions will also address how virtual influencers can be utilised to promote charitable and waqf-related initiatives, enhance financial literacy and support ethical marketing of Islamic financial products.

Nancy Heydari, Business Development and Strategic Communications Director at UAE-based Dream Farm Agency, will discuss trends and growth opportunities within the rapidly expanding virtual influencer market.

Dr. Sha’ban Barwari, Managing Partner at Bahrain-based Qutoof Consulting, will examine legal and Shariah regulations governing virtual influencer activities, while Dr. Fazal Rahim of Ajman Bank will discuss the jurisprudential and ethical dimensions of commerce conducted through virtual influencers.

Content creator and media figure Swar Al-Dhahab Ali will explore how virtual influencers can support awareness campaigns for waqf and charitable causes.The session will conclude with a presentation by Dr. Othman Al-Thawadi, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Qatar University, who will discuss the use of virtual influencers in shaping public opinion and promoting Islamic financial products while maintaining ethical standards and alignment with the objectives of Shariah.

The fourth session, “Zakat and Development in the Agentic AI Systems Environment,” will focus on the application of AI technologies in enhancing zakat management and maximising its socioeconomic impact.Chaired by Dr. Khaled Al-Otaibi of Kuwait University, the session will explore how agentic AI systems can improve data analysis, automate decision-making processes and increase accuracy in identifying beneficiaries.

Speakers will discuss how these technologies can contribute to greater transparency, fairness and efficiency in zakat collection and distribution while ensuring compliance with Islamic principles.

Dr. Basheer Hizam Mahdi, a researcher in Islamic economics from Saudi Arabia, will discuss the role of AI systems in zakat data analysis and automated decision-making.

Dr. Mohammad Al-Fuzai of Kuwait University will examine governance frameworks for zakat in digital ecosystems and their alignment with the objectives of Shariah.

The contribution of AI to sustainable development goals will be addressed by Dr. Aam Slamet Rusydiana of Sakarya University in Türkiye, who will present a paper on strengthening the developmental role of zakat through agentic AI technologies.

Ahmed Youssef Fakhroo, Executive Director of Communications and Community Impact at Qatar Charity, will conclude the session by presenting practical experiences and case studies involving digital zakat platforms and smart charitable solutions.

Since its launch in 2010, the Doha Islamic Finance Conference has evolved into one of the most influential global forums dedicated to Islamic finance.Organised annually by Bait Al-Mashura Finance Consultations, the conference has consistently attracted leading scholars, regulators, financial executives, academics and government representatives from around the world.

Over the years, it has established itself as a major platform for knowledge exchange and thought leadership by addressing the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the Islamic finance industry.

Its annual agenda is designed to reflect emerging trends and developments, ensuring discussions remain relevant to industry needs and future priorities.

This year’s focus on agentic AI systems reflects the growing recognition that advanced technologies will play a critical role in shaping the future of Islamic finance.

By bringing together experts from finance, technology, academia and Shariah scholarship, the conference aims to provide practical insights into how artificial intelligence can be integrated responsibly and effectively into Islamic financial ecosystems.