logo
First AI Hackathon on Islamic Finance: Strengthening the Adoption of Standards in Islamic Finance with Artificial Intelligence

First AI Hackathon on Islamic Finance: Strengthening the Adoption of Standards in Islamic Finance with Artificial Intelligence

Zawya09-04-2025

The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) is pleased to announce the launch of its First AI Hackathon on Islamic Finance, scheduled to take place from 8–10 May 2025. This pioneering event brings together students and young professionals in computer science, artificial intelligence, and finance to work on AI-powered solutions that support the adoption and implementation of selected AAOIFI Financial Accounting Standards (FAS). The hackathon aims to encourage creative and practical solutions that bring Islamic finance standards to life in a more accessible, efficient, and globally harmonized way.
With cash prizes and recognition, participants will compete in teams to design impactful AI tools that improve standardization, compliance, and decision-making within the Islamic finance ecosystem. The teams will gain hands-on experience, engage with leading experts, and help shape the future of Islamic finance through innovation and purpose-driven technology.
Are you ready for the AI revolution?
Join us for an exciting AI Hackathon where students and professionals from the fields of computer science, AI and Finance and Accounting collaborate to develop AI-powered solutions centered around selected AAOIFI Financial Accounting Standards (FAS).
This first-of-its-kind hackathon will explore how AI can be tailored to make these standards easier to implement and adopt, more comprehensive, user-friendly and globally compatible, leading to higher compliance rates and better financial decision-making in the Islamic Finance sector (financial engineering, compliance, product structuring and standardization).
Why Participate?
Participating in this AI Hackathon is more than just a competition—it's an opportunity to make a real impact in the evolving landscape of Islamic finance.
Exciting Rewards and Recognition – Compete for prizes, gain recognition from industry leaders, and boost your career with an achievement that sets you apart.
Make an Impact in Islamic Finance – Contribute to the future of financial standardization and compliance in the Islamic finance sector, helping institutions make better decisions and enhance regulatory adherence.
Innovate with Purpose – Leverage AI to enhance the implementation and adoption of Islamic Financial Accounting Standards, making them more accessible, efficient, and globally compatible.
Learn, Network and Showcase – Gain hands-on AI experience in Islamic finance, collaborate with industry experts, and showcase your skills to stand out in the field.
Awards:
First Place: 10,000 USD
Second Place: 7,000 USD
Third Place: 4,000 USD
Who Can Participate?
Students and Professionals in teams of 3-5 with required specialties in Computer Science, AI and Finance and Accounting.
Evaluation Criteria and Judging Panel
Your submission will be assessed based on:
Accuracy and Compliance – Alignment with AAOIFI standards.
Innovation and Creativity – Novel approaches to solving your own proposed challenges.
AI Performance Improvement – Effectiveness in refining AI-generated outputs.
User Friendliness – intuitive user experience.
The Judging Panel will include experts in Islamic Finance, AAOIFI Accounting Standards and Artificial Intelligence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I join as an individual?
You have to form a team containing at least 3 members with the required expertise in computer science, AI and finance (maximum of 5 team members).
Will the hackathon be virtual or on-site?
It is a hybrid format where the pre-event workshops will take place online, but the actual hackathon will be on-site, the venue will be communicated in due course.
Stay Tuned for More Details!
We're gearing up for an exciting AI Hackathon on Islamic Finance, and we can't wait to share more details with you!
Follow us and keep an eye on our official channels, exciting announcements are coming your way!
Details about registration, workshops, venue, and much more will be revealed soon!
Get ready to shape the future of AI in Islamic finance! Start building your dream team for this groundbreaking hackathon!
More information is available on www.IsDBI-Hackathon.com
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).
Social media handles:
X (Twitter): https://apo-opa.co/43LhS9n
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4lnSWex
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3G1ljix
About the Islamic Development Bank Institute:
The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) is the knowledge beacon of the Islamic Development Bank Group. Guided by the principles of Islamic economics and finance, the IsDB Institute leads the development of innovative knowledge-based solutions to support the sustainable economic advancement of IsDB Member Countries and various Muslim communities worldwide. The IsDB Institute enables economic development through pioneering research, human capital development, knowledge creation, dissemination, and management. The Institute leads initiatives to enable Islamic finance ecosystems, ultimately helping Member Countries achieve their development objectives. More information about the IsDB Institute is available on https://IsDBInstitute.org

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Diamond Standard announces Fatwa: The ideal solution for Islamic finance
Diamond Standard announces Fatwa: The ideal solution for Islamic finance

Gulf Today

time15 hours ago

  • Gulf Today

Diamond Standard announces Fatwa: The ideal solution for Islamic finance

Diamond Standard Co., producer of the world's only regulator-approved natural diamond commodities, today announced a historic milestone for the Islamic finance industry: the issuance of a Fatwa by Sheikh Dr. Mohamed Ali Elgari, approving the use of diamond commodities to enable more efficient and more proper Islamic finance applications. Dr. Elgari is an esteemed authority in Islamic finance, having served as Professor and Director of the Centre for Research in Islamic Economics at King Abdulaziz University, and as Shariah board member for organizations including AAOIFI, Islamic Fiqh Academy, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, BlackRock, Citibank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NDB, HSBC, Standard Chartered and other banks worldwide. A New Era for $5 Trillion of Islamic Finance The Fatwa signifies a pivotal breakthrough for Islamic finance, where the lending of money with interest is prohibited under Shariah. Instead of directly lending money, the annual settlement for $5 trillion of global loan and bond transactions must be asset-backed, through structures like commodity Murabaha. Until now, commodity Murabaha used metals like nickel, copper, or aluminum. These assets were often created on paper, as options and warrants—a practice now in conflict with AAOIFI Standard 62, which requires the title to the commodity to be delivered to the borrower. Gold, silver, and food commodities are not permitted for Murabaha, and use of metals can result in substantial storage and delivery costs. In contrast, Diamond Standard commodities are a Shariah compliant, fully deliverable and fungible physical asset, with custody and delivery costs up to 97% less than that for metals like copper. After the issuance of Standard 62, a consortium of Islamic banks asked Diamond Standard to develop a commodity Murahaba solution, with audited physical custody in a Muslim majority country. Technology Meets Tradition Diamonds are a $1.2 trillion natural resource that was inaccessible to investors. Diamond Standard commodities—physical Coins and Bars—contain optimized and equivalent sets of diamonds, transparently sealed with a wireless computer chip. Since the commodities are all equal, they trade easily on spot exchanges, with a daily market price reported by Bloomberg. The wireless chip enables each commodity to issue an electronic title of ownership, recorded and traded securely on a public blockchain. This innovation supports instant title transfer and remote audit, and eliminates all uncertainty. The commodities are approved to settle CFTC-regulated futures and options in the U.S., and the commodity production is internally audited by Deloitte. GCC Expansion and Islamic Trading Platform To provide a standing pool of commodities to support Islamic applications, and enable investors to allocate to diamonds as a newly accessible natural resource, Diamond Standard is launching a commodity holding and trading company in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. This entity will: Supply Shariah-compliant diamond commodities to Islamic finance institutions and trading platforms for Murabaha via an active market making desk. Offer a listed fund vehicle for equity and Sukuk investors seeking to invest in hard assets, expecting the value of diamonds to increase due to Islamic and investment demand. Anchor the development of new manufacturing, exports, and trading in the GCC region. This Diamond Standard commodity holding company has secured $280 million in capital commitments and is in discussions with GCC anchor investors to finalize the location of diamond importing, production and trading in the region. The initiative is expected to create over 200 new jobs, relating to commodity operations, import and export, marketing, trading, custody, and lending–as well as Islamic finance jobs. Tax Free Custody at DMCC Diamond Standard also announced that it had selected the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) as the venue to provide audited, tax-free custody for the Diamond Standard commodities. This will benefit Islamic banks and investors by avoiding the tariffs on diamonds entering the U.S. and elsewhere. Unlocking a New Future Cormac Kinney, Founder and CEO of Diamond Standard, stated: 'We intended to unlock $1.2 trillion of natural diamonds as an investment asset, but their dense value, combined with modern technology, has surprisingly made diamonds ideal for Islamic finance. We are honored to offer this asset to strengthen Islamic values.' By establishing Shariah-compliant diamond commodities, Diamond Standard is pioneering a new asset class for Islamic finance—fusing centuries-old ethical values with the latest innovations in blockchain and commodities, and offering borrowers and investors an unexpected, but ideal solution for modern Islamic financial transactions. For more information, visit

IsDBI engages global stakeholders to advance Islamic finance during group Annual Meetings in Algiers
IsDBI engages global stakeholders to advance Islamic finance during group Annual Meetings in Algiers

Zawya

timea day ago

  • Zawya

IsDBI engages global stakeholders to advance Islamic finance during group Annual Meetings in Algiers

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) has reinforced its leadership in Islamic finance by engaging with key stakeholders in a series of high-level bilateral meetings during the 2025 IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Algiers, Algeria. These strategic engagements underscore IsDBI's commitment to fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development across its Member Countries. Led by Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General, the IsDBI team included Mr. Mohammad Khalid Jawahir, Senior Islamic Finance Specialist; Dr. Hylmun Izhar, Senior Research Economist; and Dr. Wejdan Kenali, Senior Editor. The IsDBI's agenda focused on advancing partnerships, capacity development, and knowledge-driven solutions in Islamic finance. Strengthening Global Partnerships Key engagements included a meeting with the Securities Commission Malaysia, represented by Mrs. Sharifatul Hanizah, Executive Director, Islamic Capital Market and Mr. Hamzil Mohamadan, Head ICM Strategic Affairs, to explore collaboration in Sukuk, Awqaf, and sustainability initiatives. Discussions with Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) officials, Dr. Ghiath Shabsigh, Secretary General and Dr. Abdullah Haron, Deputy Secretary General, centered on Islamic finance laws and regulations and leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance financial infrastructure. The IsDBI team also met with Atlantic Group, a leading pan-African conglomerate, led by Mr. Léon Konan Koffi, Chairman of the Board, focusing on the development of internal Shariah-compliant financial capabilities to support the Group's expansion. A session with the Eurasian Development Bank, represented by Mr. Ruslan Dalenov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, addressed the introduction of Shariah-compliant financial instruments in Central Asia, promoting financial inclusion and economic diversification. Advancing Social Finance and Capacity Building The IsDBI also met with IFAAS CEO and founder, Mr. Farrukh Raza where discussions centered on capacity building programs and the applications of Islamic finance principles. A meeting with Mr. Zeinoul Abedien Cajee, Deputy Secretary General of the World Zakat and Waqf Forum, and CEO of Awqaaf South Africa, stressed on the importance of Islamic social finance and innovative technologies, such as blockchain, to enhance waqf management. Engagement with Mr. Abdou Karim Diaw, National Coordinator of Senegal's PROMISE program, focused on capacity-building initiatives in Islamic microfinance to drive financial inclusion in underserved communities. Promoting Innovation and Knowledge Sharing The delegation from Bank Negara Malaysia, led by Ms. Nurul Izza Idris, Director of the Islamic Finance Department, exchanged insights on capacity building, digital payment innovation, and enhanced cooperation with Central Asian Member Countries. A meeting with the Participation Banks Association of Türkiye (TKBB), represented by Ms. Fatma Çınar, Deputy Secretary General of TKBB and Mr. Ömer Karakuş from the Katılım Finans Kefalet (Islamic Credit Guarantee Fund), included discussions on Türkiye's experiences in credit guarantees, digital transformation, and sustainability reporting, with an emphasis on knowledge sharing. Supporting Regulatory Development and Strategic Planning Engagements with H.E. Sheku A. Fantamadi Bangura, Minister of Finance and IsDB Governor for Sierra Leone, and H.E. Hassan Miras, Deputy Minister of Finance and Acting IsDB Governor for the Republic of Maldives, focused on developing national Islamic finance strategies, regulatory frameworks, and capacity-building programs. Meetings with Dr. Mohamed Abouzain, General Manager of Algeria's National Office of Awqaf and Zakat, and Dr. Ahmed Lamine Athié, Director General of Senegal's Haute Autorité du Waqf (HAW), addressed long-term strategic planning and public awareness for waqf management. Fostering Innovation for Economic Growth A session with Mr. Adam Roble, Managing Director of the Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank, explored innovative Islamic finance instruments to support agriculture and SMEs, including risk-sharing solutions and e-commerce integration. 'These strategic meetings reflect IsDBI's unwavering commitment to knowledge-based development, financial inclusion, and the use of Islamic finance as a driver of sustainable economic progress across the Member Countries and Muslim communities worldwide,' said Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI. The IsDB Institute remains dedicated to building robust partnerships and advancing the Islamic finance ecosystem for the benefit of all its Member Countries. About the Islamic Development Bank Institute The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) is the knowledge beacon of the Islamic Development Bank Group. Guided by the principles of Islamic economics and finance, the IsDB Institute leads the development of innovative knowledge-based solutions to support the sustainable economic advancement of IsDB Member Countries and various Muslim communities worldwide. The IsDB Institute enables economic development through pioneering research, human capital development, knowledge creation, dissemination, and management. The Institute leads initiatives to enable Islamic finance ecosystems, ultimately helping Member Countries achieve their development objectives. More information about the IsDB Institute is available on Social media handles: X (Twitter): Facebook: LinkedIn:

Aramco Eyes Islamic Debt Market Amid Fiscal Pressures
Aramco Eyes Islamic Debt Market Amid Fiscal Pressures

Arabian Post

time2 days ago

  • Arabian Post

Aramco Eyes Islamic Debt Market Amid Fiscal Pressures

Saudi Aramco has filed a new prospectus for an Islamic bond issuance programme, indicating a potential return to the debt markets following a $5 billion conventional bond sale earlier this week. The prospectus, dated 30 May, was submitted to the London Stock Exchange, where the sukuk would be listed. Under its terms, Aramco has a year to issue the Islamic bonds. This move comes as the company navigates economic uncertainties and increased oil supply, which have impacted crude markets and reduced the oil exporter's profits. In March, Aramco announced plans to reduce its dividend by nearly a third due to declining profits and free cash flow. The Saudi government relies heavily on revenue from Aramco, including dividends, royalties, and taxes. Last year, oil accounted for 62% of state revenue. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Saudi Arabia requires oil prices above $90 per barrel to balance its budget, while Brent crude is currently trading around $64.40.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store