Doha: Under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the 12th Doha Islamic Finance Conference commenced in Doha. The conference is themed "Islamic Finance in the Age of Agentic Systems" and was inaugurated by HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani, with HE Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanem also in attendance.
According to Qatar News Agency, the event gathered government authorities, international organizations, and financial and academic enterprises from the economy, finance, and technology sectors. The conference aims to explore the potential paths for Islamic funding in the era of agentic artificial intelligence, which is characterized by advanced systems capable of operating independently and making decisions based on Sharia regulations.
The conference focuses on leveraging AI to enhance endowment, strengthen the participatory economy, and elevate efficiency in managing Zakat for sustainable development. During the inaugural session, HE Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dukhan Bank Sheikh Abdulla bin Fahad bin Jassim Al-Thani highlighted the evolving nature of smart technologies and the opportunities they present to reshape financial services.
Dukhan Bank emphasized the importance of developing these technologies to further Islamic banking, considering digital transition as a core pillar due to its significance in shaping the future of Islamic finance. The bank continued to upgrade its digital platforms and received the award for the best digital transformation initiative in the Middle East and North Africa in 2025.
Eng. Hassan Abdullah Al Marzouqi from the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs noted the ministry's role as a foundational pillar of Islamic civilization, emphasizing the need to anticipate the legal, regulatory, and Sharia implications of emerging technologies. He stressed the importance of governing these technologies to benefit public interest and sustainable development.
Hamed Al Saadi of Qatar Financial Centre highlighted the significance of the conference theme, noting the capabilities of AI-based solutions in understanding client needs. He also mentioned the challenges of governance, transparency, and accountability in utilizing these technologies.
Dr. Qutb Mustafa Sano of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy discussed the integration and cooperation between humans and machines in the future, where moral and legal responsibility remains with humans.
Prof. Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, remarked on the rapid changes in economic, technological, and geopolitical dimensions, emphasizing the strategic imperative of studying Islamic finance in the context of agentic systems.
The conference agenda covers four main areas: Islamic financial institutions and intelligent systems, the evolution of endowments, virtual influencers and Islamic finance, and zakat and development in the context of agentic systems.