GLOBAL ISLAMIC FINANCE LEADERS GATHER IN LONDON FOR 5TH ANNUAL ALBARAKA SUMMIT

- The two-day summit will examine how ethical finance can drive investment, innovation, financial inclusion and sustainable economic growth -

LONDON, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global financial and business leaders, government ministers, policymakers, scholars and industry experts will gather in London on 13-14 October to examine how Islamic finance can turn its ethical principles into practical economic impact across investment, regulation, technology and financial inclusion.

The 5th Annual AlBaraka Summit, taking place at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, will bring together leaders from Muslim-majority and non-Muslim-majority markets under the theme, "Ethics in Action: Rebuilding Foundations and Advancing the Global Impact of the Islamic Economy."

Drawing on an economic framework where ethical principles are the foundation, the 5th Annual Summit will examine how justice, accountability, risk-sharing and social responsibility can shape financial markets, investment, regulation, technology and economic development.

Across the two days, discussions will examine policy and regulation, Islamic banking and capital markets, social finance and Takaful, Waqf and Zakat, digitalisation and entrepreneurship, and the role of global financial centres in advancing an ethical and globally relevant Islamic economy.

H.E. Mr. Yousef Hassan Khalawi, Secretary-General of AlBaraka Forum for Islamic Economy, said: "The Islamic economy has always been about more than financial products. Its foundations connect economic activity with justice, accountability and responsibility to society. The challenge before us is to ensure those principles are not simply discussed, but put into action. London provides an important setting for that conversation, connecting Islamic finance with one of the world's leading international financial centres."

Speakers at the summit include H.E. Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, Chairman of the Shari'ah Council at the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions; H.E. Mr. Shakeel Ahmed Yousuf Mohamed, The Honourable Minister of Housing and Lands, Government of Mauritius; H.E. Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Nigeria's Honourable Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning; Nurul Izzah Anwar Ibrahim, Executive Chairperson of Suluh Centre; and Mohammad Shoaib Memon, Chief Operating Officer of Arab Bank Europe.

A full list of speakers at the 5th Annual Summit is available here.

On the first day, an Islamic banking CEOs panel will explore policy, regulation and global direction, including how regulatory foundations can evolve, the role of ethics within public policy and priorities for the sector's next phase.

A further session will examine how Islamic banking, investment and capital markets can strengthen ethical confidence, support long-term development and increase the international impact of ethical investment and funds.

Financial inclusion and social resilience will form another major strand of the programme. Sessions will examine the role of social funds and Takaful - Islamic insurance - in strengthening social security, alongside how established Islamic instruments, including Waqf, Qard Hasan, Zakat and Sadaqah, can move beyond charitable relief towards longer-term development and societal empowerment.

Day two will turn to the sector's next phase of development, including the role global financial centres can play in creating environments where ethical Islamic finance can grow. Technology will also be a major focus, with discussions examining how digital transformation, entrepreneurship, social media and the creative economy are reshaping the next generation of the Islamic economy.

The programme will also feature a dedicated Strategic Thinking Centre workshop on "Demographic Growth and Islamic Economic Expansion: New Horizons", alongside a special "From Research to Impact" session under the patronage of the Saleh Kamel Islamic Economics Award (SKIEA), connecting postgraduate research in Islamic economics and finance with academics and industry practitioners.

The 5th Annual AlBaraka Summit in London takes place from 09:30 - 17:00 on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 October 2026 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, 86-90 Park Lane, London, W1K 7TN.

The summit's partners and sponsors include the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) as Strategic Partner, Al Baraka Group as Global Partner, Anadolu Agency as Global Communication Partner, Arab Bank Europe as Gold Sponsor, and Libya Africa Investment Portfolio as Silver Sponsor.

About AlBaraka Forum

AlBaraka Forum for Islamic Economy is an independent, non-profit, global think tank, specialising in Islamic economy in its holistic sense. The Forum emerged as an extension of the deep-rooted heritage of its founder, Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel, a heritage that covered various areas of research and development in Islamic economy.

The Forum seeks to enrich the research resources and serve the knowledge structure of Islamic economy, as well as to build partnerships and alliances with regional and international entities to foresee contemporary economic challenges and developments, in order to keep pace with Islamic economy and finance. This will enhance the outputs of the Forum as a global economic and financial knowledge beacon.

About the AlBaraka Summit Series

AlBaraka Summit Series, founded by Sheikh Saleh Kamel, aims to advance the global reach and impact of Islamic economics and finance. The series began in London and has since expanded to major economic hubs worldwide. It convenes thought leaders and influencers in Islamic economics to discuss timeless fundamentals and contemporary themes, embracing diverse economies from profit-driven enterprises to philanthropic endeavours.

AlBaraka Forum organises country-based summits, with the first version launched in London. The second summit is held annually in Saudi Arabia under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Prince of Madinah Region. Our latest summit in Türkiye was graced by the presence of H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye.