Madinah, 24 Sha'ban 1447 AH (12 February 2026)

The 46th Al Baraka Symposium on Islamic Economics has concluded after six specialized scientific sessions held under the title "The Sector of Righteousness and Benevolence in the Islamic Economy: Toward a New Future", with leading scholars, experts and practitioners from around the world.

In his closing address, Yousef Hassan Khalawi, Secretary General of the Al Baraka Forum for Islamic Economics, said the symposium offered a rigorous scientific space for dialogue and for anticipating the coming stage, noting that the discussions revealed wide opportunities for ijtihad, research and innovation in the Islamic economy amid rapid global economic change.

He said the "economy of righteousness and benevolence" is a candidate title for the next stage in the development of the Islamic economy. Islamic banking was the leading theme of the past five decades and established its institutional presence globally, but the coming stage may see the rise of the economy of righteousness and benevolence as a broader framework for strengthening development and social impact, while Islamic banking retains its central role in assets and reach.

He announced that the 47th symposium will be devoted to Islamic banking under the title "Human Capital in Islamic Banks", addressing the role of Sharia boards, training and succession, leadership development and the drafting of an ethical charter for employees of Islamic financial institutions, strengthening governance and entrenching professional values derived from Sharia.

The symposium featured a series of workshops and scientific lectures, most notably Dr. Ilyas Dardour's lecture on "Financial Engineering for Endowments", which reviewed sukuk and endowment funds as modern tools for strengthening the sustainability of endowments and maximizing their returns while adhering to Sharia rules.

In the "Recording the Memory of the Pioneers" track, Dr. Bishr Muwaffaq interviewed Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani in a session titled "My Memories with Islamic Banking", in which he stressed the importance of combining Sharia grounding with the demands of reality in developing the Islamic banking industry.

The workshops also discussed demographic growth and Islamic economic expansion, the use of endowments to support charitable and social projects, and the activation of the objectives of Sharia in the philanthropy sector, putting forward the concept of the "economy of dignity", built on empowering the beneficiary and moving from seasonal donation to investment endowment and smart development.

Participants noted that Saudi Vision 2030 aims to raise the non-profit sector's contribution to GDP to 5% by 2030, while the Kingdom's endowment assets are estimated at around SAR 430 billion.

The "Bridges of Research and Application" session addressed linking academic research with practical application through the Saleh Kamel Prize for Islamic Economics, worth a total of SAR 1 million, while the "Empowering Young Minds" workshop focused on the role of entrepreneurship in achieving social impact alongside profitability.

The symposium closed by stressing the importance of turning its recommendations into executive programs and effective partnerships that develop the Islamic economy and strengthen its role in achieving sustainable development and entrenching the values of justice and solidarity in communities.

At a Glance

  • Sessions: 6 scientific sessions
  • Theme: the sector of righteousness and benevolence in the Islamic economy
  • Next edition: human capital in Islamic banks
  • Endowment assets in the Kingdom: SAR 430 billion