Baku (UNA) – The Islamic Development Bank Institute released its 2025 Annual Report during the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group held in Baku, Azerbaijan, highlighting a year full of growing contributions in the field of Islamic finance transformation, developing innovative solutions, and building capacity.
The report highlights the Institute’s role and global leadership in the knowledge industry through developing innovative solutions, expanding support to member countries through knowledge-based interventions, providing targeted grants to promote the Islamic finance industry, and consolidating strategic partnerships.
The Institute’s scope of work expanded significantly in 2025 in the field of transition to Islamic finance, as it adopted 25 new technical assistance projects worth US$4.14 million, and completed 19 projects worth US$3 million, within the framework of programs to support member countries in developing regulatory frameworks and strengthening inclusive financial systems.
The total amount of the Institute’s interventions in this field since 2013 has reached more than US$27.57 million, distributed across 181 projects that have benefited more than 34 countries, which confirms its continued contribution to achieving development goals in the Islamic world.
The annual report highlights the progress made by the Institute in its three pioneering transformative projects: Waqf Free Zones, Digital Islamic Postal Financial Services, and the Smart Interbank Trade System, all of which are in pilot phases ready for implementation. These initiatives aim to address current global challenges such as financial inclusion, food and energy security, and trade resilience.
Furthermore, the institute has combined its efforts in the field of digital innovation in Islamic finance. It has enhanced the efficiency of the artificial intelligence assistant and hosted the first AI hackathon for Islamic finance, with the participation of more than 40 teams to develop solutions that are consistent with the standards of the financial industry.
Developing human capital in Islamic finance was a key pillar of the Institute’s work in 2025, as it offered more than 20 training programs that benefited about 500 specialists in various member countries.
One of his most notable achievements in this field is the Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program, a pioneering initiative aimed at equipping emerging leaders from 20 countries with entrepreneurial skills based on innovation and values. The program was designed and implemented in cooperation with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Management and Entrepreneurship in the Kingdom.
The institute has strengthened its leading intellectual position through its pioneering publications, global partnerships, and keeping pace with digital development, thus consolidating its leading position in Islamic economics and finance.
Commenting on the release of the annual report, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of the Institute, said: “I am pleased to note that the Institute has continued to strengthen its distinguished role in the global development system through the integration of knowledge production, human capital building, and the design of innovative solutions to meet economic challenges.”
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