The DIFC Academy Centre for Global Islamic Finance serves as a dedicated platform for thought leadership, executive education, and industry collaboration in Islamic finance. Anchored in Dubai’s position as a leading global financial hub, the Centre aims to support the development of a resilient, innovative, and globally connected Islamic finance ecosystem.
Our Purpose
The Centre is committed to advancing the understanding, adoption, and evolution of Islamic finance by:
- Promoting high-quality, industry-relevant education and professional development
- Facilitating dialogue between regulators, industry leaders, and academia
- Supporting innovation across Islamic banking, capital markets, and fintech
- Contributing to the strategic vision of positioning Dubai as a global hub for Islamic finance
Industry Context and Outlook
Global Perspective
The global Islamic finance industry has witnessed significant expansion over the past two decades, growing across key sectors including banking, capital markets, asset and wealth management, takaful, waqf, and fintech. This sustained momentum reflects the industry’s increasing depth, diversification, and global relevance.
Today, Islamic finance assets are estimated at approximately USD 4 trillion, with strong growth forecasts indicating the industry is on track to surpass USD 7 trillion by 2028 and approach USD 9 trillion by 2030. This growth is driven by increasing demand for Shariah-compliant financial solutions and broader geographic participation.
Rooted in principles that prohibit interest, minimise uncertainty, promote equitable risk-sharing, and ensure linkage to real economic activity, Islamic finance offers a transparent and ethical alternative to conventional finance. These foundational characteristics continue to enhance its global appeal as a resilient and values-driven financial system.
Local Perspective
In May 2025, the UAE launched its National Strategy for Islamic Finance and Halal Industry, setting ambitious targets to be achieved by 2031. These include:
- Doubling Islamic banking assets to AED 2.56 trillion
- Increasing domestic sukuk issuance to AED 660 billion
- Expanding foreign sukuk listings on UAE exchanges to AED 395 billion
- Growing halal product exports to AED 315 billion
The Strategy reinforces the UAE’s vision to position itself as a global hub for Islamic finance and the halal economy, while also extending expertise and support to other jurisdictions.
Led by the Central Bank of the UAE and supported by key stakeholders across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, this national roadmap creates significant new opportunities for DIFC-based financial institutions, asset managers, takaful operators, fintech firms, law firms, and advisory practices.
Bridging the Capability Gap
To fully capitalise on these opportunities, professionals require a strong understanding of Islamic finance contracts, operational frameworks, and governance structures — areas where capability gaps remain across the market.
Recognising this need, DIFC Academy has developed a comprehensive suite of Islamic finance capacity-building programmes tailored across multiple competency levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced and leadership. These programmes are designed to address the full spectrum of contemporary Islamic financial practice.
With continued growth across Islamic banks, conventional institutions with Islamic windows, regulators, asset managers, and fintech providers, demand for professionals with specialised Islamic finance expertise is increasing significantly.
What We Offer
Our programmes are designed to combine rigorous theoretical grounding with practical, industry-relevant insights, equipping participants to effectively contribute to the UAE’s evolving Islamic finance landscape and the broader global ecosystem.
Executive Education & Certification Programmes
A comprehensive portfolio of programmes designed for professionals across banking, finance, law, and advisory, covering:
- Fundamentals of Islamic Finance
- Shariah-compliant Banking and Products
- Sukuk and Islamic Capital Markets
- Islamic Wealth Management
- Emerging trends, including Islamic fintech and sustainable finance
Programmes are developed in collaboration with leading subject matter experts, industry practitioners and leading global institutions to ensure relevance, rigor, and practical application.
Flagship Initiatives
The Centre leads and hosts a range of high-impact initiatives, including:
- Global Islamic Finance Summit (in collaboration with the DIFC Innovation Hub) – Convening global leaders, regulators, and scholars to discuss strategic trends and opportunities
- Industry Roundtables – Curated discussions on emerging topics, regulatory developments, and best practices
- Thought Leadership Series – Publications, insights, and knowledge-sharing sessions addressing critical issues shaping the sector
Strategic Partnerships
The Centre collaborates with:
- Regulatory authorities and government entities
- International academic institutions
- Professional bodies and industry associations
- Financial institutions and advisory firms
These partnerships enable the co-creation of programmes and initiatives that reflect global standards and regional priorities.
Who Should Engage
The Centre’s programmes and initiatives are designed for:
- Banking and finance professionals
- Legal and compliance practitioners
- Government and regulatory stakeholders
- Consultants and advisors
- Academics and researchers
- Aspiring professionals seeking to enter the Islamic finance industry
Why DIFC Academy
- Located within the DIFC, a leading international financial centre
- Access to a global ecosystem of financial institutions and regulators
- Industry-driven, practitioner-led learning experiences
- Strong focus on innovation and future-oriented topics
Join Us
Be part of a growing global community shaping the future of Islamic finance.
Whether you are looking to deepen your expertise, explore new opportunities, or contribute to industry dialogue, the Centre for Global Islamic Finance offers a platform to engage, learn, and lead.
Islamic Finance Learning Pathway
At the heart of this initiative is our Islamic Finance Learning Pathway — a structured, end-to-end journey designed to support professionals at every stage:
Beginner
Building strong foundations through accessible programmes, including Unlocking Islamic Finance and our E-learning series
Intermediate
Expanding knowledge through the Islamic Finance Master Series, covering key areas such as banking, capital markets, wealth management, Takaful, Waqf, and FinTech
Advanced
Strengthening specialisation through the Islamic Finance Graduate Certificate, aligned with AAOIFI standards and industry needs
Leadership
Developing future leaders through the Cambridge Islamic Finance Leadership Programme (Cambridge-IFLP)
Through this pathway, we aim to:
- Develop future-ready talent for the Islamic Finance industry
- Foster global collaboration and knowledge exchange
- Support innovation, sustainability, and ethical finance
- Contribute to the UAE’s broader economic and financial sector ambitions
Explore our programme pathway and select the area that best aligns with your professional goals in Islamic finance.
