Cedar Podcasts

EP23: Islamic FinTech is ethical finance by design


Listen Later

Islamic FinTech is a branch of financial technology that operates in line with Sharia principles, emphasizing ethics, transparency and social responsibility. While rooted in Islamic finance, it is increasingly attracting non-Muslims due to its strong alignment with environmental, social and governance (ESG) values. Like ESG-compliant FinTech, Islamic FinTech promotes sustainability, financial inclusion and ethical governance, with the added dimension of faith-based compliance overseen by Sharia supervisory boards.

The sector is growing rapidly, with leading markets including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, the UAE, Türkiye and Indonesia, together accounting for over 80% of Islamic FinTech transaction volumes in OIC countries. The market is projected to reach $179 billion by 2026, outpacing global FinTech growth. Most Islamic FinTech currently focus on payments, lending, wealth management and digital banking, while social finance covering Zakat, Sadaqah and Waqf represents a major untapped opportunity.

Islamic FinTech also plays a vital role in financial inclusion, particularly in Muslim-majority regions with large unbanked populations. Although regulation remains country-specific, growing regulatory sandboxes and standards such as those from AAOIFI are supporting sustained global expansion.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Cedar PodcastsBy Cedar Management Consulting International