SEPANG, 10 September 2026 – The 12th Islamic Banking, Accounting and Finance International Conference (iBAF 2026) successfully brought together academics, researchers, industry practitioners and students from various backgrounds to explore emerging issues and developments shaping the future of Islamic accounting, banking and finance.
Organised by the Faculty of Economics and Muamalat (FEM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), the two-day hybrid conference was held on 9 and 10 September 2026 at Mövenpick Hotel & Convention Centre KLIA, under the theme “Future-Ready Islamic Accounting, Banking and Finance: Integrating Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, and Governance.”
The conference provided an international academic platform for participants to share research findings, exchange perspectives and strengthen collaboration across the fields of accounting, banking, finance, business and economics. Contributions covered a wide range of contemporary areas, including Islamic banking and finance, fintech and Islamic digital ecosystems, green finance, halal management, Maqasid Shariah, financial economics, social finance, as well as Shariah audit, ethics and governance.
The opening ceremony featured a welcoming address by YBhg. Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Sharifudin bin Md. Shaarani, Vice-Chancellor of USIM, followed by the official opening address by YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Abdul Wahid bin Omar, Pro-Chancellor of USIM.
A significant highlight of the first day was the symbolic collaboration between USIM and Kazan Federal University, Russia, reflecting the conference’s commitment to strengthening international academic and institutional partnerships.
The conference also witnessed the official launch of USIMPay, positioning USIM as a Payment Service Agent (PSA) under Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad. The initiative represents an important step towards strengthening USIM’s digital payment ecosystem and integrating technology with institutional financial services.
The keynote address, entitled “Future-Ready Islamic Finance: Innovation with Purpose,” was delivered by YBrs. Dr. Akhtarzaite Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Shariah Committee of Maybank Islamic Berhad. The address highlighted the importance of purposeful innovation in ensuring that Islamic finance remains relevant and responsive to changing economic and technological landscapes.
The conference further featured a forum on the theme of future-ready Islamic accounting, banking and finance, bringing together distinguished representatives from academia and industry. Among the forum panelists were Tan Sri Abdul Wahid bin Omar, Associate Professor Dr Tukhvatullin Ruslan Shavkatovich of Kazan Federal University, YM Raja Shahrul Azrain Raja Aman, Executive Director/CEO of Kenanga Islamic Investors Berhad, YBrs. Dr. Nurmazilah Dato’ Mahzan, and Ts. Dr. Othman Abdullah, Director of Cognify AI Sdn. Bhd.
Another notable milestone was the official launch of the USIM Islamic Finance Alumni Chapter, further strengthening connections between USIM’s academic community and its alumni in the Islamic finance sector.
The second day continued with a series of parallel sessions featuring research presentations and academic discussions. These sessions provided opportunities for researchers and postgraduate students to present their work, receive feedback and engage with scholars and practitioners from different areas of expertise.
Through its diverse programme, iBAF 2026 demonstrated the importance of collaboration between academia, industry and international partners in addressing emerging challenges in Islamic finance. The integration of artificial intelligence, sustainability and governance throughout the conference theme also reflected the evolving demands placed on the Islamic financial ecosystem.
As the 12th edition of iBAF, the conference further strengthened its role as an international platform for knowledge exchange, research collaboration and professional networking in Islamic banking, accounting and finance.
The successful conclusion of iBAF 2026 marks another significant milestone for FEM USIM in advancing research and discourse in Islamic economics and finance, while contributing towards the development of a more innovative, sustainable and governance-driven future for the industry.