UIN Jakarta to Host AICIF 2026, Strengthening Southeast Asian Collaboration in Islamic Finance

South Tangerang, UIN Online News — Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta (UIN Jakarta), through its Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), is scheduled to host the 14th ASEAN Universities International Conference on Islamic Finance (AICIF) 2026 on October 13–15, 2026, at Swiss-Belhotel Serpong, South Tangerang. The international conference is expected to serve as a collaborative platform for academics, researchers, industry practitioners, regulators, and policymakers to advance innovative, inclusive, and sustainable Islamic economics and finance across Southeast Asia.

Under the theme “Islamic Finance in the Contemporary Global Economy: Innovation, Stability, and Sustainability,” AICIF 2026 will explore the challenges and opportunities facing Islamic finance amid evolving global economic conditions, including digitalization, financial technology innovation, governance, regulation, sustainable finance, and the advancement of Islamic social finance.

In a statement issued on Saturday (October 10, 2026), Dean of FEB UIN Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Ibnu Qizam, said that AICIF 2026 was designed to respond to global economic developments while strengthening the contribution of Islamic finance to addressing contemporary social and economic challenges.

“This conference is designed to respond to various global developments. The discussions will cover critical issues, including optimizing waqf for education, strengthening Sharia-based cooperatives, and the role of Islamic financial technology (fintech) in promoting economic inclusion,” he said.

Ibnu added that hosting AICIF 2026 marked an important milestone for UIN Jakarta, as the university has been entrusted with hosting the conference for the first time. Since its launch in 2012, AICIF has developed into an annual conference supported by a consortium of universities across ASEAN in collaboration with the International Council of Islamic Finance Educators (ICIFE).

Through this forum, UIN Jakarta, represented by its Faculty of Economics and Business, aims to strengthen cross-border academic networks, promote research collaboration, and expand the exchange of knowledge and experience concerning developments in Islamic economics and finance at both the regional and international levels.

Road to AICIF 2026: A Series of Academic Initiatives

Ahead of the main conference, FEB UIN Jakarta has organized a series of Road to AICIF 2026 activities through its Expert Talk Series and Short Course programs. These activities have addressed contemporary issues ranging from sustainable waqf for higher education and global Islamic capital markets to the relationship between Islamic economic theory and practice, strengthening the Islamic finance ecosystem, and emerging developments in Islamic financial practices.

The main conference will cover several strategic topics, including digitalization and financial technology, governance, regulation and ethics, the green economy and sustainable finance, Islamic social finance and inclusive growth, global transformation, and the future of Islamic finance education and research.

These discussions are expected to bring academic perspectives and industry practices together while generating ideas and recommendations relevant to policymaking and the development of the Islamic finance ecosystem.

Bringing Together International Scholars and Experts

AICIF 2026 aims to attract approximately 200 participants, including academics, researchers, industry practitioners, regulators, policymakers, representatives of educational institutions and research centers, and international partners. The conference is scheduled to be officially opened by Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. Nasaruddin Umar, M.A.

A number of scholars and experts from Indonesia and abroad are also scheduled to participate, including Prof. Dr. M. Kabir Hassan, Prof. Dr. Noraini Mohd Ariffin, Prof. Ishak Bhatti, Dr. Hajah Nurul Nabilah binti Haji Ali, Dr. Anwar M. Radiamoda, Olatunji Shobande, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. Dr. Syarah Syahira Mohd Yusoff, Dr. Setiawan bin Lahuri, M.A., Prof. Dr. Misnen Ardiansyah, S.E., M.Si., Ak., and Prof. Dr. H. Heru Sulistyo, M.Si.

In addition to keynote addresses and panel discussions, the conference program will feature parallel paper presentations, a networking forum for AICIF members, a Gala Dinner and Networking Night, and visits to UIN Jakarta and several locations in Jakarta.

Through AICIF 2026, UIN Jakarta hopes to strengthen the role of higher education institutions in advancing Islamic economics and finance, expand collaboration among universities across Southeast Asia, and foster research and innovation that respond to society’s needs.

The conference is also expected to generate academic outputs through conference proceedings and opportunities for scholarly publication. Being entrusted with hosting the 14th AICIF reaffirms UIN Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta’s commitment to advancing innovative, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable Islamic finance at both the national and international levels.

(Information and Public Relations Center, Institute for Research and Community Engagement, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta)