Prof. Dr. Aishath Muneeza, Associate Dean of Students & Internationalisation at INCEIF University, Malaysia, has been honoured with the Honorary Award at the Islamic Finance Forum of South Asia (IFFSA) Awards 2025, presented by UTO Edu Consult. The award recognises her invaluable contributions to the development of the Islamic finance industry in South Asia.
At this year’s ceremony, Prof. Muneeza stood alongside two of the region’s most eminent figures in Islamic finance — Mufti Taqi Usmani of Pakistan and Mr. Osman Kassim of Sri Lanka — who were also recognised for their remarkable contributions.
This accolade follows her Lifetime Achievement Award conferred last year by Minhaj University, Pakistan, underlining her influence and impact as one of the most respected female scholars in the global Islamic finance fraternity.
Prof. Muneeza’s pioneering work has shaped the Islamic finance landscape of the Maldives and beyond. Among her achievements in the Maldives are:
Structuring the first corporate Sukuk of HDFC and the first sovereign private Sukuk for the government.
Establishing the country’s first Islamic finance window, HDFC Amna.
Drafting regulations for the Islamic capital market and introducing the first Islamic T-Bills.
Designing the first Shariah-compliant microfinance scheme.
Leading the establishment of the National Hajj Pilgrim Fund and serving as Chairman of Maldives Hajj Corporation.
Founding and chairing the Maldives Center for Islamic Finance, created to position the nation as a hub for Islamic finance.
Serving as the first female Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs, where she introduced modern reforms for Islamic social finance institutions and initiated Halal certification in the country.
Being the first registered Shariah Advisor for the capital market with CMDA.
Chairing the CMDA Shariah Advisory Council for a decade, strengthening the Shariah governance framework of the capital market.
In addition to her leadership in the Maldives, Prof. Muneeza has contributed significantly in Sri Lanka, where she is the only female accredited Shariah scholar registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP), having played a vital role in Sukuk structuring.
Prof. Muneeza is also internationally recognised for her scholarly publications and thought leadership. She continues to inspire as a role model for women in leadership, scholarship, and the advancement of Islamic finance.
The IFFSA Awards 2025 once again highlight her position as one of the region’s foremost figures in the Islamic finance industry, contributing not only to her home country but also to the wider South Asian region and the global Islamic finance community.
