IsDB Group Chairman and Professor Muhammad Yunus discuss development financing

HE Dr Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group, has met Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus at the Yunus Centre in Dhaka to exchange views on how development financing can create greater social and economic impact.

The discussions focused on Professor Yunus’ practical experience in microcredit, social business and financial inclusion, as well as his Three Zeros vision of zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emissions.

HE Dr Al Jasser commended Professor Yunus for his contribution to expanding economic opportunities for underserved communities and for demonstrating how entrepreneurship can be applied to address social challenges.

Source: IsDB. HE Dr Al Jasser (left) with Professor Muhammad Yunus (right).

A key part of the discussion focused on young people and the need to create greater opportunities, rekindle hope and address the factors that drive them to seek opportunities elsewhere. HE Dr Al Jasser noted the changing aspirations of younger generations, including the growing desire among many young people to create opportunities rather than follow traditional employment pathways.

Professor Yunus stressed the importance of turning young people’s creativity into problem-solving and entrepreneurship. He highlighted initiatives designed to nurture young people as job creators rather than job seekers and emphasised the growing potential of a digitally-connected generation to address social challenges.

The two sides also explored how lessons from Bangladesh’s experience in microfinance and social business could be relevant to other IsDB member countries. HE Dr Al Jasser expressed interest in learning from Bangladesh’s experience, while Professor Yunus invited IsDB to examine Grameen programmes more closely for viable approaches that could be relevant across member countries.

Professor Yunus also outlined initiatives led by the Yunus Centre and the wider Grameen network in social business, financial inclusion and digital healthcare, including community-based models in healthcare, eye care, nursing education and related services.

During the meeting, Professor Yunus welcomed IsDB’s continued partnership with Bangladesh and referred to the US$1 B financing agreement signed earlier in the day for the modernisation and expansion of the Eastern Refinery as a reflection of the depth of the relationship between Bangladesh and IsDB.

The meeting reflected a shared interest in people-centred approaches to development, youth entrepreneurship and social business, and in exploring how practical experience from Bangladesh could inform wider development efforts across IsDB member countries.

OIC launches training on cultural diplomacy, leadership development

A training course on Youth, Cultural Diplomacy, and Leadership Development began 3 September, 2026, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah.

The course was organised by the OIC General Secretariat and is chaired by the Ministry of Sports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which holds the presidency of the Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers (ICYSM). The event coincided with OIC Youth Day, which the OIC celebrates annually on September 3.

The Secretary-General of the OIC, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, affirmed that youth currently constitute more than 28% of the population of OIC member states, noting that this percentage is expected to reach 30.7% by 2030. The speech, delivered on his behalf by the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural, and Social Affairs, Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakheet, stated that Youth Cultural Diplomacy is not an intellectual luxury but rather a practical tool for developing young people’s capacity to build bridges, promote dialogue, counter misguided ideologies and violent extremism, and disseminate the values of tolerance and moderation.

The speech further explained that among the most important objectives of the training programme are training and enhancing the capabilities of young people in cultural diplomacy and leadership development, providing them with an opportunity to discuss issues related to youth empowerment, and familiarising them with the OIC’s efforts in this field.

Arab youth overwhelmingly support change in KSA

- Youth across the region expect the Saudi Crown Prince to have a bigger impact on the region over the next 10 years than any other Arab leader

- Survey finds young people in KSA and across the region back the decision to allow Saudi women to drive and fully support anti-corruption crackdown

- Young Saudis are highly confident that KSA's Vision 2030 will be a success

- Majority of Arab youth say Daesh (ISIS) and its ideology are heading for total defeat

Source: ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller. From left: Professor Fletcher, HE Al Hashimy, Khorshid, John, and Aldakhil.

Arab youth expect KSA Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to have a bigger impact on the Middle East than any other Arab leader, according to the 10th annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2018, released May 8.

“Over the past 10 years, the Arab Youth Survey has provided insights into many momentous changes in the region, and this year is no exception,” said Donna Imperato, CEO, Burson Cohn & Wolfe. “This annual review of the thoughts and concerns of Arab youth provides an important framework for understanding what is most important to the region’s next generation of business leaders and policy makers.”

The ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey is the largest survey of its kind of the Middle East’s largest demographic – its youth. For the 10th annual survey, international polling firm PSB Research conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews with men and women aged 18-24 in 16 Arab states between January 21 and February 20, 2018. This year’s findings, marking 10 years of the Arab Youth Survey, shed light on young people’s attitudes on the past decade, which has encompassed the global financial crisis, the Arab Spring, the rise of Daesh (ISIS) and a fall in global oil prices, as well as their aspirations for the next 10 years.

Support for Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman

Young Arabs throughout the Middle East express a high level of confidence in the Crown Prince and his leadership, with 63% supporting his appointment, 64% viewing him as a strong leader, and 59% saying Prince Mohammed will lead KSA in the right direction. Young Arabs are also throwing their support behind Saudi Arabia’s young Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, and view him as the Arab leader likely to have the greatest impact on the region over the next 10 years. 

Support for the new Crown Prince among Saudi youth is overwhelming, with 91% of young Saudis supporting his appointment, 97% considering him a strong leader, and 90% saying he will move the country in the right direction.

Sunil John, founder of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller and President, Middle East, Burson Cohn & Wolfe, said: “This is a milestone survey for us, marking a full decade of the region’s leading study into its most important demographic.

“This year’s edition is titled A Decade of Hopes & Fears and features insights into young people’s concerns over jobs, education, security and corruption. Looking forward to the next decade, it’s clear that Mohammed bin Salman represents great hope for young Arabs across the region who demand to see clear action on these pressing issues.”

Approval for KSA reforms

Young Arabs also expressed strong support for KSA's recent reforms, with 88% across the region supporting the decision to allow women to drive and 86% (94% among young Saudis) supporting the anti-corruption drive, which saw dozens of businessmen and senior royals detained over graft allegations.

Asked about Saudi Vision 2030, the Crown Prince’s roadmap to diversify the Saudi economy, 92% of young Saudis say they are confident that the plan will succeed in securing the future of the Saudi economy.

Young Saudis are also extremely optimistic about their futures, with 91% saying their country is moving in the right direction, compared to 54% of young Arabs across the region, and 13% of youth in the Levant. More than four in five (82%) of young Saudis also say their best days are ahead of them.

Daesh (ISIS) is a step backward

The majority of young Arabs (55%) say they believe the region has moved in the wrong direction over the past decade – a period stamped by the Arab Spring and the rise of Daesh. Pessimism is particularly pronounced in the Levant, where 85% say the region has moved in the wrong direction. Defeating terrorism, providing well-paying jobs, better education and fighting corruption are all cited by youth as the main action areas to move things back on track over the next decade. 

The majority (78%) of Arab youth say Daesh has become weaker over the past year while 58% say Daesh and its ideology will be completely defeated. It marks a significant shift from 2015 when 47% of young Arabs expressed any confidence in their government’s ability to deal with the terrorist 

organisation. 

UAE is top ally

When asked to name their country’s top allies, young Arabs are most likely to cite the UAE (37%), followed by KSA (35%) and Kuwait (22%). The US has dropped out of the top five for first time in the survey’s history, falling to 11th place. 

This finding stands in contrast to the response from young Arabs when asked which country other than their own they would most like to live in, and which they would like their own nation to emulate, where the US ranks second, behind the UAE. 

The UAE has been the top country to live in for the 7th year running. More than one in three (35%) respondents across the 16 Arab countries polled say the UAE is the country they would most like to live in, surpassing global powers like the US and Canada (both 18%) and KSA (16%). More than a third (37%) of Arab youth also say the UAE is a model country for their own, far surpassing the US and Canada (both 17%) or Japan (15%). 

Other key findings from the ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2018 include: 

• Youth in the Levant have an increasingly bleak outlook compared with peers in North Africa and the Gulf States 

• Youth say the past decade – shaped by the Arab Spring and Daesh – has left the Middle East drifting off course

• To steer the region in the right direction, action is needed on jobs, education, corruption and the fight against terror

• While young Arabs increasingly turn to social media for their news, they see CNN as the most trusted and Al Jazeera as the least trusted news sources 

• Inspired by the digital revolution, future Arab entrepreneurs turn to the tech sector, which offers plentiful opportunities in the region 

In the UAE:

• Young Emiratis are overwhelmingly positive about the direction of their country, and believe their best days are yet to come 

• Young Arabs view the UAE as the top ally while Emirati youth see KSA, Egypt, and Kuwait as their country’s strongest allies 

• Nearly three in four (71%) young Emiratis say they support the 5% value added tax (VAT) introduced by the UAE government in January 2018. 

Young Emiratis agree with the positive perceptions of the UAE across the region, with 99% of the UAE’s youth saying their country is heading in the right direction and more than four in five (85%) saying their best days are ahead of them. 

The findings align with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s 2018 World Happiness Report, which ranks the UAE as the happiest Arab country and 20th out of 156 countries overall. The UAE also leads the region in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business table, and, according to the World Economic Forum, is first among the GCC states for gender equality. 

John said: “Throughout the survey’s history, the UAE has consistently been chosen by Arab youth as the nation that best fits their aspirations. As one of the first countries in the region to focus on diversifying the economy to create better opportunities for its young people, the UAE continues to inspire the region with its future-focused vision.” 

The UAE leads by example with youth-focused policies, HE Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, said at the unveiling of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey. 

HE Al Hashimy noted that one of the most significant findings in this year’s survey was the level of support for HH Prince Mohammed bin Salman among Arab youth and his programme of economic and social development. She went on to highlight the ambition of Arab youth, adding: “The UAE has launched a number of initiatives that activate hope among youth, which reiterates the desire of the government to open fresh opportunities for young people by working directly with them.” 

HE Al Hashimy said it is the UAE’s strategy to integrate and engage with young people, and youth engagement was a priority for Expo 2020 Dubai. “Nearly 30% of the employees at Expo 2020 are below the age of 30. We have a department dedicated to youth affairs, Youth Connect, and to promoting Expo 2020 Dubai in schools and universities. Volunteering is another major part of the expo – and a major focus of our volunteers programme are young people."

Turki bin Abdullah Aldakhil, GM, Al Arabiya News Channel, commented on the finding that young Arabs see Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a strong leader who will shape the next decade. “Arab youth believe in his role in fighting extremism. They see him as a one of them, someone who thinks like them, and as someone who has broken the stereotype of a rigid political leader,” Aldakhil said. 

“It is not only His Highness’ development mindset that inspires youth but also because he wants to present the real Islam to the world, as many Arab youth were embarrassed to express their religion because of the way in which Daesh represented Islam.” 

On the observation that an increasing number of Arab youth perceive the Arab Spring to have impacted the region negatively, Dalia Khorshid, former Investment Minister of Egypt, said the Arab Spring was a wave of change and “an expression of how youth wanted to dictate their future and create the environment they want”. 

She said: “Egypt marked 2016 as the Year of Youth, when the government focused on listening to young people and discussing various issues. There are bound to be differences but it is healthy. The key aspect is to understand that youth aspire to make a difference, and with digital technology, things are going to change faster.” 

Professor Tom Fletcher CMG, Visiting Professor of International Relations at NYUAD and Visiting Professor and Special Advisor, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, said the real challenge for governments anywhere is that young people globally are finding it harder to trust the generation in office to leave the world in a better shape than it is today – with the exception of some countries, such as the UAE and KSA. He added that “the magnetic quality of the UAE to attract people is a result of the opportunities that the nation creates”. 

He also emphasised the need for “getting the education system right” to ensure that “women are not just behind the steering wheel of cars but also steering the boardrooms.” “What we learn from the digital age is that popularity is easy to gain, hard to hold on to and easier still to lose,” he said, stressing that it is important for leaders to “continue to deliver and take the people with them - thinking of the long-term”.

Details:

Read more results and download the white paper about the Arab Youth Survey

*Interviews were conducted with exclusively Arab national men and women in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain; Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, the Palestinian territories, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Yemen. The sample comprised 50% male and 50% female respondents. The Levant region typically refers to the countries of Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey.

Singapore asatizah outreach to expand in 2018

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has announced that the Asatizah Youth Network (AYN), formed in 2017 to prepare Singapore's asatizah (religious teachers, singular 'ustaz') to be more proactive in engaging Singapore youth on social media, will grow from 11 to 30 asatizah by the end of 2018.

"Over the next years, asatizah in this network will be trained in digital media engagements and counselling techniques to build resilience in our youth against online radicalisation," MUIS said in a Facebook post.

"Drop-in sessions will also be conducted at Masjid Al-Falah to engage youth in a safe space and allow them to clarify any doubts and concerns on problematic ideologies that they may come across online."

Asatizah in AYN are chosen for their online presence and influence. The focus on AYN was shared by the Singapore Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, during the Committee of Supply debate for 2018.

Explore:

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about Dr Yaacob's speech.

Hashtag: #SGBudget2018

Maarof Mosque calls for Ramadhan volunteers, opens M'POWER CAMP to youths

The madrasah of Maarof Mosque and its Youth Wing, Nur of Maarof​, have announced M'POWER CAMP. 

Targeted at those aged 16 to 18 years, the camp will be held from 10 June at 8.30am to 11 June at 5pm. It costs S$20, and activities will include reflection under stars and indoor archery tag.

Maarof Mosque is also calling for volunteers over Ramadhan. Duties may include preparation of iftar, ushering, distribution of Ramadhan porridge, road marshalling and cleaning.
 

Interested?

Register in person for M'POWER CAMP at the Maarof Mosque admin office or online by 29 May

Register in person at the admin office, or call contact us at +65 6515 5033 to volunteer

SWMC Ramadan Youth Camp 2017 to be hosted by Maarof Mosque

Source: Maarof Mosque Facebook page.
Poster for Ramadan Youth Camp 2017.

South West Mosque Cluster (SWMC) Young Muslim Leaders invite youths to join the Ramadan Youth Camp (RYC) 2017 from 2 to 4 June. For the first time, SWMC RYC will be held at Maarof Mosque in Jurong West, Singapore.

Activities include:

⚽ Bubble soccer

🌎 The Crying Earth, a part of the #21stcenturYouths initiative

🌱 Planting seeds

💊 Experience a mixture of emotions

Interested?

Maarof Mosque is at 20 Jurong West Street 26, Singapore 648125

Register at participating mosques: 

• Masjid Ar-Raudhah
• Masjid Maarof
• Al-Khair Mosque
• Assyakirin Mosque: Centre for Islamic Civilisation
• Al-Mukminin Mosque  
• Darussalam Mosque

The event is open to youths aged 14 to 18 years, and runs from 6pm to 10am. The camp costs S$20.

Hashtags: #21stcenturYouths, #SWMCRYC2K17

Register

Ramadhan activities for youth at Al Istighfar Mosque

Source: Al Istighfar Mosque Facebook page. Poster for
Ramadan Youth Sessions.

Al Istighfar Mosque has a full set of Ramadhan activities for youth as the month coincides largely with the school holidays this year.

A Ramadan Holiday Programme for those aged seven to 17 will be held every Monday and Wednesday from 5pm to 6pm at the Al-Istighfar Mosque musollah, level 3, focusing on Quran recitation.

Another Ramadan Holiday Programme aimed at the same age groups will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 12pm to 2pm at the Al-Istighfar Mosque multipurpose hall on level 2. Salah (صَلَاة) recitation and the significance the different salah postures will be taught.

Ramadhan youth sessions have been organised for youths aged 12 and above every Monday to Friday. The multipurpose hall at Al-Istighfar Mosque from May 27 to June 23 will see various activities for youths from 11.30am to 7pm. Highlights include porridge packing, iftar preparation, salah and Quran sessions, as well as Xbox and Playstation games.

The mosque is also looking for volunteers over Ramadhan. Volunteers will help to prepare porridge, distribute it to zakah (زكاة) recipients on May 27, as well as preparations for iftar and suhoor. Volunteers are needed for both weekdays and weekends.

Interested?

Al Istighfar Mosque is at 2 Pasir Ris Walk, Singapore 518239

Register for the Ramadan Holiday Programme. Contact +65 8418 1435 if you have enquiries on the Quran recitation programme, and +65 8576 7104 for the salah programme

Register for the Ramadhan youth sessions. Call +65 8576 7104 with questions.

Call +65 8418 1435 to volunteer.

Arab youth choose UAE as where they would like to live and set up a business

• UAE ahead of US and Germany
• Safety, security and economic opportunity cited as main reasons
• UAE also seen as best place in which to start a business

For the fifth consecutive year, the UAE has been named as the country in which most Arab youth would like to live and the country they would most like their own nation to emulate, according to the findings of the 8th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey*.

The UAE is also viewed as a model country that is economically secure and is the most favoured nation to set up a business in the Arab world.

When asked to think about the country they would most like to live in, nearly one in four (22 per cent) of young Arabs cite the UAE, ahead of the United States (15 per cent), Germany (11 per cent), Saudi Arabia (11 per cent) and Canada (10 per cent). Likewise, when asked to think about the country they would most like their own to emulate, 23 per cent cite the UAE, ahead of the US (19 per cent), Germany (12%), France (10%) and the UK (10%).

Sunil John, CEO of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, said: “The UAE’s popularity among youth is likely a reflection of its status as a model country and regional political and economic safe haven. The nation has developed a global reputation for its robust and diversified economy, which encourages a 'can do' attitude among its residents and is respectful of religious and cultural diversity.”

To help better understand why the UAE consistently polls highest, the survey provided respondents a series of positive and negative phrases and asked them to choose the ones they associate with the UAE most. The top associations with the UAE revolve around safety, security and economic opportunities, with Safe and Secure cited as the number one reason by 36% of youth, followed by Has a Growing Economy, Wide Range of Work Opportunities and Generous Salary Packages, which were each cited by 29% of respondents.

This year, for the first time, the survey asked potential entrepreneurs – young Arabs who said they intend to start a business in the next five years – in which Arab country they would like to set up their business. The UAE ranked as the most preferred country with one in four (24%) citing it as the top business destination in the Arab world, followed by Saudi Arabia (18%) and Qatar (13%).

Interested?

Explore in-depth results from the 8th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey, including survey highlights and a white paper in Arabic and English

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about entrepreneurship aspirations among Arab youth

*For this year’s survey, international polling firm Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews with exclusively Arab national men and women aged 18 to 24 in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain; Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Yemen. The interviews were conducted from January 11 to February 22, 2016.

Arab youth more likely to start a business compared to older cohorts

• The 2016 ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey* finds more than a third of young Arabs intend to start own business in next five years
• Young Arabs say governments can do more to encourage lending, provide training and cut red tape
• Young Arabs are increasingly positive about entrepreneurship with more than half believing members of this generation are more likely to start a business than the previous one

Asked “do you feel people in this generation are more likely to start a business than in previous generations,” 54% agreed, with youth in the GCC most enthusiastic at 62%, compared to 54% of North African youth and 44% of youth in the Levant.

The key finding from the Eighth Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey was unveiled by Sunil John, the founder and CEO of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller. Now in its eighth year, the ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey has established itself as a key referral source for businesses and policymakers across the world.

In a separate response, the survey found that 36% of young Arabs said they themselves intend to start their own business in the next five years – specifically 37% of youth in the GCC, 39% in North Africa and 31% in the Levant.

Real estate, technology and retail were the top three sectors in which Arab youth would like to start a new business venture. Real estate is the preferred choice for a startup in the Gulf states, where 24% of youth said they would opt to launch a property-related company, whereas technology was the top choice for would-be entrepreneurs in the Levant (15%) and North Africa (18%). Retail is the second most popular choice in Levant and North Africa for 15% and 16 of respondents respectively; however in the Gulf only 9% would opt to start a retail operation.

Across the whole Middle East 34% said they did not intend to launch their own business, while 30% didn’t know. Lack of financial resources to start a business was cited as the main reason overall, by 20% of young people, however in the GCC only 8% believed they lacked the means to go it alone, while in North Africa, 37% saw this as the biggest hurdle.

Young Arabs believe governments can do more to support young entrepreneurs, with 39% saying that encouraging affordable lending should be made a priority; 25% calling for education and training to be improved and made more available; and 19% asking for government regulations and red tape to be cut.

“These findings suggest governments in the Middle East have an excellent opportunity to really help kickstart an entrepreneurial culture in the region,” said Sunil John. “With the Arab world needing to provide 80 to 100 million jobs by 2020, according to the World Bank, this represents a rich resource of largely untapped talent who can help drive the Arab world’s transformation to knowledge-based economies, and provide the opportunities of the future.”

Interested?

Explore in-depth results from the 8th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey, including survey highlights and a white paper in Arabic and English

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about where Arab youth would most like to live

*For the 2016 survey, international polling firm Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews with exclusively Arab national men and women aged 18 to 24 in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain; Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Yemen. The interviews were conducted in the period January 11 to February 22, 2016.

posted from Bloggeroid

Muslim youths pave the path to socioeconomic change

Source: WHC. Khairy.

Malaysia has held a reputation as a halal leader, and it is now crucial for the country to meet the need for young talent in the booming halal Industry, said the honourable Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Youth and Sports of Malaysia, in a special address at the World Halal Conference 2016 which is hosted by the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC). 

In a speech titled Youth: The Halal Industry Successor Khairy said: “It is of extreme importance that the youth are engaged as the halal industry matures. They should take the opportunity to be involved in the industry in contributing to the growth of the halal economy locally and internationally, especially with the aid of the halal innovation ventures.”

Khairy also said that as youth embrace technology such as social media, this lifestyle should be supported by the halal industry. He said, "Many young Muslims affirm that religion plays a prime role in shaping one’s character. Muslim youths who are the future drivers of the Muslim world should be at pace with the rest of the world in terms of technology and social exposure; yet remain steadfast in practicing Islam.”

The two-day conference, themed Halal at the Forefront of Economic and Social Change is expected to host more than 1,000 halal stakeholders and foreign delegates. With a Ministerial Panel chaired by Yang Berhomat Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, the Minister of International Trade & Industry Malaysia, a global leaders panel session, several concurrent plenary sessions on specific components within the halal ecosystem, e-commerce, youth and a Business Networking Galleria by collaborating partners of World Halal Conference. The conference will also see various aspects of the halal industry including the challenges facing the global halal economy, the rise of halal e-commerce and new business opportunities, and the need to develop talent.

More than 100 students participate in Dubai Islamic Bank's first Iktaseb summer training programme

Source: Dubai Islamic Bank.

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the largest Islamic bank in the UAE, has inaugurated its annual Iktaseb summer training programme for young UAE nationals. The initiative is designed to train a new generation of banking professionals and support the country’s Emiratisation initiative by contributing to the development of the local community.

Iktaseb participants are introduced to the various concepts and principles surrounding shari'ah-compliant financial services, culminating in practical training in the day-to-day operations of a modern Islamic bank. Students completed two courses, Foundation and Principles of Islamic Finance which introduced them to the world of Islamic banking and finance, and Youth Empowerment, which focused on building self-motivation and accepting personal responsibility. 

Maryam Abdulla Ali, Manager-Talent Management, at Dubai Islamic Bank said: “DIB has always been a strong advocate of contributing to the local community by providing valuable training and practical work experience opportunities for UAE nationals. The Iktaseb programme is one component of our multi-faceted strategy that has been successful in creating a new generation of individuals interested in the Islamic banking industry. We are proud to continue training a new group of promising young students, as we look forward to building upon our extensive community engagement and enrichment efforts.”

In addition to gaining valuable insight and experience in the industry, graduates will receive a programme completion certificate and given priority in the bank’s future recruitment efforts. “Our programme provides these students the perfect platform to enhance their capabilities and launch a successful career in the industry,” noted Maryam.

Participating in the initiative for a second year running, AlAnoud Asaad Mohammad, said: “I would like to thank DIB for offering me the opportunity to receive this specialised training. A key challenge for any fresh university graduate is the practical skills and the theoretical knowledge required to start his/her career. Especially in today’s competitive market, a well-rounded education requires a good understanding of the basic skills currently demanded in the workplace. In this regard, the Iktaseb programme is an invaluable platform, as it will allow me to enhance my understanding of the Islamic banking industry, while increasing my knowledge of shari'ah-compliant products. Upon graduating, I look forward to an opportunity to join DIB and contribute to its ongoing growth.”

DIB has also created a range of comprehensive training programs across different levels of the bank. For the objective of engaging with the local job seekers, DIB has actively participated at the various career fairs across the country.