INTRODUCING

PROF. DR. AISHATH MUNEEZA

Country of Origin
Maldives

Qualification
Ph.D.in Law in International Islamic University Malaysia. (2013)

Email
[email protected]

Phone Number
+603 7651 4156

A Brief Introduction

Professor Dr Aishath Muneeza is Professor and Associate Dean for Students and Internationalisation at INCEIF University, Malaysia. A lawyer, academic, Shariah adviser and former policymaker, she has extensive experience spanning Islamic finance law, Shariah governance, Islamic capital markets, Islamic social finance, waqf, zakat, takaful and sustainable finance.

Professor Muneeza has played a pioneering role in the development of Islamic finance in the Maldives. She served as the first female Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and subsequently as Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury. She has also served as Head of Islamic Finance at the Capital Market Development Authority, Chairperson of Maldives Hajj Corporation Limited and Chairperson of the Maldives Center for Islamic Finance.

Her professional experience spans academia, Shariah governance, corporate governance, financial-sector leadership and international development. She currently serves as Senior Islamic Finance Adviser to UNFPA Malaysia and also holds independent board positions with Amana Bank PLC, Sri Lanka, and Amana Takaful Maldives PLC.

Professor Muneeza has extensive international Shariah advisory experience and currently serves on Shariah committees and advisory boards of financial institutions across several jurisdictions, including Malaysia, the Maldives, Tanzania and Tajikistan. She is also a registered Shariah Adviser with the Securities Commission Malaysia and the Capital Market Development Authority of the Maldives and is accredited as a Shariah Scholar in Sri Lanka.

Alongside her professional and policy work, Professor Muneeza is an active researcher and author whose scholarship covers Islamic banking and finance, Islamic finance law, Shariah governance, sukuk and Islamic capital markets, waqf and zakat, takaful, fintech and sustainable finance. Her contributions have received national and international recognition, including the Rehendhi Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 8th World Islamic Economics and Finance Conference 2025, and recognition in the Islamica 500 among influential personalities in Islamic economics.

Awards & Recognition

Rehendhi Award Conferred by the Government of Maldives in recognition of outstanding contributions by women to national development.

Lifetime Achievement Award – 8th World Islamic Economics and Finance Conference 2025

Islamica 500 Recognised among influential personalities in Islamic economics.

Industry Linkages

Industry Linkages

Senior Islamic Finance Adviser, UNFPA Malaysia
Independent Non-Executive Director, Amana Bank PLC, Sri Lanka
Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee, Amana Takaful Maldives PLC
Board Shariah Committee Member, CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad
Shariah Committee Member, Munich Re Malaysia
Shariah Committee Member, Maldives Islamic Bank
Shariah Advisory Board Member, CRDB Bank PLC, Tanzania
Chair, Shariah Advisory Committee, Housing Development Finance Corporation PLC, Maldives
Member, Maldives Islamic Finance Strategic Advisory Council

Registered / Accredited Shariah Adviser

Securities Commission Malaysia
Capital Market Development Authority of the Maldives
Accredited Shariah Scholar in Sri Lanka

Publications

Articles

Shuaibu, B. L., & Muneeza, A. (2026). Operational and regulatory dynamics of Islamic microfinance in Nigeria: A qualitative analysis of women’s involvement and challenges. Qualitative Research in Financial Markets.
https://doi.org/10.1108/QRFM-11-2024-0330
Malik, R., Dar, H., & Muneeza, A. (2025). Reforms required for Shariah screening of equities using the case study of Dow Jones Islamic Market Index (DJIMI). International Journal of Law and Management, 67(3), 325–340.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-08-2023-0171
Muneeza, A., Kunhibava, S., Mustapha, Z., & Khalid, M. B. (2024). Development of a digital Islamic social stock exchange: A legal, regulatory and Shariah review. Al Qasimia University Journal of Islamic Economics, 4(1), 117–162.
https://doi.org/10.52747/aqujie.4.1.307
Shamsudheen, S. V., & Muneeza, A. (2022). Depicting ethical dilemma in Islamic financial institutions: Addressing the gender heterogeneity. Eurasian Economic Review, 12(1), 29–54.
Zakat Payment from Cryptocurrencies and Crypto Assets International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management (2023) (Article Quality is A,SCOPUS)
Financing through cash-waqf: a revitalization to finance different needs. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, (2013). (ABDC-B,ERA,SCOPUS-Q1,SSCI)

Books

Application of Zakat From Classical and Contemporary Perspective World Scientific.
Islamic Finance in Eurasia: The Need for Strategic Change Edward Elgar.
Application of Hire Purchase Under Shirkah
Al-Milk (HPSM) in Islamic Banking and Finance: A Shariah Analysis Palgrave Macmillan.
Sadaqa House: Inspiring ‘adl and ihsan in the realm of Islamic Banking.
Islamic Social Finance: Law and Practice in Malaysia Springer.
Alternative Financial Instruments To Riba And Their Roles In The Distribution And Redistribution Of Wealth. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Universiti Malaya Press.
COVID-19 and Islamic Finance Cambridge University Press.
Islamic Finance in Africa: The Prospects for Sustainable Development Edward Elgar Publication.
The institution of waqf: an innovative financial tool for socioeconomic development. Malaysia: Pearson.