Professor Dr. Aishath Muneeza received the GIFA Islamic Finance Advocacy Award 2024, honoring her outstanding contributions to Islamic finance at the esteemed 14th Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) held in the Maldives yesterday.
A trailblazer in the field both locally and globally, Professor Dr. Muneeza's work has significantly influenced the development of the Islamic finance industry, especially in her home country, the Maldives.
Professor Dr. Muneeza is notable for being the first female Deputy Minister in both the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of the Maldives.
Her leadership and advocacy have been crucial in crafting innovative Islamic finance frameworks, advancing the Islamic capital market, and structuring corporate sukuk offerings and treasury instruments. These efforts have been vital in establishing a strong Islamic money market and capital market in the Maldives.
Professor Dr. Aishath Muneeza has made a profound impact on both national and international Islamic finance through her unwavering commitment and pioneering contributions. As the Head of Islamic Finance at the Capital Market Development Authority of Maldives, she was instrumental in establishing the country’s Islamic capital market framework and structuring sukuk for various entities.
Her expertise extends globally, having served as a Shariah Adviser with the Securities Commission of Malaysia, the Capital Market Development Authority of Maldives, and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka. Dr. Muneeza's international influence is further exemplified by her roles on the Public Interest Monitoring Consultative Committee (PIMCC) of AAOIFI in Bahrain and as an Executive Committee member of the Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance (ASAS) in Malaysia.
She also serves as the Senior Islamic Finance Advisor for UNFPA, Malaysia, and holds positions on several boards and Shariah committees, including Amana Takaful Maldives and Maldives Islamic Bank.
Her groundbreaking work has garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious Rehendhi Award and recognition by Islamica 500 as a top Islamic economist. Through her leadership, advocacy, and educational efforts, Professor Dr. Muneeza continues to drive the advancement of Islamic finance, setting a global benchmark for excellence and inspiring the next generation of professionals in the field.
Professor Dr. Aishath Muneeza shared with the newspaper that she dedicated the Islamic Finance Advocacy Award 2024 (GIFA) to the memory of her dear friend, Al Marhoom Uz. Ismail Wisham.
Reflecting on their shared history, Dr. Muneeza recalled how they embarked on their journey in Islamic finance together, starting with a landmark conference in the Maldives in 2010 aimed at raising awareness. Ismail played a crucial role in facilitating her application to the Capital Market Shariah Committee in 2011 and supported various aspects of her work, including overseeing Islamic finance documentation for the Maldives Islamic Bank and co-authoring her first academic paper and two books.
Dr. Muneeza expressed deep gratitude for his enduring influence and prayed for Allah’s blessings upon his soul, asking for forgiveness of his sins and the highest rank in Jannah.
