Bangladeshi-origin economist and Islamic finance and investment expert Professor Dr Mohammad Masum Billah has received the Leader of the Islamic Economy Award 2026 in recognition of his contributions to higher education, research, leadership and the global development of Islamic finance.
The award was presented at an event held at the main block of the Parliament of Malaysia as part of World Islamic Economy Week 2026.
Professor Dr Masum Billah currently serves as a senior professor of Finance and Investment at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has been involved in higher education, applied and strategic research, corporate leadership, global trade and investment cooperation, and strategic advisory work for corporate and government institutions across different regions.
His areas of research include finance, investment, digital transformation, industrialisation, energy and power, and foreign investment cooperation models. He has also conducted extensive research on the intersection of finance and fintech, including emerging halal cryptocurrencies and crypto-assets.
Dr Billah has authored more than 64 books and published over 200 research papers and academic articles. His publications focus on applied Islamic finance and investment and their technical frameworks in the context of the contemporary global financial system.
Beyond academia, he has held corporate leadership roles in management and strategic planning across different regions.
The Leader of the Islamic Economy Award 2026 marks a significant recognition of his long-standing professional career. Over the years, he has worked with financial institutions, corporate organisations and government bodies across the Asia-Pacific, Arab, European and African regions through research, corporate activities and strategic cooperation.
The award has brought renewed international attention to the academic, research, corporate and strategic contributions of a Bangladeshi-origin economist to the global Islamic economy and finance sector.
