Kuala Lumpur, 25 Oct 2023 – ISRA Consulting, the consulting subsidiary of INCEIF University, is voted as the Best Islamic Consulting Firm for the fifth year in a row in an international poll conducted by leading Islamic finance news portal, Islamic Finance News (IFN).

The research arm, ISRA Research Management Centre, is also voted the Best Islamic Finance Research Firm for 2023, improving its position from second runner up last year. This is its 8^th Best Islamic Finance Research Firm award from IFN since its establishment 15 years ago.

INCEIF University, meanwhile, is voted second runner up in the Best Educational Institution Offering Islamic Finance Courses category. The category makes its debut this year, bringing the total number of categories to 11.

The IFN Service Providers Poll is unique in its recognition of the vital role that third parties and service providers play in smoothing the path for Islamic finance and setting the benchmark for its ongoing quality, consistency and creativity by supporting the underlying operations that are crucial to its success. This year a record 22,353 votes from industry practitioners, investors and corporates were received from all over the world, the highest number of votes cast in the poll’s 18-year history.

ISRA Consulting defended its Best Islamic Consultancy Firm title, ahead of Masryef Advisory and Amanie Advisors. The firm has prepared Islamic finance related acts and guidelines for a number of countries and central banks and conducted Shariah review and audit exercise. In over a decade, it has built a strong network both locally and globally with its strategic alliances both in the industry and regulatory bodies.

ISRA RMC has won the Best Islamic Research Firm award numerous times from many international organisations since its establishment in 2008. The awards highlight ISRA’s increasing dominance in the research space, and its active developing activities in making a real contribution to industry knowledge. Worthy of mention is that ISRA has over 200 Shariah research and publications that consist of textbooks, journals and research papers that are constantly referred internationally.

INCEIF University continues to enhance its programme offerings as the world’s sole dedicated postgraduate university in Islamic finance, and recently added sustainability, Islamic Social Finance (ISF) and Fintech to its modules. To be on track as the bridge between academia and industry, the University continues to investigate workable initiatives to incorporate Islamic finance and ISF as the solution to address the socio-economic challenges, particularly in the post-pandemic world, and execute workable long-term projects to address poverty among vulnerable groups in society.

INCEIF University President & CEO Prof Dato’ Dr Azmi Omar said: “First and foremost, Alhamdulillah. We would like to record our gratitude to our students, partners and clients around the globe that have given us the opportunity to serve them. The award also goes to all our staff for their hard work, and support. Indeed, the award has reminded us to never rest on our laurels, and work harder to always deliver the best, Insya-Allah.”

Ends.