Muscat: Meethaq Islamic Banking from Bank Muscat is participating as a strategic partner in the 3rd Zakat Conference and Exhibition taking place in Salalah, Dhofar Governorate, under the theme “Zakat and Institutional Identity: Workforce Efficiency and Strengthening Community Trust.” The event is organized by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs from 23–25 September at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment. The conference was inaugurated under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Salem bin Mustahail Al Mashani, Advisor at the Diwan of Royal Court and attended by H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Said Al Mamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, alongside ministers, dignitaries, senior officials from the public and private sectors, zakat committees’ representatives, experts and stakeholders from Oman and abroad.

Meethaq’s participation as a strategic partner in the conference reflects its vision of instilling Islamic values, fostering collaboration with partners across sectors, and raising awareness of zakat as a vital tool for achieving social justice and reinforcing solidarity within the community.

On this occasion, Ali bin Ahmed Al Lawati, Assistant General Manager, Meethaq Corporate Banking, said: “We are proud to be a strategic partner in the third edition of the Zakat Conference and Exhibition organized by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs. This event highlights Meethaq’s role in promoting Islamic banking and Islamic financial services, including zakat, as Islamic banking is based on Shariah compliant and ethical framework which promotes risk and profit sharing between the bank and its customers. This is particularly important given the rise of modern practices in the sector and the introduction of new technologies, which Meethaq is striving to adopt to provide best and innovative services to our customers. I would like to thank the Ministry for allowing us to be part of this significant event and encourage everyone to attend and benefit from the workshops and sessions, which offer valuable knowledge and insights.”

Al Lawati emphasized that Meethaq team includes specialized experts who provide distinguished banking solutions for investing and growing zakat funds in accordance with the principles of Islamic Sharia. He added that the team also maintains continuous engagement with zakat committees to offer financial advisory services on the optimal allocation of zakat funds, in a manner that fosters economic growth and promotes social justice within the community.

Meethaq continues to facilitate zakat payments for customers through a wide range of modern digital channels. It’s mobile banking app allows zakat payments to be made directly to the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs’ designated zakat account. Customers may also use internet banking services, ensuring convenience, security and reliability, reflecting Meethaq’s commitment to leveraging banking technology to enhance financial inclusion and support acts of worship. 

Dr. Mohammed Akram, Deputy Chairman of the Meethaq Islamic Banking Sharia Supervisory Board, delivered a workshop titled “Governance in Islamic Banking and Its Application in Zakat Management.” He also presented a paper titled “Malaysia’s Experience in Zakat Management and Governance” on the third day

The third edition of the conference aims to open new horizons for improving the quality of zakat services, ensuring sustainability of voluntary work, increasing the number of qualified professionals, and enhancing training and education. It also seeks to strengthen community trust in zakat committees, motivate practitioners through an enabling work environment, expand support for the growth of the zakat sector, increase revenues, and introduce new services and programs to advance this vital sector while maintaining excellence and innovation.

Across three days, sessions will address various topics, including governance and accounting standards in zakat fund management, the role of women in zakat committees, Sharia’a guidelines and professional competence of zakat workers, the cultural identity of zakat institutions, community awareness, fiqh of zakat and contemporary challenges, and Omani models of charity and zakat practices and international experiences in this field. Concurrent workshops will cover emotional intelligence for zakat workers, governance in Islamic banking, corporate zakat calculation, and communication skills within zakat committees. The program also features working papers and panel discussions delivered by experts and specialists from Oman and abroad.

Meethaq currently operates the largest network of Islamic banking branches in Oman, with 32 branches across the governorates, supported by more than 64 cash deposit and withdrawal machines. Customers also access to over 900 ATMs and CDMs of Bank Muscat, ensuring seamless access to banking services and solutions.

As the pioneer of Islamic banking services and products in Oman, Meethaq has been consistently recognized with prestigious local, regional, and international awards. These include the Best Sharia’a-Compliant Banking Solutions Provider 2025 from the Euromoney Private Banking Awards, the Best Islamic Digital Bank in Oman 2025 by the Finance Derivatives Awards, the Leadership Award from the Global Islamic Finance Awards 2025, and the Excellence in Digital Sharia’a-Compliant Banking Solutions Award 2025 by the annual OER Live DX Conference.