• Creates a unified, Sharia-compliant banking framework for endowments across Abu Dhabi
• Enables digital public contributions to certified endowment portfolios through ADIB channels
• Strengthens oversight, transparency and financial governance across a growing endowment ecosystem

Abu Dhabi launches integrated framework for endowment governance

The Endowments and Minors’ Funds Authority has entered a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank to build a more transparent and digitally connected endowment ecosystem across the Emirate. The move consolidates oversight, simplifies financial administration for licensed endowment entities, and expands accessible giving channels for the public.

The partnership creates a single integrated framework that allows endowment companies, institutions, real estate units, farms and other certified structures to open dedicated, independent accounts with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. These entities will receive a tailored package of preferential services designed to strengthen operational discipline and long-term fund stewardship.

Awqaf Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank will provide these accounts alongside a suite of Sharia-compliant financial tools that include online banking, collection and payment platforms, payroll services and specialised account-management systems. The package aims to standardise financial reporting across the sector and provide a clear mechanism for financial transparency.

Strengthening digital pathways for public giving

A core element of the collaboration is the expansion of digital donation channels. Members of the public will now be able to contribute directly to Awqaf-approved endowment portfolios through Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank’s mobile and online platforms. Contributions can be allocated to programmes supporting orphans and vulnerable families, healthcare initiatives, knowledge and education, and broader social welfare and community services.

Each donation is directed into designated Awqaf Abu Dhabi accounts, where funds are ring-fenced and managed according to Sharia principles. The system provides a transparent audit trail and reduces administrative barriers for both donors and endowment operators.

His Excellency Fahad Abdul Qader Al Qassim, Director General of Awqaf Abu Dhabi, said: “We aim to develop an advanced and trustworthy endowment ecosystem that serves society with transparency, efficiency and compassion. This partnership will support facilitating independent banking solutions for endowment entities and enabling secure digital giving channels, strengthening the foundations of sustainable philanthropy in Abu Dhabi. Every contribution is safeguarded, governed and directed to where it can deliver real, lasting impact for our community.”

Bank-backed infrastructure for oversight and sector expansion

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank’s role in the partnership reflects broader trends across the Gulf, where financial institutions are increasingly involved in strengthening governance frameworks for philanthropic and social-impact finance. The bank will provide infrastructure that supports regulatory compliance, improves financial controls for endowment entities, and ensures each portfolio operates within Sharia-compliant parameters.

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Mohamed Abdelbary, Group Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, said: “Our partnership with Awqaf Abu Dhabi reflects ADIB’s ongoing commitment to supporting the UAE’s endowment sector and enabling greater community participation through innovation and digitalisation. By introducing seamless digital contribution channels and empowering endowment entities with enhanced banking services, we are advancing financial inclusion while reinforcing our shared values of transparency, governance, and social responsibility.”

For regulators and endowment operators, the framework offers structured oversight mechanisms that reduce fragmentation and improve data availability. For donors, it provides a trusted pathway into verified giving channels at a time when global philanthropy is under growing scrutiny.

Why this matters for ESG leaders

For C-suite leaders and sustainability investors, the initiative illustrates how Gulf institutions are professionalizing the governance of social-impact capital. Endowments in the region are expanding their role in healthcare, education, poverty alleviation and community development. As these portfolios grow, systems that protect their transparency and long-term investment discipline become central to credibility.

The model also strengthens financial inclusion by encouraging digital participation in certified social funds, opening a pathway for small donors to engage in structured and accountable giving. This aligns with regional commitments to modernise charitable financing and support the UAE’s broader social-development agenda.

A regional benchmark for Sharia-compliant social finance

The partnership supports Awqaf Abu Dhabi’s ambition to position the Emirate as a regional hub for innovative endowment models. By aligning governance structures with digital banking capabilities, the authority is building a scalable infrastructure that can support new types of endowments and expand participation from institutions and individuals.

The collaboration also fits into a wider shift across the Middle East, where governments are strengthening oversight of philanthropic finances to ensure alignment with national development goals. Abu Dhabi’s approach demonstrates how traditional endowment systems can be modernised without compromising their cultural or religious foundations.

As the framework rolls out, it is expected to enhance donor confidence, improve operational controls for endowment entities and help channel greater volumes of Sharia-compliant capital into social services, education and healthcare. For the region, it offers a replicable model of how financial institutions can reinforce governance standards across the impact-finance landscape.

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