London: Malaysian professional services firm SALIHIN International (SALIHIN) has been recognised as Best Shariah Advisory Firm 2026 at the 16th edition of the Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA), held in London, United Kingdom yesterday. Founder and Group Managing Partner of SALIHIN, Datuk Dr Salihin Abang, received the award in recognition of the firm's growing contribution to advancing Islamic finance and Syariah advisory services across regional and international markets.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, SALIHIN, in a statement, said the accolade reflected the growing international relevance of Malaysian Syariah expertise as the role of Syariah advisory continues to evolve beyond compliance into a broader discipline encompassing governance, risk management, innovation, sustainability, research, and strategic decision-making. 'The prestigious accolade represents one of the highest forms of international recognition for SALIHIN Syariah's team of professionals, led by Dr Ahcene Lahsasna, its internationally renowned Syariah scholar and chief executive officer,' the statement read.
SALIHIN said the global Islamic finance industry is entering a new phase of development, expanding across jurisdictions and into new areas such as capital markets, wealth management, fintech, digital finance, sustainable investment, family offices, and the wider halal economy. This expansion is increasing the complexity of Syariah advisory. The role of Syariah advisers now extends beyond compliance to supporting governance, consistency, risk management, ethical conduct, and practical application of Syariah principles, it said.
The firm also noted that Malaysia has been at the forefront of Islamic finance development for decades, supported by a comprehensive ecosystem comprising Islamic banking, takaful, the Islamic capital market, Syariah governance institutions, regulatory frameworks, professional bodies, and academic institutions. 'It is against this backdrop that SALIHIN sees an opportunity for Malaysian Syariah expertise to play a greater international role. SALIHIN Syariah advisory capabilities have supported engagements in markets including Kenya, Nigeria, and Algeria, covering areas such as sukuk issuance and structuring, governance and supervision, Islamic wealth management, Islamic private equity, takaful and re-takaful, accounting, research, risk management, audit and assurance, fintech and digital solutions, as well as zakat and waqf management,' it said.
SALIHIN said the GIFA recognition reinforced its belief that Syariah expertise developed in Malaysia can create impact beyond borders through strong governance, innovation, research, and practical solutions. Meanwhile, Salihin said the award reflected the firm's long-term commitment to building a Malaysian professional services brand with international relevance. 'We are deeply honoured to receive the Best Shariah Advisory Firm 2026 award at GIFA in London. For SALIHIN, this is not simply about receiving an international award. It represents recognition of the knowledge, expertise, and commitment that our people have invested in developing a Malaysian professional services firm with global aspirations,' he said, adding that the firm remains committed to advancing Syariah advisory capabilities while expanding its contribution to the regional and global Islamic finance ecosystem.
SALIHIN's latest GIFA achievement builds on previous recognitions including Best Emerging Islamic Shariah Advisory Firm (2018), Best Islamic Finance Training Provider (2019), Best Islamic Finance Publishing House (2020), and GIFA Special Award (Shari'a Advisory Leadership) (2022).