The Global Conference on Awqaf, organised by the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), kicked off in Doha yesterday. 
The CIS conference is being held under the key themes of Evolution, Socio-economic Impact, Management Strategies, Legal and Governance Issues, Cash Waqf and Country-wise Case Studies. 
The sponsors of the conference are the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). 
Strategic partners for the conference are the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and the Qatar Central Bank. 
The event will also witness notable participation from academic partners, including Bait Al-Mashura Finance Consultations, the College of Shariah and Islamic Studies at Qatar University, Sabahattin Zaim University, Ibn Haldun University, as well as the University of East London’s Centre for Islamic Finance Law and Communities.
In his speech, HE the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr Ghaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari addressed the importance of endowments and the ability to fulfil its purpose if the donors’ requirements are met. 
Al-Kuwari also spoke about the potential of endowments to achieve peace and support the harmony of diverse societies, citing the example of Patani University Hospital in Thailand financed by the ministry. 
He added that endowments offer great wealth potential that may yield fruitful results when their legal protection conditions are applied, and their governance, administration, and investment approaches are enforced according to the requirements of their donors. 
HBKU President, Dr Ahmad M Hasnah, said that the endowments were one of the most important elements of development and civilisational building in Muslim history, surpassing the role of charitable field to have a developmental and educational role in the sustainability and development of many scientific and research institutions. 
It also contributed to the process of civilisational advancement and sustainability, he said.
He called for benefiting from the modern technology to develop the Waqf and its fields, and to improve the required legal frameworks to take advantage of the endowments, which are no longer limited to material aspect, but include new areas.
Executive director at QNRF Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taei said: “QNRF is very pleased to sponsor this unique conference. Waqf has both historical and contemporary importance for Muslims across the world. The conference offers a rare opportunity for Islamic scholars and specialists in different fields, such as in economics and business, to come together and discuss different aspects of endowments with the focus of widening and improving the effectiveness and the impact of how Waqf can respond to the challenges of the 21st Century.”