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As digital transformation reshapes financial services, Islamic finance is at a crossroads where technology, trust, and compliance must work hand in hand. In this interview, Sanjay Singh, CEO of Azentio Software, discusses how the company’s new loan origination platform is designed to fuse speed and flexibility with Shariah compliance.
Singh explains how fintech is redefining lending across the GCC, the critical role of governance in AI adoption, and what trends will drive fintech innovation in 2026.
How does Azentio’s new product leverage fintech to address the specific challenges and opportunities within the Islamic finance sector?
Islamic finance operates with a dual responsibility. Customers expect the same fast, digital experiences they see everywhere else, but every decision also has to stand up to Shariah principles. That’s not a small task and it really requires looking at it from a lens of both innovation and discipline.
What we’ve done with our new ‘Loan Origination’ platform is make compliance part of the DNA. Every process, from onboarding to decisioning, is policy-driven, explainable, and auditable. That gives institutions the confidence to innovate without having to trade speed for trust.
Fintech is most valuable in Islamic finance when it can do both: remove friction for the customer while ensuring full transparency for regulators and Shariah boards. The sector is already worth over $2tn globally, and much of its next wave of growth will come from digital channels. Platforms that can deliver trust at scale will be the ones shaping that future.
And when you look at AI, the same is true. AI only creates lasting value if it’s grounded in clean data, clear policies, and accountability. Used responsibly, it can bring new capabilities like alternative data for inclusion, predictive analytics for risk, and personalised journeys for customers. That’s the promise, but it only works when governance comes first.
What makes this “next-gen” solution different from existing origination platforms, and how does it specifically accelerate growth in the GCC region?
What sets this apart is how it addresses the three biggest pressures lenders face today: speed, flexibility, and compliance.
On speed, banks don’t have to start from scratch. With built-in blueprints, lending journeys can go live in weeks rather than months. On flexibility, they can begin with ready-made flows to move fast, then extend or customise later without rebuilding. And on compliance, checks for AML, KYC, bureaus, and Shariah alignment are built in from day one.
In practice, that means institutions can bring new lending products to market faster, scale them responsibly, and adapt as regulations and customer expectations evolve. Growth becomes less about compromise and more about confidence. For lenders in highly competitive markets, that difference isn’t cosmetic, it’s the line between gaining market share or losing relevance. And as regional regulators open the door to more digital-first products, having a system designed for speed with governance is a real advantage.
Many recent developments in fintech seem centred around enhancing speed and efficiency. Would you say this is a key theme in the lending landscape in the region?
Speed and efficiency are absolutely central. Customers have grown used to services that give them an answer instantly, whether they’re ordering food or booking a taxi. They expect the same from financial services, a quick, clear response, without unnecessary delays.
The challenge for lenders is delivering that speed while staying in control. That’s where technology makes the difference. By orchestrating every step of the process, from onboarding and KYC to approvals and collections, you cut out the handoffs that create friction. Clean cases can move through quickly, while exceptions are reviewed with full accountability.
AI can take this further by automating routine decisions, but only if those decisions are explainable. Otherwise, speed becomes risk. What excites me is how AI will increasingly make speed invisible, customers won’t notice the technology, only the outcome. A faster “time-to-yes” becomes the new normal, and the banks that master this balance will be the ones customers trust most.
Trust is critical to both fintech and Islamic finance. What steps are being taken to ensure customer trust in digital Islamic finance platforms, particularly regarding data security and Shariah compliance?
Trust is the real currency of Islamic finance. Without it, customers simply won’t engage, no matter how fast or convenient the platform is.
There are two sides to trust, and the first is Shariah compliance. Every decision on our platform is policy-driven and auditable, so a bank can show exactly how an approval was reached. That level of transparency is what gives customers and scholars confidence.
The second is data security. People want to know their information is safe. We’ve built strict governance into the platform, encrypted integrations, secure workflows, audit logs, so that protection is there at every step.
And as AI becomes part of digital finance, these guardrails only become more important. AI must run on clean, well-governed data and produce decisions that can stand up to scrutiny. If we get this right, digital Islamic finance won’t just match conventional benchmarks for trust, it can set a higher standard for the whole industry.
With the rise of fintech, how are SMEs in the region leveraging innovative financial technologies for better loan application processes, quicker approvals, and improved access to credit?
SMEs are the backbone of the economy, but for years access to credit has been one of their biggest hurdles. Traditional processes were slow, paperwork-heavy, and not always designed with small businesses in mind.
Fintech is helping change that. With digital onboarding, automated checks, and smarter workflows, SMEs can apply for financing more easily and get decisions faster. For banks, it means they can serve a much larger segment efficiently, while still maintaining compliance.
AI can also play an important role here, especially for SMEs that don’t have long credit histories. By responsibly incorporating alternative data, always within a policy-first framework, lenders can make more informed decisions and widen access. That shift is critical when you consider that SMEs contribute close to half of non-oil GDP in the region but historically receive less than 5 per cent of lending. Closing that gap is both an economic priority and a social one, and technology is the key enabler.
What’s in store for fintech in 2026 – what are the biggest trends you’re tracking ahead of the new year?
Here I really see three big shifts coming.
The first is AI moving from pilot projects to real production. Institutions will stop experimenting on the edges and start using AI to compress cycles, improve decision-making, and personalise services. But the only way it works is with governance, clean data, clear policies, and full explainability.
The second is composability. Banks won’t accept rigid systems anymore. They want platforms they can configure and extend quickly, without disruption. Flexibility will be the difference between keeping up and falling behind.
The third is inclusion. Fintech will continue to widen access, whether for SMEs, younger customers, or underserved communities. And Islamic finance, with its focus on ethics and fairness, will be at the heart of that expansion.
What excites me most is how these trends will converge. Imagine lending journeys that are instant for the customer, explainable for the regulator, and personalised by AI in ways that reflect not just risk, but opportunity. That’s not distant, it’s starting to happen, and the institutions that prepare now will be the ones shaping the market in 2026 and beyond.
