General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

What General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments does

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (Awqaf) is a UAE federal government authority that regulates and delivers Islamic religious services across all seven emirates. Its mandate covers Zakat collection and disbursement, Hajj and Umrah facilitation, endowment (Waqf) administration, Quran memorization licensing and education, mosque oversight, religious publication approvals, fatwa issuance, and welfare programs for citizens in need. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi with offices in every emirate, the authority operates a multi-channel service delivery network combining physical service centers, an executive call center (800-21), the Dubai Digital Call Center (800-55555), UAE PASS single sign-on, a mobile app ecosystem, and Open Data Portal publishing prayer times, mosque locations, and Zakat statistics.

The authority's core technology stack centers on digital service platforms rather than consumer software products. It runs the Sahem Al-Zakawi national Zakat platform centralizing donations and disbursement (AED 628 million disbursed in 2024), an AI-powered holographic Smart Preacher platform for multilingual virtual khutbahs, IoT-enabled Smart Digital Donation Boxes, an Amazon Alexa voice channel, and an AI chatbot on the corporate site. Welfare extensions include the Khalas Zakat Program, Maskani Housing Project, and Charity Loan under the "We Are The UAE 2031" vision, targeting citizens facing credit constraints. A flagship intangible asset is the Emirates International Holy Quran Award, hosted on a recurring basis.

Funding is primarily through UAE federal budget allocation — AED 741,141,000 in the 2026 budget, of which roughly 71.7% covers employee compensation and 27.9% goods and services. Direct revenue-generating streams are limited: AED 200 fees paid by non-citizen Quran memorization students, Hajj and Umrah operator licensing, and approval fees for religious publications and content. The authority is therefore a publicly funded regulator and service-delivery body whose commercial KPIs are secondary to its regulatory and community-development mandate, and whose scale is best read through its AED 741M operating budget (approximately USD 200M at prevailing exchange).

Name

General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

Legal name

General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowment & Zakat

Website

https://awqaf.ae

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Awqaf is the UAE federal authority regulating Islamic religious affairs, Zakat, endowments, Hajj, Quran education, and mosques across all seven emirates, delivering services through physical centers, digital platforms, and AI-powered channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Religious Affairs Administration

NAICS

Public Administration (92), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Shariah Governance, Compliance & Advisory (Shariah Boards, Audit, Fatwa) (FSABAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Shariah-compliant Financing Products (Murabaha, Ijara, Tawarruq, Istisna, Salam) (FSABAGAH), Islamic Transaction Banking (Cash Management & Treasury Services) (FSABAGAF)

Keywords

• Islamic affairs administration
• Zakat collection services
• Endowment management
• Hajj pilgrimage services
• Quran education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Zakat Collection & Distribution: The authority collects Zakat (obligatory almsgiving) from individuals and distributes it to eligible recipients including orphans, widows, the poor, debtors, students, and those in need. Zakat is collected through digital channels, call centers, and physical service centers. The authority also collects Zakat on dates through the 'Mikhrafah' initiative during palm harvest season.
2. Endowment (Waqf) Management: The authority manages Islamic endowments (awqaf) accepting donations for various causes including mosque construction, Quran printing, water aid, orphan sponsorship, healthcare, and education. Donors can contribute to six approved waqf funds: Islamic Affairs, Knowledge, Health, Orphans & Poor, Piety & Goodness, and Social Care.
3. Hajj & Umrah Services: Facilitates Hajj pilgrimage for UAE citizens through licensed Hajj operators. The authority processes Hajj permits, coordinates with campaigns, and provides pilgrimage packages. Fees are collected through the Hajj campaign system.
4. Quran Education Services: Charges fees for Quran memorization centers for non-citizens (200 AED for residents inside and outside the UAE), with exemptions for children under 18 and GCC citizens. Instruction is provided through physical centers, mosque circles, and the smart Quran learning platform.
5. Hajj & Umrah Operator Licensing: Licenses Hajj and Umrah operator companies. Fees range from 100 AED for operator permits to 10,000 AED for new campaign licensing, with various intermediate fees for renewals, branches, and certifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowment & Zakat (Awqaf) is the UAE federal government authority that regulates and delivers religious services nationwide. It collects and distributes Zakat, manages Islamic endowments (Waqf), issues Hajj permits and licenses Hajj/Umrah operators, provides Quran memorization education, supervises religious publications, and coordinates Friday sermons across mosques in all seven emirates.

Product overview

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (Awqaf) operates a broad digital government services ecosystem organized around six core service categories. The primary customer-facing platform (awqaf.ae) serves as the central hub delivering: prayer time schedules across UAE cities and zones; an electronic Quran; Hajj permit issuance and Hajj operator licensing; endowment donation and acceptance services with multi-payment support (including Apple Pay and Samsung Pay); Zakat calculation, payment, and disbursement; Quran memorization education via centers, mosque circles, and a smart remote platform; mosque maintenance reporting; Friday sermon coordination; religious publication monitoring; and general inquiry, suggestion, and complaint services. The authority supplements its core services with transformative digital initiatives including the Smart Preacher (الخطيب الذكي) using AI-powered holographic projection for virtual preaching, the Digital Donation Box (الحصالة الرقمية) leveraging IoT for donation management, the Sahem Al-Zakawi National Zakat Platform, the Khalas Zakat Program, Maskani Housing Project, and Charity Loan (القرض الحسن). AI and technology-driven initiatives also include service delivery via Amazon Alexa and a Virtual Preaching Lessons Platform using holographic technology. The ecosystem is accessible via a responsive website, native iOS/Android mobile applications, and open data APIs for mosque locations and prayer times. Six endowment accounts (Science, Health, Piety, Orphans/Poor, Islamic Affairs, Social Care) and eight endowment projects (Water Aid, Quran Printing, Mosque Furnishing, Mosque Construction, Kinship, Mother's Endowment, Father's Endowment, and Custom Endowment) structure the charitable giving framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Waqf Al Emarat: Brand symbol for endowment and sustainability in endowment projects
• Mikhrafah Initiative
• Masajiduna Hisn wa Iman

Products and services

• Zakat Calculator Free informational service calculating Zakat obligations across money, gold, silver, livestock, crops, shares, businesses, and properties, with daily Nisab thresholds and a specialized dates Zakat calculator for palm harvest season.
• Zakat Payment Service for paying Zakat, Zakat al-Fitr, and charitable donations via cash, checks, credit/debit cards, and digital payments, with allocation to specific categories or recipients and annual SMS reminders.
• Zakat Disbursement Service Zakat disbursement service for eligible recipients including citizens, residents, orphans, widows, prisoners' families, the elderly, patients, people of determination, and debtors, offering lump-sum or recurring financial assistance plus university scholarships up to 200,000 AED.
• Endowment Donation Service Digital donation service for endowment contributions accepting credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and bank transfers across six endowment funds (Knowledge, Health, Piety, Orphans/Poor, Islamic Affairs, Social Care) and eight projects.
• Endowment Acceptance Service Service allowing individuals and institutions to establish endowment trusts under the authority's supervision, covering money, real estate, land, stocks, and vehicles, with management, investment, and distribution per endowment terms.
• Hajj Permit Service Comprehensive Hajj service for UAE citizens providing integrated packages including registration, accommodation and transportation in holy sites, meals, religious and administrative supervision, and health follow-up, in cooperation with licensed Hajj operators.
• Hajj Operator Certificate Service Electronic service allowing licensed Hajj and Umrah operators to submit multiple requests including license renewal, activity addition, transfer, branch opening, partner additions, and employee permits through a unified digital platform.
• Umrah Operator Licensing Service Service enabling UAE citizens to obtain official licensing for Umrah operator activities, compliant with the authority's regulations and standards, targeting UAE-owned companies with application fee of 500 AED and service fee of 10,000 AED.
• Quran Memorization Education Quran education service delivered through three academic semesters plus summer session at Quran memorization centers, mosque circles, and a smart platform for remote learning, including Tajweed, recitation improvement, and certification; 200 AED per term for non-citizens.
• Prayer Times Service Daily prayer time schedules for cities across the UAE including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, with area-level granularity for over 30 zones, delivered via the website and mobile app.
• Mosque Locations Open Data Open data service providing geographic locations of mosques across the UAE, accessible via open data APIs and downloadable datasets for public and government use.
• Religious Lectures Service Religious and awareness lectures executed through a comprehensive plan in Arabic, English, and Urdu, delivered by specialized scholars, including condolence services for families of the deceased and martyrs.
• Mosque Maintenance Reporting Service Service enabling mosque visitors to submit maintenance and cleanliness reports for mosques across the UAE via mobile app and QR codes on mosque signage; reports are classified, processed, and used to improve worshippers' experience.
• Zakat Financial Assistance Certificate Instant certificate service for citizens and residents to obtain a certificate of financial assistance received from the authority, issued digitally in Arabic and English with verification QR code.
• Petition Request Service Service for reviewing cases where recipients request changes to authority decisions on assistance, including reconsideration of rejected applications, modification of financial data, or declining assistance, with decisions appealable within 15 working days.
• Religious Publications Review Service Review and approval service for religious publications including books, brochures, and audio/video materials, ensuring compliance with Sharia standards and moderate Islamic methodology before publication.
• Complaints and Inquiry Services Official channels for citizens, residents, and visitors to file complaints, submit suggestions for service improvement, and direct inquiries to authority departments regarding services, procedures, requirements, and laws.
• Awqaf Mobile Application Native mobile application available on iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store) providing access to all authority services including prayer times, Hajj services, Zakat, Quran education, mosque feedback, and digital participation.
• Wisdom Platform Digital knowledge platform offering structured Islamic and moral education content through four channels: Emirati House, Wise Children, Religious Knowledge, and Consolation.
• Digital Participation Portal Comprehensive digital engagement platform covering digital participation policy, consultations, contact with leadership, publications, surveys, blogs, Sharik.ae polls, wisdom platform, and digital accessibility statements.
• Open Data Portal and APIs Government open data initiative providing statistical reports, budget data, website statistics, mosque locations, and APIs for public access, including open data policy, publication plan, and guidelines.
• Smart Preacher / Virtual Preaching Platform AI-powered initiative using holographic projection technology to create interactive 3D images of religious preachers broadcast simultaneously to multiple locations for delivering virtual sermons to unlimited audiences.
• Digital Donation Box Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled donation collection system allowing remote control of services, operational monitoring, data tracking, service continuity, and sustainability in donation management.
• Sahem Al-Zakawi National Zakat Platform National platform facilitating Zakat payments through a unified portal approved by the UAE Cabinet, integrating charitable work partners across the UAE and enabling donors to pay Zakat through a single comprehensive platform.
• Mikhrafah Dates Zakat Initiative Annual initiative during the palm harvest season for calculating and disbursing dates Zakat, conducted in partnership with UAE Fatwa Council, Ministry of Climate Change, and Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority.
• Amazon Alexa Service Platform Voice-based service delivery through Amazon Alexa devices, connecting Awqaf services with Amazon's virtual assistant for voice interaction, content playback, and task management through natural language commands.
• Emirates International Holy Quran Award Annual Emirates International Holy Quran Award with four competitive contests: Recitations, Tajweed Challenge, Emirates Voices, and Quran Values and Civilization; registration open until August 31, 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2026 total budget of 741,141,000 AED demonstrating significant operational scale
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UAE Government Development and Future Office (مكتب التطوير الحكومي والمستقبل)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2026Partnership to enhance government readiness for the future through continuous communication, experience sharing, and coordination to achieve high-standard objectives aligned with UAE strategy and aspirations.
• UAE Government Executive Council - Abu Dhabi (الأمانة العامة للمجلس التنفيذي - أبوظبي)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic federal partner for coordinating government religious affairs and policy alignment across Abu Dhabi emirate.
• General Command of Abu Dhabi PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement coordination for mosque security, Hajj operations, and community safety initiatives.
• Dubai Police General Command - Es3adcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on Hajj permit management and community engagement services in Dubai.
• Department of Municipalities and Transport - Abu DhabicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mosque infrastructure, mosque locations data, and municipal coordination.
• Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu DhabicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural collaboration for Islamic heritage preservation and religious tourism related to Hajj and Umrah services.
• Sharjah Islamic Affairs Department (دائرة الشؤون الإسلامية بالشارقة)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coordination for Islamic affairs services in Sharjah emirate.
• Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department - Dubai (دائرة الشؤون الإسلامية والعمل الخيري - دبي)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coordination for Islamic affairs and charitable work in Dubai emirate.
• UAE Fatwa Council (مجلس الإمارات للإفتاء الشرعي)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSharia compliance partnership for religious rulings, including Zakat calculations, Hajj regulations, and the Mikhrafah initiative for date Zakat. Contact: 8002422.
• Ministry of Climate Change and EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Mikhrafah initiative for calculating and disbursing Zakat on dates, aligned with the national palm harvest season.
• Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (هيئة أبوظبي للزراعة والسلامة الغذائية)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Mikhrafah initiative for date Zakat, providing agricultural expertise during the palm harvest season.
• Mohammed bin Zayed University for HumanitiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on the Emiratization of Imams initiative to train and qualify UAE national imams and preachers.
• Ministry of Education - UAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative 'Our School's Prayer Hall' (مصلى مدرستنا) to activate school prayer spaces through cultural activities and lectures.
• Zayed House for Islamic Culture (دار زايد للثقافة الإسلامية)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner for Islamic knowledge dissemination and heritage preservation.
• Presidential Court (ديوان الرئاسة)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresidential oversight and coordination for national religious affairs and strategic initiatives.
• Community Development Department - Abu Dhabi (دائرة تنمية المجتمع - أبوظبي)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination for Zakat disbursement eligibility assessments, especially for Dubai citizens, and community support programs.
• National Health Company - Abu Dhabi (شركة صحة أبوظبي)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership for endowment fund allocations and Hajj pilgrim health screening coordination.
• UAE National Committee on SDGscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals; authority contributes to SDGs including No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health, Quality Education, Clean Water, and Reduced Inequalities.
• Sharik.ae PlatformcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment digital participation platform for conducting public consultations and polls on authority services and initiatives.
• Bayanat.ae (UAE Open Data Portal)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerUAE open data portal where authority publishes Zakat statistics, Hajj data, mosque locations, and budget information.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques: Manages religious operations at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, including pilgrim services and religious content during Hajj/Umrah. Comparable to Awqaf in Hajj facilitation and prayer-time services, though focused on the holy sites rather than a national federation.
• Ministry of Religious Affairs - Indonesia: Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs manages Hajj pilgrim services, Islamic education, religious harmony, and religious publication oversight for the world's largest Muslim population. Comparable to Awqaf in Hajj coordination and religious content governance, though at vastly larger scale.

Regional players

• Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department - Dubai: Dubai's emirate-level Islamic affairs authority handling mosques, religious content supervision, and charitable activities within Dubai. Comparable to Awqaf's service portfolio but operates at emirate-level rather than federal scope, illustrating the jurisdictional overlap risk.
• Department of Islamic Religious Affairs (JAKIM) - Malaysia: Malaysia's federal Islamic affairs authority overseeing Sharia compliance, religious education, and fatwa issuance at the national level. Comparable to Awqaf's regulatory and Sharia governance role, though operating in a multi-ethnic federal context with state-level Islamic departments.

Direct peers

• Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs - Kuwait: Kuwait's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs manages mosques, religious publication approvals, Hajj services, and Quran centers. Highly comparable to Awqaf across the full service portfolio, including endowment management and Zakat collection.
• Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah - Egypt: Egypt's national fatwa and Sharia advisory authority, providing religious rulings, Zakat calculation, and religious content. Comparable to Awqaf's UAE Fatwa Council partnership and Zakat advisory functions, with overlap in digital religious content distribution.
• Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs - Oman: Oman's Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs handles Islamic affairs, Hajj services, mosque management, and endowment (waqf) administration. Directly comparable to Awqaf in mandate and Gulf-region delivery model.
• Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs - Qatar: Qatar's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs oversees mosques, religious publishing, Hajj pilgrim services, and endowment management. Comparable to Awqaf in scope and Gulf-region regulatory framework, with similar Sharia-compliant endowment services.
• Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) - Turkey: Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs operates as the national religious authority managing mosques, religious personnel, Quran education, and Hajj services across the country. Comparable to Awqaf as a federal/state religious authority handling Islamic affairs, mosque administration, and pilgrim coordination, though at much larger scale.
• Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance - Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs oversees mosques, Imams, religious publications, and Hajj/Umrah licensing nationwide. Directly comparable to Awqaf's combined scope of religious content supervision, Hajj operator licensing, and mosque management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/awqafuae
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AwqafUAE
• Facebookfacebook.com/AwqafUAE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/general-authority-of-islamic-affairs-&-awqaf
• Instagraminstagram.com/awqafuae

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments