Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the world’s first full-service Islamic bank and the largest in the United Arab Emirates, has announced a strategic partnership with HCLTech, a global technology services company, to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across its operations.
The deal, unveiled during the GITEX GLOBAL 2025 technology show in Dubai, marks a deliberate move by the bank to embed intelligent systems throughout its banking ecosystem in line with Shariah-compliant, ethical finance principles.
Under the collaboration, Dubai Islamic Bank plans to leverage HCLTech’s full-stack AI capabilities, including advisory services and alliances with global hyperscalers and technology partners, to deploy scalable, responsible AI solutions across its infrastructure.
The bank intends to apply these capabilities to personalize customer engagement, streamline decision-making, enhance process efficiency, and strengthen risk and compliance frameworks—all while upholding the integrity and transparency demanded by Islamic finance standards.
DIB’s Chief Operating Officer emphasized that the bank’s innovation strategy is anchored in responsibility and purpose.
He noted that the partnership with HCLTech marks a pivotal step in achieving an AI-driven future that boosts value for customers and employees while reinforcing governance structures.
Meanwhile, HCLTech’s Middle East country head highlighted that the combined effort would unlock innovation, boost operational agility, and deliver differentiated experiences for the bank’s clientele.
The collaboration arrives at a time when the Middle East fintech and banking sectors are increasingly turning to AI and digitalization to gain competitive advantage.
At GITEX GLOBAL 2025, major deals and innovations in artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital banking were featured, underscoring the region’s ambitions to emerge as a global tech hub.
The bank’s commitment to integrating AI sits squarely within its broader objective of leading the evolution of Islamic finance.
DIB has long positioned itself as a pioneer in Shariah-compliant banking, with operations across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and assets exceeding USD 95 billion according to recent disclosures.
The partnership is expected to bolster DIB’s ability to deliver future-ready services while maintaining the ethical and governance standards intrinsic to Islamic financial institutions.
For HCLTech, the agreement strengthens its footprint in the financial services sector in the Middle East and aligns with its strategy of partnering with major regional banks to deploy AI at scale.
The firm, with over 226,000 employees across 60 countries and revenues of around USD 14.2 billion for the 12 months ending September 2025, brings deep domain expertise in technology services and a strong track record in working with banks and financial institutions globally.
As the partnership moves into implementation, key areas to watch will include how swiftly AI capabilities are embedded within the bank’s operations, how governance and Shariah-compliance are maintained in AI deployment, and what measurable impact the initiative produces in terms of customer experience, operational efficiency, and risk management.
With DIB seeking to position Islamic finance not just as an alternative but as a technologically advanced proposition, the collaboration with HCLTech could set a new benchmark for responsible innovation in faith-based banking.
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