Muslim World Aims to Shift From Tech Consumers to Builders

The Muslim world is rapidly adopting new technologies like artificial intelligence and crypto, but the challenge now is shifting from consumption to production. The Chairman of Pakistan’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA) emphasizes the need for Muslim countries to move beyond just using technology and start building their own systems. This doesn’t mean rejecting foreign technology but rather understanding, improving, and innovating around it.

The word 'algorithm,' derived from the name of the 9th-century scholar Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, highlights how knowledge has historically traveled and evolved. During the Islamic Golden Age, scholars translated and expanded ideas from various traditions, turning them into new discoveries. Today, Muslim countries can adopt a similar approach to AI, blockchain, and digital finance, focusing on local research and innovation rather than just consumption.

AI could play a key role in this transition by making small teams more productive and reducing research costs. However, building local capabilities, such as training researchers, funding startups, and improving infrastructure, remains essential. Pakistan, for instance, ranked third in the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, demonstrating strong demand for crypto. The country has also taken steps to regulate the sector, introducing the Virtual Assets Act 2026 and establishing frameworks for governance, cybersecurity, and client protection.

The UAE has also emerged as a major crypto hub, with over $56 billion in crypto value received and a 33% growth in its crypto economy. Other Muslim-majority countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Türkiye are showing strong adoption as well. The real shift, however, is from being users to becoming builders. Universities, investors, and governments must support innovation, while young people need to see technology as something they can create, not just consume.