Upon arrival at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, His Royal Highness was greeted by Dr Farhan Nizami, Director of the centre and John Harwood, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. His Royal Highness then consented to sign the guest book and viewed an exhibition organised as part of the Sultan of Brunei programme at the centre.

His Royal Highness then proceeded to the auditorium for the Sultan of Brunei Prize award ceremony. The event commenced with the recitation of Al-Quran verses by Dr Talal Al Azem, Senior Fellow at the Oxford Centre, followed by a speech from Dr Farhan Nizami and the announcement of the recipients of the awards.

His Royal Highness then consented to present the Sultan of Brunei Prize firstly to Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, Founding President of the Islamic Development Bank, as the individual recipient of the award, and then to Dr Zamir Iqbal, Vice-President of the Islamic Development Bank, as the institutional recipient. The awards were given in recognition of both recipients’ success and achievement in promoting Islamic finance.

The ceremony then saw Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali and Dr Zamir Iqbal give speeches in honour of their achievements and on behalf of the Islamic Development Bank. John Harwood delivered the closing remarks.

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen also consented to attend a dinner at the hall of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies which was also attended by diplomats, city dignitaries, representatives of the City of London and senior members of Oxford University as well as officers from the High Commission of Brunei Darussalam in London.