The application of the AAOIFI accounting standards by the Islamic banking sector in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In 1990, the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), a private standard setting body, was established by Islamic banks and other interested parties to prepare and promulgate accounting, auditing and governance standards based on the Shari'ah precepts for Islamic financial institutions. In Saudi Arabia, AAOIFI accounting standards have not been implemented yet. This research, therefore, attempts to investigate and explore the awareness of AAOIFI accounting standards among academics, external auditors and Islamic bank's employees in Saudi Arabia. In addition, this study aims to explore the respondents' preference of adopting AAOIFI accounting standards for Islamic banks in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the usefulness and importance of the Islamic banks' annual report is investigated through the opinions of the participants. Lastly, respondents' perceptions regarding Islamisation of conventional banks in Saudi Arabia were examined. The three samples of this study were obtained form the Saudi universities, auditing firms, Islamic banks and Islamic windows in conventional banks in Saudi Arabia. To serve the above purposes, a research questionnaire was designed. A total of 499 questionnaires were distributed among the three samples. The analysis revealed that the awareness of AAOIFI accounting standards was less than expected among those considered as knowledgeable respondents coining from the areas related to the sector. The study also provides evidence that the more education and experience respondent has the more he/she is aware of the AAOIFI accounting standards. The research also concludes that the vast majority of the respondents prefer AAOIFI accounting standards to be adopted in Islamic banks տ Saudi Arabia. The results of the analysis also indicate that traditional items of the IBs' annual report such as the balance sheets and income statements perceived as the most important and useful material and data for making decisions. The study also provides evidence that harmonizing Islamic banks' accounting standards and regulation will facilitate comparability of financial reports among Islamic banks in Saudi Arabia and the financial performance measurement will be much robust as a result. Lastly, participants in this study are in the opinion that Islamic windows in conventional banks in Saudi Arabia are the first step towards Islamizing the financial system.