Professor Habib Ahmed has M.A. (Economics) from University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, Cand. Oecon. from University of Oslo, Norway, and Ph.D. (Economics) from University of Connecticut, USA. Before joining Durham University as Professor and Sharjah Chair in Islamic Finance in September 2008, Professor Ahmed was Manager, Research & Development, Islamic Banking Development Group, The National Commercial Bank (NCB), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and worked at Islamic Research & Training Institute of the Islamic Development Bank Group, Saudi Arabia. He also taught at the University of Connecticut, USA, National University of Singapore, and University of Bahrain.

He has been a member of the Capital Adequacy Working Group of Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) which is responsible for, among others, setting standards and guidelines for Islamic banks and financial institutions. He is also organized, attended and contributed to many conferences, and conducted numerous field studies and surveys on various topics in Islamic economics and finance. Professor Ahmed has attended and contributed research papers in several conferences/seminars on Islamic Economics and Finance including in Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UAE, UK and USA. Recently, he was elected as Vice President of the International Association of Islamic Economists.

Professor Ahmed has authored/edited more than 60 papers and publications, which include articles in international refereed journals, books, chapters in books, and other academic papers/monographs/reports. Professor Ahmed recently published a book entitled Product Development in Islamic Banks, published by Edinburgh University Press. His other publications on Islamic Economics and Finance include “Role of Zakah and Awqaf in Poverty Alleviation”, " Determinants of Profit- Sharing Ratio on Project Financing: A Note", "Financing Microenterprises: An Analytical Study of Islamic Microfinance Institutions", "Incentive Compatible Profit-Sharing Contracts: A Theoretical Treatment", A Microeconomic Model of an Islamic Bank, Exchange Rate Stability: Theory and Policies from an Islamic Perspective, Risk Management: An Analysis of Issues in Islamic Financial Industry (with Tariqullah Khan), and Corporate Governance in Islamic Financial Institutions (with M. Umer Chapra). His current research interests include contemporary applications of Islamic commercial law, Islamic nonprofit organisations, risk management and product development in Islamic banks.