Waqf-led buildings and green infrastructure role in environmental sustainability: understanding critical gaps in current research landscape

Purpose: This study examines the role of waqf – an Islamic philanthropic endowment – in supporting sustainable development through a quantitative analysis of academic literature. Conducting a comprehensive bibliometric analysis using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions, we identify key trends, regional focuses and gaps in waqf-related research. Design/methodology/approach: The study analyzes 71 articles from Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions databases. Advanced bibliometric techniques are employed to examine publication trends, author productivity, citation patterns, geographical distribution, institutional analysis, journal analysis, keyword analysis and thematic evolution. This unique combination of databases and comprehensive analysis provides a holistic view of the field. Findings: Results reveal a significant increase in research output since 2018, with a geographical concentration in Southeast Asia and emerging international collaborations. Key research clusters focus on integrating waqf with sustainable finance mechanisms and global development goals. However, the study uncovers an under-exploration of waqf’s specific applications in green infrastructure and building projects. This analysis provides valuable insights for academics, policymakers and practitioners, offering a roadmap for future studies and practical applications of waqf in sustainable urban development. Practical implications: This study shows that waqf could be a novel financing method for sustainable infrastructure projects. Gaps in existing studies propose ways to construct Islamic endowment-compliant financial models, such as merging monetary waqf with renewable energy initiatives or using FINTECH to improve waqf management. These insights can help policymakers and practitioners promote international collaboration and cross-border collaborations to improve waqf-led sustainable development. Social implications: This study underscores waqf’s potential to address key socio-economic challenges, such as poverty alleviation, community welfare and inclusive urban development. Suggesting the use of waqf in funding green infrastructure projects highlights a pathway toward more equitable and inclusive development strategies. The emphasis on the long-term socio-economic impacts of waqf-funded initiatives encourages policies and research focused on maximizing the social benefits of these projects, ensuring that they contribute to the welfare of diverse communities. Originality/value: This study’s originality lies in its focused examination of waqf in the context of green building and infrastructure, utilizing a unique combination of three major databases and employing a comprehensive set of bibliometric analyses. It contributes to the literature by identifying research gaps, emerging trends and potential future directions in waqf-led sustainable development for green infrastructure and buildings. While earlier research has touched upon the contribution of waqfs in Islamic finance and overall sustainable development, this research fills the gap uniquely by specifically targeting its application in green buildings and infrastructure – a specialized yet very important subtopic that is less researched in literature. Through the integration of bibliometric analysis in three databases (Scopus, Web of Science and Dimensions), this research provides unparalleled insights into thematic trends, geographic bias and collaborative networks, offering a roadmap for future research in the intersection of faith-based endowments and environmental sustainability.