Erhan Akkas graduated from Durham University with a PhD in Islamic economics and finance in 2019 after obtaining his master’s in political economics from the University of Sussex. Akkas was a visiting research fellow at Durham University Business School between 2020 and 2022. He is currently a lecturer at Agri Ibrahim Cecen University in Turkey. Akkas’ most recent research focuses on political economy, economic development, Islamic finance, sovereign wealth funds, and Gulf Arab countries.