After graduating from the Kuzbass State Technical University in 2000, Islamov went to the US and Great Britain for an internship. In 2003, he was awarded a Doctor of Sciences in Technical Sciences degree. In 1998–2003, he was also engaged in business. From 2003 to 2006, Islamov worked as a docent at the Kuzbass State Technical University. In 2006–2007, he headed the board of programs and investment policy of the administration of the Kemerovo region. In 2007, he was appointed deputy head of the Department of Economic Development of the Kemerovo Oblast. In September 2016, he was elected deputy of the 7th State Duma from the Kemerovo Oblast constituency. In 2021, he was re-elected for the 8th State Duma.
