The Dubai FinTech Summit has hailed its second edition, which concluded last week, as a success, having attracted over 8,000 visitors from 118 countries. 

From government officials and policymakers to start-up founders, the two-day Dubai FinTech Summit 2024, held at Madinat Jumeirah, saw over 300 thought leaders participate in 125 discussions across five stages and over 200 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge technologies. Over 20 government dignitaries also attended the event, including the Mayor of Seoul, central bank governors, and deputy governors.

Essa Kazim, governor of DIFC, commented: “The Dubai FinTech Summit is not just a gathering, it is a platform for transformative discussions and collective action. The Dubai FinTech Summit stands as a beacon of impact, progress, and collaboration, creating unprecedented opportunities for growth and innovation. Dubai is at the forefront of shaping the future of finance and will continue to strengthen its position as a leading global hub for fintech firms.”

Over 50 international associations participated in the Summit this year, including Africa FinTech Network, Business France, FinTech Philippines Association, European Blockchain Association, Global FinTech Alliance (GFA), Hong Kong FinTech Industry Association, International Digital Economy Association, Invest Seoul, Luxembourg Institute of Financial Technology (LHOFT), Swiss Finance & Technology Association and Women in Web3 Association.

Dubai FinTech Summit also hosted signing ceremonies for over 50 memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with global financial leaders, as well as several key announcements from attending businesses.

Nik Storonsky, founder and CEO of Revolut, the UK-based neobank and fintech, announced expansion plans in the MEASA region, marking a significant step towards fostering financial inclusion through cutting-edge technology.

More launches and announcements 

Meanwhile, State Street Global Advisors’ CEO, Yie-Hsin Hung, also announced that the firm will return to DIFC. Based on the region’s expanding opportunities, paired with DIFC’s 20-year track record as a leading hub for finance and growth, DIFC continues to attract an extensive list of banks, advisors, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds seeking exposure to the region’s fast-growth markets within a future-forward regulated environment.

Dyna.Ai, a Singapore-headquartered firm, revealed plans to launch operations across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America, hoping to transform businesses with AI. The company offers a suite of solutions for digital banking, risk management, audience communication, and employee productivity to address current financial challenges.

In the MEA region, offices will be opened in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria. Dyna Athena, a newly launched AI platform, will provide revolutionary communication and interaction between customers, which will include features such as text-to-speech, language and speech processing.

The firm also launched ‘Dyna Avatar’, a new humanoid customer assistant, capable of real-time voice-activated conversations in Arabic, English, Chinese, Japanese and Thai, at the Summit.

The third edition of the Dubai FinTech Summit will take place from 7 to 8 May 2025.

From AI and blockchain to sustainable investing and digital economies, the second edition of the Dubai FinTech Summit has put the spotlight on emerging fintech trends and their potential to drive financial progress in the region.

The two-day event, organised by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) – the global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, took place at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre and it was certainly a bustling, tightly-packed affair, significantly building on the momentum from last year’s inaugural event.

DIFC Innovation Hub CEO Mohammad Alblooshi highlighted the increased interest in this year’s gathering, with participant numbers soaring from 5,000 to 8,000, hailing from over 100 countries. The number of speakers tripled from 100 to over 300, while the number of exhibitors doubled from 100 to about 200.

H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and President of DIFC, also opened up the Summit with some equally impressive stats on the growth of fintech in the region.

“Dubai has rapidly emerged as a global fintech hub,” he said. “Dubai has witnessed a surge in fintech investment in recent years, with total fintech funding, reaching $2.3billion in 2023. We saw unprecedented growth in 2023 with fintech and innovation as the fastest growing sector with 902 registered companies, a 31 per cent increase from the previous year.”

He added that the widespread global participation in the summit reflects Dubai’s growing position as a “magnet for investment, talent and innovation in the fintech sector.”

Echoing these sentiments, Arif Amiri, CEO of the DIFC Authority, further elaborated on Dubai’s expanding influence as a comprehensive global financial centre. “DIFC has truly become a global hub of global and regional banks, asset and wealth managers from all over the world, insurance and reinsurance firms, as well as family offices and supporting firms,” he said.

What we learned from the speakers

During one fireside chat, Nik Storonsky, founder and CEO of Revolut, outlined how the neobank is keen to expand its presence in the region, leveraging Dubai’s infrastructure and investor-friendly policies. While in another fireside chat, we learned that Julius Baer, a Swiss bank operating within the DIFC, currently has no immediate plans to appoint a permanent CEO. Nic Dreckmann, the interim chief executive, suggested the importance of patience in the search for the right candidate, saying: “I think we take the time that it takes.”

A panel featuring Craig Moore, founder and CEO of peer-to-peer lending platform Beehive, Ola Doudin, CEO and co-founder of BitOasis, a digital asset exchange, Mirna Sleiman, founder and CEO of Fintech Galaxy, the fintech community platform, and Tariq Sheikh, founder of Postpay, a fintech solution provider, shared experiences and insights on establishing in the Gulf region.

They all praised Dubai’s appeal for fintech startups, noting its supportive regulations, diverse talent pool and thriving expat and investor communities. They also highlighted Dubai’s lifestyle benefits, including its tax-free environment, multiculturalism, and vibrant expat community, making it an ideal hub for fintech innovation and growth, with Sleiman noting:  “Nothing beats the lifestyle that Dubai offers, especially for families.”

In a keynote address, Hany Rashwan, co-founder and CEO of 21.Co, an issuer of crypto ETPs, discussed the transformative potential of cryptocurrency, emphasising its ability to enable trustless transactions and programmable money. He highlighted Bitcoin’s stability and role as digital gold, while also pointing out two areas of growth: the tokenisation of assets and the expansion of programmable money beyond Bitcoin.

While Patrycja Oselkowska, a partner at Deloitte Digital gave digital banks food for thought, highlighting four key elements for banks to earn trust: humanity, transparency, capability and reliability.

News updates

AI launch

Singapore-based Dyna.Ai, an AI technology service company, chose the Dubai Fintech Summit 2024 to launch its operations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia, as well as the US, as part of a global expansion.

Dyna.Ai’s AI platform is designed to provide enterprise-level generative AI models featuring data curation, advanced customisation, retrieval-augmented generation and enhanced performance. It includes two solutions: Dyna Athena for text-to-speech, language and speech processing, and Dyna Avatar for digital human interactions.

Both solutions offer LLM-powered, task-specific solutions tailored for banks, fintechs, and various businesses, enhancing natural language interactions to make conversations “more realistic and engaging”.

“We are thrilled to kickstart our global expansion from the Dubai Fintech Summit,” explained Dyna.Ai chairman Tomas Skoumal. “Dyna.Ai not only provides professional AI solutions in the financial field, but also offers a unique and innovative RaaS (Result as a Service) business model, Dyna Ai supports pay for performance and provides services that can generate business results for banks, insurance, wealth and fintechs.”

Palm recognition

Astra Tech, a consumer technology holding group in the MENA region, announced the launch of Palm Pay through its Central Bank of the UAE licensed fintech subsidiary PayBy.

Palm Pay is a contactless palm recognition service that enables customers to hover their palm over a device to make payments – a first for the region.

“The UAE is now home to a first-of-its-kind technology that simplifies and secures how our customers interact with the world around them,” said Abdallah Abu Sheikh, founder of Astra Tech and CEO of Botim. “Palm Pay exemplifies our drive to bring revolutionary technologies to the region and  As the sole provider of this technology, we are proud to set new standards in the fintech sector and contribute to the UAE’s reputation as a global technology hub.”

Cross-border payment partnership

During the summit, TerraPay, a money transfers company, unveiled a partnership with bank challenger Multipass, to enhance cross-border payment solutions for corporate clients. Multipass will tap into TerraPay’s global payments network, enabling broader reach and local payouts in multiple currencies.

Rami Chedid, CEO of Multipass for the UAE and the Middle East, highlighted the strategic importance of this alliance for providing secure, fast payment solutions to international entrepreneurs, particularly as Multipass expands in the UAE and beyond.

He also highlighted that Multipass has begun the process to obtain a financial services licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority, with operations expected to start soon, enhancing the global payment capabilities for UAE-based businesses from day one.

e& life, the business pillar of technology and investment group e&, has joined the Dubai FinTech Summit, organised by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the global financial centre in the MEASA region. 

As the latest ‘Powered By’ sponsor of the Dubai FinTech Summit (DFS), e& life explained it is dedicated to supporting innovative and future-thinking businesses across the globe. The partnership sets the stage for the second edition of DFS, empowering start-ups and entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and networks needed to ensure growth.

Leveraging emerging technologies, e& life offers fintech, entertainment, retail, and mobility services through its smart platforms and apps. The e& fintech arm, e& money, has become known for its user-friendly mobile financial services, as well as its position as the UAE’s fastest-growing issuer of Mastercard debit cards.

Khalifa Al Shamsi, chief executive officer at e& life, discussed the firm’s ambitions in the area, in light of the sponsorship: “The Middle East is at the forefront of a major transformation in financial services delivery, driven by technology shifting from traditional to innovative solutions. As a pioneer in the region’s flourishing fintech sector, e& is driven by a bold vision to lead this change.

“Through strategic partnerships, we aim to fast-track progress and take the region’s fintech potential to new heights. This partnership represents a valuable opportunity for both e& and its fintech portfolio under the business pillar e& life to collectively imagine new possibilities, inspire breakthrough ideas, and catalyse impactful innovations.

“By bringing together the talent and resources within our ecosystems, we can accelerate the journey toward a future where financial services truly empower people across societies. We also look forward to contributing our expertise to shaping discussions that will steer the direction of the industry and play a role in realising the UAE’s aspiration to become a global hub for financial innovation.”

‘The path to true innovation lies in collaboration’

The Dubai FinTech Summit, scheduled for 6 and 7 May 2024, at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, expects to see a gathering of over 8,000 decision-makers, over 300 thought leaders, as well as over 200 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge technologies.

Mohammad Alblooshi, chief executive officer at DIFC Innovation Hub, also commented: “The path to true innovation lies in collaboration and the Dubai FinTech Summit strives to bring together global leaders, innovators and disruptive start-ups to shape the future of finance.

“The alliance between the summit and e& life demonstrates our mutual commitment to fostering a dynamic fintech ecosystem to strengthen Dubai’s existing reputation as a leading business destination. Transforming challenges into opportunities, our goal is to create the most advanced, inclusive and technologically empowered financial community.”

DFS has aligned its second edition with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) to position Dubai as a top four global financial hub by 2033, by encouraging cross-border collaboration and innovation. It presents a opportunity to explore emerging fintech trends and their potential to drive financial progress in the MEASA region.

On April 16 and April 17, two new fintech shows are taking place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai. Bringing together experts from across the artificial intelligence (AI) space and web3 ecosystem, VAP group has announced the inaugural editions of the Global AI Show and the Global Blockchain Show. 

A wide range of themes will be discussed at both conferences. At the Global AI Show, attendees will get a glimpse into an AI-powered future. Keynote speeches on sectors such as healthcare, finance, retail, oil and gas will show the new possibilities as a result of AI. Evolution of the digital ecosystem, data protection, blockchain in finance, gaming, metaverse and NFTs are some of the topics that will be discussed at the Global Blockchain Show.

The Global AI Show

Jamie Metzl, a technology and healthcare futurist, will be navigating the implications of AI, genetics, and biotechnology revolutions. Attendees can get their copies of Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity signed. They also get exclusive insights from  Metzl’s new book – Superconvergence: How the Genetics, Biotech, and AI Revolutions Will Transform our Lives, Work, and World.

Dr. Divya Chander, a neuroscientist and medical futurist, will take attendees on a journey from brain reading to brain writing to closed-loop brain machine interface systems. Another prominent speaker at the Global AI Show is H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of cyber security at United Arab Emirates Government, who will present a keynote on a future with AI.

The Global Blockchain Show

The Global Blockchain Show will showcase the dynamic landscape of blockchain technology. Among the distinguished speakers, H.E. Justin Sun, the founder of TRON and member of the HTX Global advisory board, will take centre stage.

Additionally, the event will feature a fireside chat with Lennix Lai, chief commercial officer of OKX, who will encompass the yin and yang of crypto trading. Dominic Williams, founder and chief scientist of DFINITY Foundation, will discuss the decentralised cloud vision of the DFINITY blockchain.

Capturing the potential of AI and blockchain

Furthermore, the Global AI Show and the Global Blockchain Show’s official ambassador will be an AI humanoid robot, Sophia. Sophia is a prime example of the wonders of artificial intelligence and robotics, converging technology with humanity.

The Global AI Show and the Global Blockchain Show will feature a start-up village. There, start-ups and scale-ups can pitch their ideas, technology and creations to investors, venture capitalists and big tech.

A VAP Accelerator will also be launched as an incubator for ambitious start-ups. Meanwhile, a community stage at the Global Blockchain Show and the Global AI Show will be set up to focus on fostering inclusivity, collaboration, and engagement within the blockchain and AI community.

Recognising and celebrating excellence and growth

Furthermore, an official awards ceremony will take place on April 17 at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai. The Global AI Awards and the Global Blockchain Awards will reward excellence and innovation in their respective fields.

Lastly, The Global AI Show and the Global Blockchain Show will finish with an afterparty at the White Beach at Atlantis, The Palm. Hosted by VAP Group, the afterparty provides a platform for industry experts and enthusiasts to mingle. They can exchange ideas, build valuable connections, explore potential collaborations, and unwind in a relaxed atmosphere.

TerraPay, the global cross-border payments network, is partnering with Dubai Duty Free, a travel retail operator, aiming to bolster the availability of alternative payment methods in the UAE, by making it possible to make purchases at DDF outlets with telecom digital wallets. 

Thanks to the collaboration, Dubai Duty Free can now access TerraPay’s global partner networks, which covers over 2.2 billion mobile wallets, as well as its cross-border payments infrastructure enabled through two leading global payments infrastructure companies in the UAE, Network International and Magnati.

Dubai Duty Free hopes to empower its customers’ payment preferences by expanding the payments ecosystem to include more convenience via Mobile Money Wallets in addition to existing payment methods. MTN, M-Pesa and Airtel are some of the leading mobile money companies partnering with TerraPay, to enable their users to use their digital wallets at Dubai Duty Free.

Ambar Sur, founder and CEO at TerraPay, explained: “Our partnership with DDF marks a significant milestone in our journey to enable financial inclusion at a large scale.

“DDF, the world’s largest retailer, opened up new avenues for seamless Mobile Money Wallet payments within its vast network at their three terminals utilising TerraPay’s robust cross-border payment infrastructure that has enabled us to deliver faster, more innovative and transparent cross-border payment solutions to our partners around the world.”

Mobile Money Wallet enables users to deposit money into an account linked to their mobile phone number and access it for digital services directly in stores.

Extending the ‘reach of financial inclusion globally’

Following the global impact of the Covid pandemic, alternative payment methods, particularly digital wallets, have experienced robust double-digit growth. The projected global value of digital wallets is expected to reach trillions of dollars by 2026, positioning them as a significant trend shaping the global payment industry.

Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, also commented on the partnership: “We are reinforcing our commitment to empowering travellers through DDF to make purchases using payment methods of their choice. DDF has always been at the forefront of harnessing technology and partnerships to offer the best to our customers, and now with access to TerraPay’s vast network, we’re excited to offer the best to our customers.

“TerraPay aligns with our commitment to extend the reach of financial inclusion globally, which enables us to open up new and innovative forms of acceptance for a large segment of unserved populations, and we are extremely proud of that.”

With a shared dedication to providing diverse and forward-thinking payment solutions, TerraPay and DDF embark on a journey to redefine convenience and accessibility in retail transactions. This partnership not only reflects the adaptability of the retail industry but also showcases the transformative power of collaboration in shaping the future of global commerce.

London & Partners, the business growth and destination agency, is leading a delegation of fintech, enterprise and sustainability companies to Dubai later this month, to help the firms explore commercial opportunities and prepare for expansion to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A total of 24 innovative tech companies from London are taking to Dubai from 26 to 28 February, seeking new opportunities in the region.

The trip, coordinated in partnership with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Informa plc, the events, digital services, and academic knowledge company, will see representatives of each tech company introduced to a variety of government officials, banks and regulators.

In line with the recently announced D33 Economic Agenda, DET is on a mission to make Dubai one of the top three global cities to invest, live and work in. It leads multiple future proof initiatives and economic programmes. Beyond special projects, it is in charge of a wide range of services, from licensing and classification, to marketing and promotion of the key economic sectors.

As part of the visit, firms will also visit AstroLabs, a business expansion platform for the Gulf region, to support the companies in expanding their services across the likes of the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Alongside various networking opportunities, the 15 fintech firms involved are also set to take part in a ‘shark tank’ event, in which each company will pitch to a number of investors at Capital Club Dubai, an exclusive businesspersons club fostering business opportunities for its members.

Mohamed Karmaoui, general manager at Capital Club Dubai, commented: “Our vision is to be the voice of business in the region, by bridging gaps for growth and facilitating collaborations between the private sector and government. Capital Club Dubai encompasses the entire startup ecosystem with mentors, investors, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders.”

Grow London Global

The trade mission is part of London & Partners’ Grow London Global 12-month programme, which supports businesses based in the capital to expand internationally.

Sara French, director of Grow London Global at London & Partners, discussed the opportunity represented by the region: “The UAE is a tremendously exciting region for London-based companies expanding internationally, with the MENA venture capitalist ecosystem now worth $3billion.

“Financial institutions in the Middle East are embracing digital transformation and 82 per cent of banking consumers are willing to use fintech solutions. Simultaneously, the UAE has implemented a variety of green economy and green funding initiatives to accelerate towards net zero emissions.”

To find out more about the aims of various delegates before they set off to Dubai, we met up with a variety of representatives at a pre-mission briefing held at London & Partners’ offices.

Cultivating relationships in Dubai

Digital finance firm Greengage is one of the chosen companies forming part of the delegation led by London & Partners to Dubai later this month.

Greengage founder and CEO, Sean Kiernan, explained to The Fintech Times that the mission offers an ideal opportunity to meet local partners, investors, and new clients in the region.

Kiernan also discussed why Dubai as a region is particularly enticing for the firm: “We’re really keen on the UAE because there’s a bit of a crypto hub there and a lot of our clients are in that space. I’m keen to find someone we can work with to help them access a Web3 strategy.”

Meeting more of the local players in Dubai is also a priority for fellow delegate Lorenzo Curci, the co-founder and CCO of nature-based solution provider Earthly. “I’m really interested to meet the local players and businesses – that’s the number one thing. I know Dubai a little bit already but I’m focused on getting to know more of the local people and businesses and learning more about what their ambitions are,” Curci told The Fintech Times.

We also caught up with Wyndham Plumptre, head of ventures at hybrid innovation consultancy Future Arc, which advises and builds new digital platforms for corporates, governments and scaling businesses.

“We were part of cohort one, so we’ve seen Grow London Global get better and better, which is great,” Plumptre explained. “The mission for us is to continue to enhance the relationships we’ve already got and grow new ones. In particular, we’ve been quite Abu Dhabi-focused, so this is an opportunity to meet the broader ecosystem in Dubai.

“We’ve found that targeted activities like this have been really impactful for us. It’s really clear how much work and effort goes into coordinating all of this with all of the different parties that need to be involved. So that’s been a very significant help.”

Another delegate, Devina Paul, CFO and deputy CEO at Zumo, a digital-assets-as-a-service platform, also explained the importance of engaging with local leaders and institutions in the region: “At Zumo, we are thrilled to be part of London & Partners’ trade mission in Dubai, a pivotal moment for us to deepen our local relationships and engagement with the UAE’s dynamic digital asset economy.

“The UAE, with its young, tech-savvy population and among the highest global crypto ownership rates, offers unmatched opportunities for innovation. Its forward-thinking regulations and commitment to a sustainable economy align closely with Zumo’s mission.

“We are here to empower UAE financial institutions to not only capitalise on the booming digital asset opportunity but to do so in a way that aligns with the Emirates’ vision for sustainable economic growth. Our Crypto Carbon Insight package is designed to serve as a roadmap for these institutions, enabling them to leverage sustainability as a value creation lever, align with UAE and global policy objectives, and set a direction for the future of the digital asset sector.

“We look forward to engaging with forward-thinking financial institutions who are contributing to the UAE’s burgeoning digital asset growth and want to lead by example on environmental sustainability.”

Targeting Dubai

Many firms participating in the trade mission view Dubai as offering uniquely attractive opportunities for business growth. Whether it’s because of its strategic geographical location linking to other key markets, the rapid expansion of its financial ecosystem, or the myriad of opportunities it presents, the region emerges as a prime target for London’s fintechs and other startups.

During the pre-mission briefing, Thomas Mitchell, client director at behavioural finance company Oxford Risk, also explained: “We see the Middle East as a key market for us, partly because the market is doing very well and we recognise that there’s a lack of behavioural finance expertise within that marketplace. We also see it as a springboard into the likes of Asia and potentially Africa.

“What we’re also really interested in is working with major banks and financial institutions, looking at how we can better help the industry by closing the advisor gap – if you can’t afford an advisor, we want to see if we can be in place there to support your financial decision making.”

For Farnoush Mirmoeini, founder of KYC Hub, the onboarding and screening platform, the region’s approach to innovation is proving very attractive: “We have been impressed with the proactive approach to innovation, as well as the policymakers’ commitment to growth and fostering the right ecosystem for fintech.

“With the UAE becoming a global financial powerhouse, robust mitigation of financial crime should be at the forefront, and we are uniquely positioned to empower the ecosystem members to detect and manage the risk of financial crime in a faster and more efficient way.

“This has attracted us to focus on the UAE in our growth strategy, and having signed a few clients remotely in the past quarter, we are now committing substantial effort to achieve sustained growth in the region.”

Spreading the word

In January, Ctrl Alt became one of the newest firms to join the Grow London Global programme. The trade mission is to become the first that the B2B alternative asset solutions provider is involved in.

Speaking to Jack Denton, an associate at Ctrl Alt, we heard about the importance of the trade mission for the firm as it looks to not just expand its operations, but also its reputation: “Our main focus is making a name for ourselves because we are brand new – we only secured funding in November.”

Matt Ong, founder and CEO at Ctrl Alt, also explained the importance of the support and opportunities the Grow London Global programme offers: “As a fast-growing B2B alternative asset solutions startup, having focused support is key to our success, particularly as we explore global opportunities. We’re looking forward to our mission to Dubai and the opportunity to network with key stakeholders in financial services and beyond in the region.”

DKK Partners FZE, a subsidiary of DKK Partners based in the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), has secured initial approval from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) to offer virtual asset broker dealer services.

Initial approval from VARA enables DKK Partners FZE, which specialises in emerging markets (EM) and foreign exchange (FX) liquidity, to move forward in the licensing process as they look to offer corporate and institutional customers in Dubai and the UAE access to stablecoin blockchain technology, utilising USDT and USDC.

Victoria Albergini, head of partnerships for DKK Partners FZE in Dubai, also said: “Since our launch last year, DKK Dubai has gone from strength to strength and is now in a prime position in the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape. The VARA initial approval enhances our ability to serve the unique needs of corporate and institutional customers.”

The VARA Initial Approval furthers DKK Partners’ overarching digital asset strategy, establishing Dubai as a pivotal hub for their operations in the Middle East.

DKK Partners FZE will now continue to work towards acquiring a full Virtual Asset Service Provider Licence from VARA.

Khalid Talukder, co-founder and CEO of DKK Partners, gave his view on the news: “It is an incredibly exciting time for DKK in the Middle East and securing the VARA Initial approval will enable us to continue making a splash in the region.

“Our expansion to Dubai last year was a huge success and we’re looking to extend our influence in the market by strengthening our compliance and innovation in the virtual asset space.

“This license is a game-changer for DKK and the digital asset landscape in Dubai empowering businesses to confidently engage in blockchain technology, benefiting from the stability of stablecoins and the regulatory framework.”

DKK Partners empowers corporates & institutions in emerging markets with expert FX solutions. They manage currency risk, secure optimal liquidity, & streamline local collections, driving business growth.

Emirates NBD, a banking group for the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has joined the Dubai FinTech Summit, organised by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), as a premium banking partner, underscoring its dedication to driving innovation in the financial sector.

By becoming a premium banking partner of the event, which begins on 6 May 2024, Emirates NBD continues its existing collaboration with the DIFC Innovation Hub. This partnership has played a pivotal role in translating innovative concepts into tangible prototypes, successfully integrating numerous solutions that enhance customer experiences in the evolving digital era.

Emirates NBD’s commitment to supporting innovation in fintech comes in the form of various industry partnerships with start-ups and accelerators. As well as this, the bank takes the next step to actively invite global fintech players to join forces in the collaborative development of cutting-edge products and services for its diverse customer base.

The official partnership agreement occurred in the presence of Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority and Abdulla Qassem, group CEO at Emirates NBD during the DFS dialogues last month, when industry leaders set the agenda for the upcoming second edition of the Dubai FinTech Summit.

Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub, said: “Emirates NBD’s unwavering commitment to fintech innovation aligns perfectly with the summit’s goal to bring together leading innovators shaping the future of financial technology.

“Our collaboration is pivotal in nurturing a thriving FinTech ecosystem that attracts and supports the growth of innovative companies. We look forward to delivering an exceptional event that will inspire and empower the fintech community.”

Backing fintech growth in Dubai

Marwan Hadi, group head of retail banking and wealth management at Emirates NBD, also commented on the partnership: “This collaboration signifies our commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in the financial sector, together with our long-time strategic partner, DIFC.

“We look forward to contributing to an event that not only showcases the latest innovations in fintech, but also paves the way for future advancements, instrumental in driving forward the financial technology landscape, both regionally and globally.”

In line with the D33 Agenda to position Dubai as one of the top four global financial hubs by 2033, the second edition of the Dubai FinTech Summit is designed to encourage cross-border collaboration and innovation, pivotal to transforming the global fintech sector.

It also presents a unique opportunity to explore emerging fintech trends and their potential to drive financial progress in the MEASA region.

Dubai Fintech Summit 2024 expects to welcome 8,000 decision-makers, over 300 thought leaders and more than 200 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge technologies.