Discover the 2025 Agenda | Money20/20 Middle East

12:00 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 12:00 PM—07:00 PM (7 h)

Live Stream : Livestream Executive Summit Stage - Day 1

12:10 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 12:10 PM—12:20 PM (10 min)

Keynote : Strategic Vision and Priorities

Ministerial welcome, addressing the importance of integrating digital innovations in finance to maintain a resilient and sustainable economy.

Speaker

H.E. Mohammed A. Aljadaan

Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Financial Sector Development Programme Committee | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

12:20 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 12:20 PM—12:35 PM (15 min)

Keynote : Keynote Speech

Speaker

H.E. Ayman M. Al-Sayari

Governor | Saudi Central Bank

12:35 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 12:35 PM—12:40 PM (5 min)

Announcements

12:40 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 12:40 PM—01:00 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : Capital Market Evolution in the Digital Age

Exploring the transformative impact of digital innovation on Saudi Arabia's capital markets covering regulatory initiatives, market growth and accessibility.

Speakers

H.E. Mohammed A. Elkuwaiz

Chairman | Capital Market Authority

Dr. Chris Brummer

Founder | Bluprynt

12:45 PM

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 12:45 PM—01:00 PM (15 min)

Keynote : Unlocking Inclusive Growth through Global Payment Interoperability

Speaker

Douglas Feagin

President | Ant International

12:50 PM

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 12:50 PM—01:30 PM (40 min)

Panel Discussion : Global Xchange: The Great Fintech Reroute: Is the Global Financial Future Being Built Outside the West

While much of the Western world is entangled in outdated infrastructure, compliance-heavy legacy banks, and slow regulatory innovation, regions like Africa and the Middle East are building financial systems from a cleaner slate, digital-first, mobile-native, and increasingly decentralised.

This panel explores whether these regions can use financial technology, from real-time payments and digital banking to embedded finance, alternative investments, and sovereign fintech platforms - to create truly independent financial ecosystems, free from Western dependency.

Key talking points include:

• Can Africa and the Middle East build self-sustaining fintech powerhouses, and who’s already leading?
• How does leapfrogging legacy infrastructure enable faster adoption of blockchain, APIs, and open finance?
• What role does sovereign investment (e.g. Gulf SWFs, AfCFTA) play in scaling homegrown fintech empires?
• Could these regions ultimately export fintech models back to the West?

Join this provocative discussion on whether the future of financial leadership is shifting South and East, not West

Speakers

Ahmad Ghandour

Vice President -Middle East | Backbase BV

Jeff Parker

CEO | Paymentology Ltd

Simon Black

Chairman | Onafriq

Maya Horgan Famodu

Kabeer Paliwalla

Partner | Kearney

1:00 PM

MoneyPot

Monday 15 September, 01:00 PM—01:55 PM (55 min)

Podcast : Everything is Fintech

Everything is Fintech Hosts: Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Money 20/20 Global & Micky Tesfaye, Head of Audience Development, Money 20/20 Global with guest: Mounir Nakhla, Founder & CEO, MNT-Halan

Speakers

Micky Tesfaye

Head of Audience Development | Money20/20

Mounir Nakhla

Founder & CEO | MNT-Halan

Tracey Davies

President, Money20/20 | Money20/20

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 01:00 PM—01:30 PM (30 min)

Fireside Chat : The Digital Infrastructure of Capital: How Institutions Are Rebuilding Treasury, FX, and Portfolio Strategies for a Tokenized Economy

As tokenization, AI, and decentralized technologies reshape global finance, institutional investors and treasury leaders face a dual challenge: safeguarding traditional assets while preparing for new forms of value transfer. From the evolution of cross-border liquidity networks to digital custody, programmable money, and tokenized portfolio components, the digital backbone of finance is under reconstruction.

This forward-looking fireside chat brings together:

The CIO of Syz Group, representing the perspective of a leading Swiss private bank navigating portfolio innovation and client trust.
A Managing Director from BlackRock, offering the lens of the world’s largest asset manager on treasury transformation, liquidity, and tokenization.
The CEO of Wadaie, showcasing how fintech challengers are building agile infrastructure for digital-first investment and treasury systems.

Together, they will explore how capital allocators, asset managers, and fintech innovators are converging around the next frontier of financial plumbing.

Key Discussion Areas:

Macro & Investment Implications of Tokenization: How tokenized assets are reshaping portfolio construction and liquidity.
Treasury & FX in a 24/7, Multi-Asset World: Building systems that adapt to always-on global markets.
Bank–Tech Partnerships in Practice: Collaborations between incumbents, asset managers, and fintechs to modernize financial infrastructure.
Safeguards & Governance: Ensuring trust, compliance, and security for high-net-worth and institutional clients in a digital-first environment.
The Path Forward: How traditional and emerging players can co-create the infrastructure for a tokenized, AI-driven financial system.

Speakers

Charles-Henry Monchau

Chief Investment Officer - Member of Executive Committee | Syz Group

Abbas Hashmi

Principal | Saudi Family Holdings

Tony Ashraf

Managing Director, Head of Technology & Operations Middle East & Africa | Blackrock

Rayan Altuwayjiri

Cofounder&COO | WADAIE

The Capital

Monday 15 September, 01:00 PM—01:40 PM (40 min)

Panel Discussion : The Untold Stories: Redefining Venture and Innovation in Fintech

A power panel featuring women led VC’s and scaleups redefining the fintech playbook across MENA, Africa, and Asia.

Speakers

Ashley Lewis

Head of Venture Capital | Development Partners International (DPI)

Halah Al-Jubeir

Managing Director - Saudi Arabia (MENAP) | Antler

Rezso Szabo

General Partner | Illuminate Financial

Basmah Alsinaidi

Managing partner | Impact46

Kristy Duncan

Founder & CEO | Women in Payments

Amal DOKHAN

Managing Partner | 500 Global

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 01:00 PM—01:20 PM (20 min)

Keynote : The Role of the Regulator towards a Fintech-Driven Economy

Speakers

H.E. Dr. Khaled W. Al-Dhaher

Vice Governor for Supervision and Technology | Saudi Central Bank

Leda Glyptis

Seasoned fintech executive, former banker and author 'Bankers like Us" | Beyond Resilience & Bankers like Us

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 01:00 PM—01:40 PM (40 min)

Panel Discussion : Fraud Has Evolved. Can The AI Defense Line Hold?

As attacks grow more sophisticated, the question is no longer whether defenses can keep up, but how quickly they can adapt to stay ahead.

Speakers

Toby Rush

CEO | Ideem

Simon Taylor

Founder | Fintech Brainfood/Global Digital Finance

Khaled Al Huneidi

Senior Associate | Latham & Watkins

Samrah Kazmi

Professor | New York Professor

Mohammed Alharrah

Chief information security officer | BARQ

1:20 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 01:20 PM—01:40 PM (20 min)

Keynote : The Future Insured: Strategic Insurance Evolution in a Dynamic Financial Landscape

This session highlights how Saudi Arabia is fostering a progressive insurance sector through digital enablement, ecosystem partnerships and inclusive policy.

Speaker

Eng. Abdullah Taha

Deputy CEO of Strategy & Sector Development | Insurance Authority

1:30 PM

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 01:30 PM—01:50 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : In Conversation with: Digital Assets and State Capital: How Governments and Sovereign Institutions Are Shaping the Next Financial Frontier

As digital assets move from speculative instruments to strategic pillars of next-generation financial infrastructure, sovereign players are stepping into new roles. From sovereign wealth funds exploring digital asset custody and tokenized asset exposure, to public treasuries piloting blockchain-based bond issuance, the convergence of state capital and digital innovation is accelerating.
This high-level session brings together sovereign wealth fund executives, financial policymakers, and digital asset strategists to explore how public institutions are navigating the digital shift. We’ll examine the motivations, frameworks, and safeguards guiding these moves, and assess the long-term implications for capital markets, cross-border investment, and financial sovereignty.

Speakers

Joseph HL Chan

Under secretary for financial services & treasury | The Government of Hong Kong Special administrative region

Abbas Hashmi

Principal | Saudi Family Holdings

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 01:30 PM—02:20 PM (50 min)

Panel Discussion : The Post-Wallet Era: What’s Shaping the Future of Payments in the Middle East

Digital wallets are rapidly becoming foundational to the Middle East’s financial transformation, not only as payment tools but as platforms for broader financial engagement. This fireside chat will unpack how wallets are evolving into hubs for embedded services like BNPL, insurance, savings, and investing, while shaping the region’s shift toward a cashless, interoperable future.

We’ll explore the infrastructure powering this shift, from telco-led wallets and government-backed solutions to fintech-native ecosystems, as well as the regulatory frameworks and consumer behaviors driving adoption.
The conversation will also examine the emergence of super apps, cross-border wallet interoperability within the GCC, and how the region stacks up against global innovation benchmarks.

Looking ahead, the session will spotlight what’s next for digital wallets in the context of open finance, tokenisation, and seamless digital identity integration.

Speakers

Rinat Ablet

Chief Revenue Officer | Tiqmo

Eric Lin

Director | Tenpay Global, Tencent

Ali Bailoun

GM | VISA

Deniz Oran

Head of EMEA Payment Partnership | GOOGLE

Ahmad S. Alrasheed

Director, Payment Business Planning | Saudi Central Bank

Pratik Sawal

Chief Product Officer | Jisr

1:40 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 01:40 PM—02:00 PM (20 min)

Announcements

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 01:40 PM—02:00 PM (20 min)

Presentation : East to West – A Global Pulse Check

Leader’s reflections on how the finance industry has fared against disruption, and where the opportunities for growth lie in 2026

Speaker

Chris Skinner

Financial Author, independent commentator on the financial markets and technology trends | The Finanser

The Capital

Monday 15 September, 01:40 PM—02:00 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : Synergy Over Capital: Building Lasting Investor-Founder Bonds

Dive into the art of selecting investors who align with every fintech founder’s vision, from seed to scale, shared values and strategic collaboration drive regulatory success and sustainable global growth. Alongside, Explore funding trends: Why investor alignment is critical for fintechs navigating complex markets.

Speakers

Ravishankar GV

Managing Director | Peak XV Partner

Sarah AlSaleh

General Partner | Outliers VC

Bilal Abou Diab

Co-Founder & CEO | Vault Wealth

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 01:40 PM—02:00 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : Who Is Finance Really Built For?

Finance claims to serve everyone, but the reality tells a different story. Are today’s fintech solutions truly designed for underserved populations or are they just reinforcing old systems with a digital facelift?

Speakers

Nicole Valentine

FinTech Director in the Center for Financial Markets | Milken Institute

Ayman Essawy

Co-founder & Executive Chairman / Co-founder & CEO/ Board Member | Lucky ONE / Connect Money/ Dsquares/ Endeavor Egypt/Exits MENA

Omar Saleh

Co-Founder & Khazna Group CEO | Khazna

Nataliya Gorbunosova

Principal | AT Kearney Saudia Arabia Limited

1:50 PM

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 01:50 PM—02:10 PM (20 min)

Keynote : Unlocking Trust in Digital Assets: Building a Regulatory Framework that Enables Innovation

Speaker

Eduard Muller

Former Executive Director, Financial Market Authority | Former Federal Minister of Finance of Austria, Government of Austria

2:00 PM

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 02:00 PM—02:20 PM (20 min)

Regional Insights : The Transformation Economy: Lending at the Core of Vision 2030

Flash reporting on the predicted banking & finance trends triggered by the current regulatory environment.

Speaker

L Guru Raghavendran

Senior Vice President Product Management | AZENTIO

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 02:00 PM—02:40 PM (40 min)

Networking : Dr. Leda Glyptis - Book Signing / Networking Session

Speaker

Leda Glyptis

Seasoned fintech executive, former banker and author 'Bankers like Us" | Beyond Resilience & Bankers like Us

MoneyPot

Monday 15 September, 02:00 PM—02:30 PM (30 min)

Podcast : Fintech Files by BCG Platinion

Fintech Files by BCG Platinion Host : Annika Melchert - Fintech as a Catalyst for Women’s Financial Empowerment Guest: Amanda Estiverne-Colas, Board Member, The National Alliance for Financial Literacy and Inclusion

Speakers

Annika Melchert

Co-host / Principal | FinTech Files / BCG

Amanda Estiverne-Colas

Board Member | The National Alliance for Financial Literacy and Inclusion

The Capital

Monday 15 September, 02:00 PM—02:40 PM (40 min)

Debate : Capital Crossroads: When Should Fintechs Choose Equity, Debt or Credit

Fintech Investors debate on exploring the critical decision points for fintech companies navigating funding options, balancing growth ambitions against dilution concerns, and optimizing capital structure for different business lifecycle stages.

Speakers

Fariha Ansari Javed

Partner | Stride Ventures

Cindy Xu

Managing Director, Head of Asia Fintech and China FIG | J. P. Morgan

Ihsan Jawad

General Partner | STV

Mohamed Aladdin

General partner | DPI VC (Middle East)

Tarek Fahim

Partner | Endure Capital

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 02:00 PM—02:35 PM (35 min)

Fireside Chat : Instability as a Catalyst - Fintech’s Role in a Global Interconnected Economy

When the markets shake, new value is unlocked. This session explores how economies are leveraging financial innovation to find growth in the cracks – redefining lending, saving and capital access in unpredictable times.

Speakers

Hon. Caroline D. Pham

Acting Chairman | U.S Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Federal Government of United States

Deemah AlYahya

Secretary General | Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)

Scarlett Sieber

Chief Strategy & Growth Officer | Money2020 Global

Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite

Minister of State for Finance | Federal Republic of Nigeria

2:10 PM

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 02:10 PM—02:50 PM (40 min)

Panel Discussion : Navigating the New Frontier: AI Regulation and the Open Banking Revolution

As financial services embrace AI and open banking at scale, regulators and innovators are confronted with a new balancing act: how to drive innovation while protecting consumers, ensuring data privacy, and safeguarding systemic trust. The convergence of AI-driven decision-making with open banking ecosystems is reshaping credit, payments, and customer engagement, but it also raises urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and regulatory alignment.

This session brings together a powerful mix of voices, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, HSBC, Tarabut, and Sumerge, to unpack the opportunities and risks at the frontier of finance, and to explore how regulation, collaboration, and technology can converge to build secure, transparent, and consumer-first financial ecosystems.

Speakers

Colin Payne

Head of Innovation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Mohamed Nour

Chief Technology Officer | Sumerge Arabia

Kazimierz Kelles-Krauz

Head of Digital Channels & AI | HSBC Hong Kong

Nilixa Devlukia

CEO | Payments Solved

Patrick Firth

VP Strategy | Tarabut

Mansour A. Alsaleh

General Director, Innovation Hub | Saudi Central Bank

2:20 PM

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 02:20 PM—02:50 PM (30 min)

Panel Discussion : Global Xchange: Unlocking Trillions: Public-Private Partnerships as Catalysts for Emerging Market Growth

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are transforming how infrastructure, digital ecosystems, and financial access are financed and delivered in emerging markets. From transport corridors and smart cities to digital ID systems and fintech platforms, collaboration between governments and private sector innovators is key to unlocking inclusive economic growth.

This session brings together leaders from public development agencies, financial institutions, and private investors to explore how PPPs are reshaping economies in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. The panel will examine the evolving models of PPPs, beyond roads and rail - into fintech infrastructure, mobile banking, cloud, and payments.

We’ll explore:

• Financing infrastructure for fintech ecosystems (e.g., connectivity, cloud, payments)
• Leveraging private capital for national development priorities
• Risk-sharing and governance models that enable bankability
• Lessons from successful PPPs in digital infrastructure, financial inclusion, and mobility
• Building investor trust and alignment across borders

Speakers

Folajimi Daodu

Founder/Lecturer/Board Member & Chief Strategy Officer | Vaulthill/Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance/Nigerians in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce

H.E. Dr. Vin Pheakdey

Deputy Director General | Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi

Director General | National Information Technology Development Agency, Government of Nigeria

Olugbenga Agboola

Co-founder & CEO | Flutterwave

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 02:20 PM—02:40 PM (20 min)

Presentation : From Insight to Impact: Agentic AI that Drives Real Results in Finance

In the era of autonomous intelligence, Agentic AI is revolutionizing the way financial institutions operate. This session explores how AI moves beyond insight to deliver real results enhancing decision-making, driving growth, and creating strategic advantages across banking and beyond.

We will also showcase real-world use cases, demonstrating how to leverage cutting-edge AI to solve complex challenges and achieve business outcomes.

Speaker

Tomas Skoumal

Chairman & Co-President | DYNA.AI

2:35 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 02:35 PM—02:50 PM (15 min)

Keynote : Reimagining Global Energy in a Digital Financial Future

This keynote will explore how global energy leaders are leveraging technology, capital markets and financial innovation to power the next era of sustainable growth. From advancing carbon-neutral strategies and scaling renewables to unlocking new investment vehicles through digital finance.

Speaker

Ziad Thamer Al-Murshed

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer | Aramco

2:40 PM

The Capital

Monday 15 September, 02:40 PM—03:00 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : Secondaries, Safe Bets or Short-Sighted? A VC's Dilemma

Explore the role of secondary transactions in venture capital, weighing their potential for liquidity and portfolio flexibility against risks of short-sighted decisions.

Speakers

Kyane Kassiri

Partner | Rally Cap VC

Basil Moftah

Managing Partner | Key Capital

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 02:40 PM—03:00 PM (20 min)

Panel Discussion : Surviving the First Three Years: Capital, Chaos, and the Founder’s Battlefield

Previous pitch competition winners of 24Fintech trade unfiltered war stories, hard-won tactics, and the brutal truths of navigating product, operational, market, and regulatory crossfire

Speakers

Omar Al-Shabaan

CEO & Co-Founder | The Space

Yazeed Al-Shamsi

Co Founder & CEO | Ejari

Baraa Koshak

CEO | Abwab.ai

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 02:40 PM—03:00 PM (20 min)

Presentation : The Rise of AI-Driven Finance

From personalised banking to fraud detection, this session will shine a light on the ways in which AI tools are revolutionizing financial services.

Speaker

Daniela Braga

Founder and CEO | Defined.ai

2:45 PM

MoneyPot

Monday 15 September, 02:45 PM—03:30 PM (45 min)

Podcast : She Builds with Sarah Hewerdine

She Builds

Host Sarah Hewerdine Founder. Guest: Amandine Lobelle, COO, Paystack

Speakers

Amandine Lobelle

Chief Operating Officer | Paystack

Sarah Hewerdine

Director of Marketing & Founder | She Builds Podcast

2:50 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 02:50 PM—03:10 PM (20 min)

Keynote : The Currency of Trust: Why Finance Runs on More Than Money

How Tamara built a fintech powerhouse by leading with trust, how you can use it to supercharge your business, and why being "Trust First" positions Saudi Arabia to forge, not follow, the future of global finance in the digital age.

Speaker

Abdulmajeed Alsukhan

Co-Founder & CEO of Tamara | Tamara

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 02:50 PM—03:00 PM (10 min)

Keynote : Transforming Fintech in the Age of AI: Opportunities and Challenges for the Digital Economy

During this keynote, the Director General of the Digital Cooperation Organization will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the fintech landscape, discussing innovations in financial services, enhanced customer experiences, and the implications for regulatory frameworks. Moreover, the session will address the ethical considerations and the importance of collaboration between fintech companies and regulators to ensure a secure and inclusive digital economy for all.

Speaker

Dr. Hajar El Haddaoui

Director General | Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 02:50 PM—03:40 PM (50 min)

Panel Discussion : Unveiling the Opportunities in Digitizing and Integrating Insurtech for Businesses

Insurance is no longer just a back-office function, it’s becoming an embedded, data-driven enabler of business growth. From real-time claims processing to API-powered policy issuance and AI-driven risk profiling, insuretech is rapidly transforming how businesses manage risk, build trust, and create new revenue streams.

This session brings together leading innovators, to explore how digital insurance infrastructure is unlocking value across sectors, especially in emerging markets where penetration remains low but mobile and digital adoption is high.

Together, they’ll unpack:

How embedded insurance is powering smarter customer experiences in mobility, health, and retail
The growing demand for seamless API integration into platforms and apps
The role of AI, data analytics, and automation in reducing fraud and improving underwriting
New B2B2C models that turn insurance into a revenue generator, not just a cost centre
Regulatory and ecosystem challenges in scaling digital insurance adoption

Whether you’re a platform, fintech, telco, logistics player, or e-commerce brand, this session reveals why insurance innovation is becoming a competitive advantage, and how digital-first models are reshaping the future of business resilience.

Speakers

Bente Krogmann

CEO | mTek Services

Henry Mascot

Founder & CEO | Curacel

Rami AlGhamdi

VP- IT Operations | Najm

Hatim Jamal

Chief Financial Officer | BUPA

Khaled Lababidi

Partner | Arbor Ventures

Abdulraheem Alzahrani

Chief of Health and Wellness | BUPA ARABIA FOR COOPERATIVE INS

3:00 PM

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 03:00 PM—03:10 PM (10 min)

Keynote : Public-Private Collaboration for Inclusive Finance - driving financial inclusion through government, fintech, and regulator collaboration

A keynote address on behalf of Vice-President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima

Speaker

Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia

Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Office, of the Vice President | Federal Republic of Nigeria

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 03:00 PM—03:25 PM (25 min)

Panel Discussion : Sync or Spy: AI + Open Banking: Empowering Customers or Hijacking Consent?

Open banking promised transparency and consumer control. AI promised personalization and efficiency. But when the two collide, are we unlocking financial empowerment, or building the most invasive profiling machine in history?

Speakers

Marie Walker

Open Futurist | Raidiam

Tewfik Cassis

Chief Product Officer | Lean Technologies

Ahmad Alwazzan

Group EVP | Tap Payments

Ramana Kumar

CEO- Middle East | Paytm

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 03:00 PM—03:20 PM (20 min)

Live Demo : The Future of Deposits 2025: Fintech Eats First – Can Banks Catch Up?

This high-impact session presents the latest global data on how fintechs are outpacing traditional banks in deposit growth, product innovation and user engagement. The session will also spotlight bold moves from banks that are reclaiming ground through partnerships, digital infrastructure and better customer alignment.

Speaker

Simon Hardie

Founder & CEO | Findexable

Boardroom

Monday 15 September, 03:00 PM—04:30 PM (1 h 30 min)

Roundtable : Education, Youth and Financial Services Innovation

This roundtable will bring together leaders from the financial sector, fintech innovators, regulators, and educators to explore how we can co-create solutions that address the unique needs of Saudi Arabia’s youth. Together, we will discuss ways to foster financial literacy, drive inclusion, and innovate to meet the expectations of a digital-first generation.

Speakers

Mohammed Alhamazany

Chief of Capability development | The Financial Academy

Dr. Basma Albuhairan

Managing Director | C4IR - Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Saudi Arabia

Chris Skinner

Financial Author, independent commentator on the financial markets and technology trends | The Finanser

Nicole Valentine

FinTech Director in the Center for Financial Markets | Milken Institute

Hosam Arab

Co-Founder & CEO | Tabby Financing Company JSC

Mark Loughran

President and CFO | inDrive

Aleena Nadeem

Founder & CEO | Edufi

Jayesh Patel

CEO | Wio Bank

Kazimierz Kelles-Krauz

Head of Digital Channels & AI | HSBC Hong Kong

Sitoyo Lopokoiyit

CEO | M-Pesa Africa

David Birch

Global Ambassador | Consult Hyperion

The Capital

Monday 15 September, 03:00 PM—03:30 PM (30 min)

Panel Discussion : Next-Gen Family Offices

With a focus on agility and impact, next-gen family offices are reshaping VC through tailored investments. Explore how their preferences for alternative structures and regional growth sectors are influencing GPs. Join this LP-GP exchange for fresh perspectives and actionable insights.

Speakers

Lixia Zhu

Managing Pricipal | 76Columbus Family Investment

Lu Zhou

CEO | Vanquour Wealth Management, the family office division of Royal Bank of Canada in the United States

Dr. Vaibhav Agrawal

Founder / ex-General Partner | ODDBIRD VC / Lightspeed

Abbas Hashmi

Principal | Saudi Family Holdings

3:10 PM

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 03:10 PM—03:40 PM (30 min)

Panel Discussion : From Steppes to Silicon: Unlocking the Digital and Financial Future of Central Asia and the Bordering Countries of Eastern Europe and Western Asia

Central Asia is fast becoming a strategic bridge between East and West, where digital infrastructure, mobile-first economies, and financial inclusion efforts are reshaping economic potential. This powerhouse panel brings together financial pioneers, digital disruptors, and regional connectors to explore how Central Asia is opening up through innovation, partnerships, and platform-based growth.

We’ll dive into how financial centers like Astana are enabling cross-border fintech, how mobile and banking leaders are digitizing underserved populations, and how international platforms are building trust and user bases across some of the world’s most complex terrains.

Key Focuses:

• Building globally connected but locally rooted digital ecosystems
• Financial inclusion and mobile money in frontier economies
• Infrastructure partnerships and investment pathways across Central Asia
• Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Georgia as innovation hubs: what’s working?
• Scaling tech in culturally and economically diverse landscapes
• Bridging emerging market ecosystems from Central Asia to Africa and Latin America

Speakers

Alina Timofeeva

Influence Board Member | BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

Oliver Hughes

Chairman, TBC Uzbekistan/ Board Member | TBC Bank Group PLC/ Tabby

Mark Loughran

President and CFO | inDrive

Lasha Tabidze

Group Chief Digital Officer | Veon

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 03:10 PM—03:25 PM (15 min)

Fireside Chat : Scaling Digital Assets: Safe, Connected, and Ready for the Real World

As digital assets move from pilot to production, the financial world faces a critical question: how do we scale safely, across borders, and at pace? This session explores how the MENA region can lead the way, leveraging trusted infrastructure to unlock global reach, regulatory alignment, and settlement certainty. With the rise of CBDCs, tokenized money, stablecoins and real-time cross-border use cases, the time for scalable digital asset infrastructure is now.
This session offers a unique look into how trusted platforms are being extended to meet the demands of next-generation finance.

Speakers

Tom Zschach

Chief Innovation Officer | Swift

Serena Sebastiani

Senior Director | PwC Middle East Virtual Assets Consulting Lead, Fintech, Assets & Wealth Management

3:20 PM

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 03:20 PM—03:40 PM (20 min)

Live Demo : Central Banks & Smart Signals: How AI is Rewriting Monetary Intelligence

Use cases for AI & advanced analytics in modern central banking with emphasis on policy, regulation and market stability.

Speaker

Amira Abdelaziz

Senior Advisor - Data Science and Analytics | Central Bank of Egypt

3:25 PM

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 03:25 PM—03:45 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : Who’s Playing by the Rules?

Tokenization’s quiet experiments in 2025 and beyond.

Speakers

Sandra Ro

CEO | Global Blockchain Business Council

David Cunningham

Director, Head of Strategy & Partnerships for Digital Assets, Treasury and Trade Solutions | CITI

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 03:25 PM—03:45 PM (20 min)

Keynote : Inside the AI Supercycle

As markets enter the era of intelligent automation, financial systems must evolve to handle exponential data and adaptive algorithms. This talk breaks down the architecture powering AI in trading, compliance and customer experience – and what it means for financial leaders building for the next decade.

Speaker

Dr. Mohammed Rahim

Group Chief Data Officer | Standard Chartered Bank

3:30 PM

The Capital

Monday 15 September, 03:30 PM—03:50 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : Strategic Alignment: Choosing the Right Funds to Back the Future of Fintech

This high-level dialogue explores how institutional investors, from FoFs to development institutions and VCs are not just injecting capital into fintech but forging long-term strategic partnerships that shape the innovation landscape. In an increasingly competitive capital environment, how do LPs evaluate which funds to back? And how do GPs stand out to attract anchor commitments? Our panelists dive into what it takes to build lasting cross-border investment collaborations.

Speakers

Nader AlBastaki

Managing Director | Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF)

Mohammed Al-Emadi

Executive Director of Incubation & VC Investment | Qatar Development Bank

Dalia Kamar

Head of Investment & Startup Programs | Tahaluf - Money20/20 Middle East

3:40 PM

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 03:40 PM—04:20 PM (40 min)

Panel Discussion : Finance Without Border, Driving Efficiency Through Tokenization

Explore how tokenization is reshaping cross-border value transfer by enabling more efficient, transparent, and programmable financial flows. This panel will highlight early global experimentation, emerging standards, and how Saudi Arabia and the region can position themselves as leaders in trusted, interoperable tokenized ecosystems.

Key Talking Points:
What tokenization brings to cross-border finance
• Lessons learned from early tokenization pilots (e.g., BIS mBridge, MAS and Bank of Ghana ,DESFT ).
• The role of tokenized money (CBDCs, stablecoins, tokenized deposits) in cross-border applications.
• Legal, regulatory, and compliance considerations for tokenized cross-border assets (AML/CFT, KYC, privacy).
• How to ensure interoperability between tokenized systems across jurisdictions.

Speakers

Mehtaj Syed

Executive Director, EMEA Lead | Kinexys Digital Payments and Kinexys Liink, JPMorgan

Dominic Longman

Global Head of Markets & Managing Director - MENA | Zodia Custody by Standard Chartered

Dr Petra Janez

Financial Councilor – General Financial Office, Directorate for Supervision | Ministry of Finance of the Republic, Slovenia

Maan M. Alqurashi

Director, Payments Service Enablement | Saudi Central Bank

Jorge Carrasco

Managing Director Blockchain and Digital Assets | FTI Consulting

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 03:40 PM—04:00 PM (20 min)

Presentation : Fintech at Scale: Redefining Payments for Millions in Record Time

We will illustrate how barq transformed the payments ecosystem, serving over 150 nationalities, issuing 6.5M+ cards, and enabling more than 500M transactions within our first year.

Speaker

Mohamed AlSabea

Chief of Staff & Chief Strategy Officer | barq

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 03:40 PM—04:00 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : From Oil to Ownership: Financial Literacy as the Cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Fintech Revolution

As Saudi Arabia races toward Vision 2030, a new kind of national wealth is taking shape, not in barrels, but in financial empowerment. With over 70% of the population under the age of 35, and growing access to digital banking, investments, and credit tools, financial literacy is no longer optional, it’s infrastructure.
This keynote explores how fintech is enabling a new generation of financially capable Saudis, and why startups, regulators, educators, and investors must embed financial literacy at the core of their business models.
From Sharia-compliant robo-advisors and gamified savings apps to buy-now-pay-later platforms with built-in budgeting tools, financial education is becoming both a social impact imperative and a business differentiator.

Key Takeaways:
• Why financial literacy is a strategic enabler of fintech growth in Saudi
• Understanding youth financial behaviors in a cashless, mobile-first context
• The role of banks, schools, fintechs, and influencers in driving behavior change
• Success stories: Platforms or initiatives making financial education accessible in Arabic and culturally relevant
• How embedded finance and open banking can personalize learning and reduce debt risk

Speakers

Tram Anh Nguyen

Co-founder | CFTE

Naif AbuSaida

Founder & CEO | HAKBAH

Abdullah Alandas

Founder & CEO | WADAIE

Turky Kabarah

Director of Fintech Enablement | Saudi Central Bank (SAMA)

3:45 PM

MoneyPot

Monday 15 September, 03:45 PM—04:20 PM (35 min)

Podcast : The Bank Tellers with Micky Tesfaye

The Bank Tellers Hosts: Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Money 20/20 Global & Micky Tesfaye, Head of Audience Development, Money 20/20 Global

Speakers

Micky Tesfaye

Head of Audience Development | Money20/20

Veronique Steiner

Managing Director - Head of Innovation Economy for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) | J.P. Morgan

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 03:45 PM—04:10 PM (25 min)

In Conversation . . .

Speakers

Yazeed A. Alnafjan, CFA

Deputy Governor for Financial Innovation, Saudi Central Bank and Chairman of Fintech Saudi | Saudi Central Bank

Dr. Chris Brummer

Founder | Bluprynt

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 03:45 PM—04:00 PM (15 min)

Fireside Chat : Digitally-Driven & Globally-Connected: The Future of Banking in Saudi Arabia

From advancing digital infrastructure and embedding AI in financial services to enabling cross-border trade and creating inclusive access to credit, Saudi banks are at the forefront of innovation. This session brings together leading bank C-suites to discuss how collaboration, competition, and regulatory alignment will shape a robust, future-ready financial sector for the Kingdom.

Speakers

Mohammed Alfraih

CEO -Acting | STC Bank

Leda Glyptis

Seasoned fintech executive, former banker and author 'Bankers like Us" | Beyond Resilience & Bankers like Us

3:50 PM

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 03:50 PM—04:00 PM (10 min)

Meet AIANA, our AI Co-Host!

The Capital

Monday 15 September, 03:50 PM—04:30 PM (40 min)

Panel Discussion : Financial Inclusion: From Margins to Mainstream- Who's Investing in the Unbanked?

A candid exchange between investors and fintech founders on where capital is truly flowing and whether financial inclusion is still a priority or just a pitch.

Speakers

Amanda Estiverne-Colas

Board Member | The National Alliance for Financial Literacy and Inclusion

Mounir Nakhla

Founder & CEO | MNT-Halan

Kareem Abdel Aziz

Global Head, Digital Payments | IFC - International Finance Corporation

Hasan Haider

Founder & Managing Partner | Plus VC (+VC)

Seena Amidi

Managing Partner, EMEA | Plug and Play Tech Center

4:00 PM

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 04:00 PM—04:20 PM (20 min)

Regional Insights : Youth, Mobile & Money: Africa’s Billion- Dollar Fintech Opportunity

A Rapid-fire showcase on mobile penetration trends in the world’s most underutilised financial growth engine – the youth.

Speaker

Olugbenga Agboola

Co-founder & CEO | Flutterwave

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 04:00 PM—04:20 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : In Conversation with CEO of Zepz (WorldRemit and Sendwave): Reimagining Remittances: Fintech’s Role in Empowering the Global Diaspora

Global remittances are a lifeline for hundreds of millions, but they’re often slow, expensive, and opaque. Mark Lenhard, CEO of Zepz (WorldRemit / SendWave), shares how WorldRemit and Sendwave are redefining the cross-border money movement by combining digital-first models with regulatory finesse and deep localization.

This session will explore how fintech can reduce costs, improve speed, and build trust across borders, while serving the often-overlooked financial needs of migrants and their families. Attendees will gain insights into customer behavior across emerging markets, compliance innovation, and the evolving role of fintech in global development.

Speakers

Mark Lenhard

Group CEO | Zepz (WorldRemit/SendWave)

Fope Adelowo

Investor/ Board Member | Helios Investment Partners/ Thunes/ TPAY Mobile/ Paymob

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 04:00 PM—04:30 PM (30 min)

Deep Dive : Regulating Risk, Enabling Innovation: A Cross-Sector View from Banks, Markets, and Regulators

This session brings together perspectives from banking supervisors, capital market authorities, and regulatory innovators to examine how oversight must evolve in parallel with innovation. Are we prioritizing speed over resilience? How do we ensure cross-jurisdictional alignment without stifling progress? And can regulators collaborate across sectors to create a more cohesive, risk-aware innovation landscape?

Speakers

Eduard Muller

Former Executive Director, Financial Market Authority | Former Federal Minister of Finance of Austria, Government of Austria

H.E. Mr. Sou Socheat

Delegate of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Director General | Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia

Paul Kayrouz

Chief Fintech Officer | Central Bank of the UAE

Faisal G. Alshammari

Executive Director of Tech Strategy | Insurance Authority

Leda Glyptis

Seasoned fintech executive, former banker and author 'Bankers like Us" | Beyond Resilience & Bankers like Us

4:10 PM

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 04:10 PM—04:40 PM (30 min)

In Conversation ... : When Unicorn Backers Talk ‘OFF’ The Record, You Listen.

Call it raw, call it unfiltered, but don’t call it theory. Uncover the patterns, signals and bets that work.

Speakers

Faisal Kawar

Co-Founder and Managing Partner | FENA Holdings

Gareth Jones

Managing Partner | FinTech Collective

Basmah Alsinaidi

Managing partner | Impact46

4:20 PM

MoneyPot

Monday 15 September, 04:20 PM—05:00 PM (40 min)

Podcast : Breaking Banks Fintech Podcast

Breaking Banks Fintech Podcast

Host: Brett King

Guest:

Mohamed AlSabea - Chief of Staff Barq

Speakers

Brett King

Founder/ Board Member / Advisor | Moven / barq / Central Bank of the UAE

Mohamed AlSabea

Chief of Staff & Chief Strategy Officer | barq

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 04:20 PM—04:40 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : Fintech & The Creator Economy

How Fintech is enabling independent creators, freelancers and influencers to thrive

Speakers

Rotimi Merriman-Johnson

UK Personal Finance Educator & Content Creator | Mr. MoneyJar

Sarah Hewerdine

Director of Marketing & Founder | She Builds Podcast

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 04:20 PM—04:40 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : Code, Capital, and Confidence: Women at the Helm of AI and FinTech

As artificial intelligence and fintech converge to redefine how economies, institutions, and individuals engage with money, women leaders are driving critical shifts at the intersection of code, capital, and confidence. This fireside session shines a spotlight on female trailblazers who are breaking barriers in AI-driven financial innovation, building trusted ecosystems, pioneering new financing models, and shaping responsible technology governance.

The discussion will unpack how women executives are reshaping investment strategies, advancing inclusive AI, and embedding ethical frameworks into next-gen financial services. Beyond innovation, it will explore how confidence at the boardroom, policy, and community level, becomes a multiplier for scaling both trust and transformation.

Attendees will gain insight into the unique leadership approaches these women bring to global finance and technology, and the practical steps to foster greater representation in industries that shape the future of money.

Speakers

Saud Swar

Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Other Levant | Mastercard

Amira Abdelaziz

Senior Advisor - Data Science and Analytics | Central Bank of Egypt

Tram Anh Nguyen

Co-founder | CFTE

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 04:20 PM—05:00 PM (40 min)

Panel Discussion : Redesigning the Digital Customer Experience

This session will explore strategies for enhancing the digital experience in banking and government services, ensuring seamless, secure, and user-friendly interactions.
Experts will discuss key challenges, including accessibility, trust, and personalization, while showcasing innovative technologies that improve customer engagement.
We will gain insights into best practices for streamlining digital transformation, reducing friction in user journeys, and building a more inclusive and efficient digital ecosystem for citizens and customers alike.

Speakers

David M. Brear

Group CEO | 11:FS

Justin Grooms

President | Bolt Financial

Omar Ebeid

Founder & CEO | Zeal

Alina Timofeeva

Influence Board Member | BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

Mariam A. Alarfaj

Director, Payments Solutions Design | Saudi Central Bank

Faris Helmi

SMO Director | Najm

4:30 PM

The Capital

Monday 15 September, 04:30 PM—04:40 PM (10 min)

Live Demo : Cap Table to Capital Raise: Carta in Action

Join Carta’s Peji Kanani for a live, scenario-based demo showing how founders can navigate investor terms, equity dilution, and deal clarity all from a clean, dynamic cap table. See how Carta helps founders go from equity chaos to capital-ready in minutes. Whether you’re raising your seed round, Series A, or preparing for later-stage growth, this will be a powerful session to get capital-ready, fast.

Speaker

Peji Kanani

Regional Lead - Equity Management | CARTA

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 04:30 PM—04:50 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : Banking on Impact

This isn’t just impact, it’s business. Influential voices in global finance and sustainability share how technology can deliver both commercial success and lasting social impact. Together, they’ll explore how fintech can scale solutions that empower communities, support the planet and drive measurable results for stakeholders

Speakers

Leiming Chen

Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Vice President | Ant International & Ant Group

Sitoyo Lopokoiyit

CEO | M-Pesa Africa

Sasha Qadri

Journalist & Presenter | Presenter

4:40 PM

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 04:40 PM—05:00 PM (20 min)

Keynote

:

Speaker

Carlos Menendez

COO | dLocal

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 04:40 PM—05:00 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : In Conversation with Carlos Menendez, COO of DLocal: Pay Local, Lead Global: Reimagining Payment Systems for the Global South

As the global digital economy expands, questions of payment sovereignty, ensuring that people can transact in the local methods they trust, are becoming central to financial inclusion. In much of the Global South, where more than 80% of transactions rely on alternatives to credit cards, access to digital commerce depends on integrating local methods such as eWallets, bank transfers, and phone credits into the global system. The rise of stablecoins adds another layer, offering instant settlement for remittances and cross-border commerce, but also raising questions of sovereignty as governments maintain control over their own currencies. In this keynote, dLocal's COO will share how bridging global platforms with local realities is shaping the future of inclusive and resilient financial systems.

Speakers

Fope Adelowo

Investor/ Board Member | Helios Investment Partners/ Thunes/ TPAY Mobile/ Paymob

Carlos Menendez

COO | dLocal

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 04:40 PM—05:10 PM (30 min)

Panel Discussion : Scaling Responsibly: Move Fast, But Don’t Break Everything

With the rise of cross market fintech players, this session explores what it takes to scale regionally: licensing, partnerships, localisation, and the shift toward fintech as a service

Speakers

Serena Sebastiani

Senior Director | PwC Middle East Virtual Assets Consulting Lead, Fintech, Assets & Wealth Management

Amith Rajan

Board Member and CEO | Mashreq and NeoVentures

Ibrahim Farag

Chief Products & Growth Officer | Enjaz

Philippe Vogeleer

Non-Executive | Sumitomo Corporation/ Verysell Group

The Capital

Monday 15 September, 04:40 PM—06:50 PM (2 h 10 min)

MoneySurge : MoneySurge Pitch Competition - Round 1

MoneySurge Round 1 - 15 bold founders. 3 minutes each. One shot to convince the judges their startup is the next big thing.

Be there to support our founders as they pitch their ideas to a panel of 3 top judges.

Don’t miss the energy, the ambition, and the startups that could change the future.

Speakers

Halah Al-Jubeir

Managing Director - Saudi Arabia (MENAP) | Antler

Kyane Kassiri

Partner | Rally Cap VC

Faisal Aftab

Founder & General Partner | Zayn VC

Mariam Zaidi

Anchor TRT World | Founder MZ Productions

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 04:40 PM—05:00 PM (20 min)

Google Pay & Google Wallet: Powering the Future of Payments in the Middle East

Discover how Google Pay and Google Wallet are revolutionizing the digital payment landscape in the Middle East. We'll delve into their features, benefits, and how they contribute to a more seamless and secure financial and digital experience for users in the region.

Speaker

Dmitry Stiran

Head of Payment Partnership, Middle East & Africa | GOOGLE

4:50 PM

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 04:50 PM—05:20 PM (30 min)

Deep Dive : The Infrastructure Imperative: Building the Backbone of Future Finance

While consumer-facing fintech often dominates headlines, the future of finance will be defined by the technology enabling it behind the scenes. This session brings together senior leaders driving core modernization, cloud transformation and public-private infrastructure strategies, shining a light on the foundational systems powering resilience, scale and innovation across the financial ecosystem.

Speakers

Mark Lenhard

Group CEO | Zepz (WorldRemit/SendWave)

Mohammad Hassoobh

Acting CEO | Ejada

Majed Alotaibi

Chief Government Products Officer | elm

Leda Glyptis

Seasoned fintech executive, former banker and author 'Bankers like Us" | Beyond Resilience & Bankers like Us

5:00 PM

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 05:00 PM—05:20 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : From Open Finance to Fair Finance: Rethinking Creditworthiness with Alternative Data

As financial institutions unlock richer data streams through open banking, a new frontier is emerging, one where alternative data sources redefine how we assess creditworthiness, personalise services, and empower underserved populations.
This session explores how open finance can go beyond traditional models to serve gig workers, informal entrepreneurs, and financially excluded individuals. Drawing from real-world use cases like inDrive.Money, which uses ride history, income patterns, and platform engagement instead of legacy credit scores, we’ll ask:

• Can open finance become the foundation for a fairer credit ecosystem?
• What alternative data signals can truly reflect risk and reliability?
• How can fintechs personalize offerings for users outside the formal banking sector?
• Is this the future of financial inclusion in emerging markets?

This is more than a conversation about technology, it’s about building systems that work for people the banks left behind.

Speakers

Mark Loughran

President and CFO | inDrive

Abdulla Almoayed

Founder and CEO | Tarabut

Simon Taylor

Founder | Fintech Brainfood/Global Digital Finance

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 05:00 PM—05:20 PM (20 min)

Panel Discussion : Fintech Without Borders: Forging a New Silk Road for Digital Finance

As economic and political ties strengthen between Central Asia and the Middle East, fintech is emerging as a strategic tool of integration. This session explores joint ventures, regulatory collaborations, and digital infrastructure projects that are paving the way for seamless cross-border payments, Islamic fintech, and sovereign investment strategies between the two regions.

Speakers

Sagar Shah

Co-founder | Family Office Ventures

Noor Sweid

Founder & Managing Partner | Global Ventures

Mohammed Aldossary

CEO | SILQFi

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 05:00 PM—05:20 PM (20 min)

Presentation : The Tokenized Future – Capital Markets & Digital Assets

How Tokenization is transforming securities, real estate and alternative assets.

Speaker

Mo Ali Yusuf

CEO & Founder | Fuze Finance

5:10 PM

MoneyPot

Monday 15 September, 05:10 PM—05:40 PM (30 min)

Podcast : Making Sense by J.P. Morgan

Making Sense by J.P. Morgan: How the Middle East is Shaping the Future of Payments with Lori Schwartz and Veronique Steiner

Speakers

Lori Schwartz

Global Head of Treasury Services, Payments | J.P. Morgan

Veronique Steiner

Managing Director - Head of Innovation Economy for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) | J.P. Morgan

Off The Record

Monday 15 September, 05:10 PM—06:10 PM (1 h)

Networking : Global Women in AI, an initiative by CFTE – Networking Session

5:20 PM

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 05:20 PM—05:40 PM (20 min)

Presentation : AI Meets Compliance: From Innovation Risk to Responsible Deployment

This session will shine a light on safely deploying AI in regulated financial institutions and how AI can be governed in a way that aligns with regulatory expectations without slowing innovation.

Speaker

Dimitri Masin

Co-Founder and CEO | Gradient Labs

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 05:20 PM—05:40 PM (20 min)

Keynote : The Age of Agentic Commerce

You now have a personal shopper, except it's not a person, it's AI. Today, Perplexity and ChatGPT can research products, find you the best price, go to the website to select the items, and buy on your behalf. What was a search, plus shopping cart plus checkout is now a single conversation. This changes everything about how we secure payments online, who wins and who loses.

Speaker

Simon Taylor

Founder | Fintech Brainfood/Global Digital Finance

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 05:20 PM—06:10 PM (50 min)

Panel Discussion : Boosting Financial Access for SMEs in Emerging Markets Across Asia, Africa and the GCC

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of emerging economies, yet they remain significantly underserved by traditional financial systems. This panel explores how fintech innovation, from alternative lending models and digital banking to embedded finance and mobile-first platforms, is closing the credit gap and unlocking growth opportunities for SMEs across Asia, Africa, and the GCC.

Experts will share regional success stories, explore scalable fintech solutions, and debate how regulation, infrastructure, and investor appetite can further enable inclusive SME finance.

Speakers

Samrah Kazmi

Professor | New York Professor

Kai Wu

Chief Revenue Officer | Airwallex

Hani Ibrahim

Chief Investment Officer | Lendable

Jayesh Patel

CEO | Wio Bank

Sultan F. Alharthi

General Director, NBFIs Licensing | Saudi Central Bank

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 05:20 PM—05:40 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : The Role of Venture Capital in Shaping the Fintech Sector in Saudi Arabia

Venture capital has been central to the evolution of Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector, driving innovation, enabling startups to scale, and supporting financial inclusion. By aligning with national priorities around digital transformation and economic diversification, VC investment continues to shape the future growth of fintech in the Kingdom.

Speakers

H.E. Dr. Nabeel Koshak

CEO and Board Member | SVC

Mukund Bhatnagar

Partner & Global Lead, Financial Institutions | Kearney

5:40 PM

The Pulse

Monday 15 September, 05:40 PM—06:00 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : From Telco to Fintech Powerhouse

Uncover insights on how super apps, loyalty ecosystems and personalized financial journeys are reinventing mobile money at scale.

Speakers

Melike Kara Tanrikulu

CEO | e&Money

Sarah Hewerdine

Director of Marketing & Founder | She Builds Podcast

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 05:40 PM—06:10 PM (30 min)

Panel Discussion : Influencers, Trust & Fintech: Where Content Meets Capital: Where the Creator Economy Meets Fintech

• The growing influence of financial influencers on spending, saving habits and consumer financial behaviours.

• Navigating compliance while building engaging finance content.

• How fintechs can ethically collaborate with creators for scale.

• Examining the role of personal branding in financial decision-making.

• How community-driven content is reshaping user engagement with financial products.

• What fintechs can learn from creator-led membership models and platforms like Patreon, Discord, or Substack.

• Trust, decentralization, and the evolution of financial advice through digital tribe.

Speakers

Aydan Al-Saad

Influencer | Creator of “What’s Your Salary?” Series

Rotimi Merriman-Johnson

UK Personal Finance Educator & Content Creator | Mr. MoneyJar

Elliott Gotkine

TV news correspondent | TV news correspondent

Gabriel Nussbaum

Influencer, Financial educator and content creator | “That Money Guy”

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 05:40 PM—06:10 PM (30 min)

Panel Discussion : The New Investment Thesis for Fintech in a Risk-Off World

This panel will bring together top fintech investors to discuss how they’re assessing deals in a high-rate, risk-off climate with real-world perspective on what investors are looking for in fintech plays today.

Speakers

Charles-Henry Monchau

Chief Investment Officer - Member of Executive Committee | Syz Group

Mohammed Almeshekah

Founder & General Partner | Outliers

Waleed Alballaa

Managing Partner | Sukna Ventures

Mohamed Amine Merah

Managing Partner & CEO | BIM Ventures

Adel Alateeq

Cofounder & CEO | Awaed Capital

Margaret OConnor

Chairperson | Launch Africa Ventures

6:10 PM

Next-Gen Money

Monday 15 September, 06:10 PM—06:50 PM (40 min)

Panel Discussion : Embedded Finance Unleashed: How Non-Financial Innovators and Financial Disruptors are Expanding Fintech’s Retail Frontier

In this session we will explore how embedded finance is revolutionizing retail experiences (e.g. BNPL, in payment apps).
We will also look at the function of APIs and partnerships in facilitating seamless financial services within retail ecosystems.

Speakers

Mazen AlDarrab

Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer | Zid

Nader Abdelrazik

Founder & CEO | MoneyHash

Zuhursho Rahmatulloev

Co-founder/ Co-founder & CEO | Alif Uzbekistan/ Ayan/ AlifX

Omar Saleh

Co-Founder & Khazna Group CEO | Khazna

Mohammed K. Omar

Director, Payment Market Development | Saudi Central Bank

Steve Suarez

CEO | HorizonX

Executive Summit

Monday 15 September, 06:10 PM—06:30 PM (20 min)

Fireside Chat : The Next Generation of Consumer Finance – Born in Retail, Built for Real Life

As digital financial services move closer to daily commerce, this session will unpack the convergence of payments, credit and lifestyle in neobanking models that are embedded, adaptive and regional by design. What will differentiate the next wave of digital banks?

Speakers

Hosam Arab

Co-Founder & CEO | Tabby Financing Company JSC

Saeeda Jaffar

Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region | Visa

Arjun Vir Singh

Partner | Arthur D. Little

The Bridge

Monday 15 September, 06:10 PM—06:50 PM (40 min)

Panel Discussion : Banking Without Borders: How Embedded Finance is Rewiring Access in Emerging Markets

Embedded finance is revolutionising how financial services are delivered, no longer confined to banks, but seamlessly integrated into e-commerce, agriculture, ride-hailing, logistics, and more. In this fireside chat, we unpack how startups and platforms across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are embedding credit, insurance, payments, and investment products into everyday experiences. From smallholder farmers accessing micro-loans via agri-apps to gig workers securing insurance through delivery platforms, this session explores the infrastructure powering it, the regulatory tightrope, and what it means for traditional banks.

Talking Points:

• The API economy and the invisible banking revolution
• What embedded finance means for financial inclusion at scale
• How regulators in emerging markets are reacting (or not)
• Case studies from fintechs, super apps, and platforms building embedded ecosystems
• The future: Will every business become a fintech?

Speakers

Ashar Nazim

Group CEO | Aion

Ramana Kumar

CEO- Middle East | Paytm

Azamat Sultanov

Co-founder & Chairman/ Board Member | GoCab/ Alif Bank

Ahmad Al-Zaini

Co-Founder and CEO | Foodics

Gulanor Atobek

CEO of Alif Bank - Tajikistan | Alif Bank

Hashim Nabulsi

CEO | Ai966

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