Abu Dhabi, 29th October, 2019: Under the theme ‘Unlocking the Future, Shifting the Paradigm’, UAE Banks Federation (UBF) is set to host the 7th edition of the Middle East Banking Forum, bringing together high-profile speakers and global industry experts and leaders to participate and share insights on key banking and financial topics. The event, which is supported by the Central Bank of the UAE, will be held at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, in Abu Dhabi on the 3rd November, and is expected to be attended by over 500 delegates, including governors, c-executives from official banks, financial regulators and private sector entities.
In light of a period of unprecedented change in the banking industry, UBF’s flagship event will explore the most prevalent trends affecting the sector including digitization, global volatility, cybersecurity, and FinTech. H.E AbdulAziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of UAE Banks Federation, and H.E Mubarak Rashed Al Mansoori, Governor of Central Bank of the UAE, will deliver opening remarks and scene-setting addresses at the beginning of the forum.
Other confirmed speakers include Greg Cross, Artificial Intelligence Pioneer, and Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Soul Machines; and Jamie Woodruff, Europe’s No.1 Ethical Hacker, who will conduct interactive sessions on ‘The Future of Human and Machine’ and ‘Hacking and Cybersecurity’ respectively.
Commenting on the upcoming MEBF, H.E AbdulAziz Ghurair, said: “As we witness dramatic transformation across the banking sector, it has never been more important for us to share our experiences so we can manage this change and achieve greater success. As one of the most important events in this sector that brings together such a wide spectrum of key players across the industry, the Middle East Banking Forum provides the perfect stage to explore opportunities and identify ways to address the challenges on the horizon. This year’s MEBF will not only reveal fascinating insights into the evolving sector, but also act as a crucial platform for exchanging knowledge, and therefore, equipping financial institutions with the tools necessary to achieve growth for the benefit of the wider economy.”
Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Emirates NBD, said: “Emirates NBD is proud to support the Middle East Banking Forum, which provides an important and valuable platform for industry leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the financial services sector. As one of the leading banks in the region, Emirates NBD is committed to supporting events and initiatives that further innovation in banking and shed light on new ways of enhancing the customer experience.”
Dr. Bernd van Linder, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Bank of Dubai, said: “CBD is delighted to partner with the UAE Banks Federation for the 7th edition of the Middle East Banking Forum 2019. The seminar themed on ‘Shaping the Future, Shifting the Paradigm’ is strategically aligned with CBD’s drive to become default digital and offer innovative products and services to meet the needs of our customers. The rapid advancement in technology is transforming the whole banking industry. Technology is becoming an integral part of the business as it’s moving from just being an enabler to actually revolutionizing products, processes, and services. MEBF 2019 is an excellent platform that will help banks in making informed decisions on their digital transformation strategies and the ever-changing digital landscape. We are proud to be part of this event, and we thank the UAE Banks Federation for providing us with this opportunity.”
Middle East Banking Forum official prestigious banking sponsors are: First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) as the gold sponsor; Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank(ADIB), Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), Bank of Sharjah (BOS), and Bank Of Khartoum (BOK) are the lead banking silver sponsors; Visa is the exclusive payments partner; Al Suwaidi & Co is the associate sponsor; Sky News Arabia is the regional Broadcast Partner; and CNBC Arabia as the official Business broadcaster.
