Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) will host the MENA Leaders’ Summit on Financial Inclusion 2025 in Abu Dhabi. The landmark event, held in partnership with the Arab Monetary Fund and the World Bank, will take place on November 17–18, 2025, under the theme “Shaping Regional and Global Agendas.”
A Regional Hub For Financial Innovation
Held for the first time in the UAE, the summit underscores the nation’s growing role as a leading international financial hub and its commitment to advancing the global agenda for financial inclusion and well-being. The event aims to consolidate the efforts of policymakers, regulators, and global financial sector leaders to establish a shared vision for promoting financial health across the region and beyond.
The summit will focus on fostering impactful partnerships to drive progress in digital innovation, consumer protection, gender equality, and financial wellness. By aligning national and regional priorities with global development goals, the event will enhance knowledge exchange and cooperation, aiming to ensure more equitable access to financial services through inclusive and responsible regulations.
Key Agendas And Strategic Launches
The summit will feature several major national and international initiatives designed to accelerate financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable development.
Key announcements include the official launch of the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2026–2030, a comprehensive roadmap to empower all members of society with fair and secure access to financial services. The event will also see the presentation of the Arab regional edition of the Global Findex Database, which tracks progress and supports evidence-based policymaking.
Furthermore, the UAE will be announced as the host for Global Money Week 2026, and the summit will conclude with the issuance of the “Abu Dhabi Principles for Digital Financial Inclusion,” a declaration outlining shared commitments and policy priorities for the MENA region.
Gathering Of Global And Regional Leaders
The summit will convene an influential group of participants, including government ministers, central bank governors, and heads of financial regulatory authorities from across the MENA region.
They will be joined by senior representatives from international bodies such as the office of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The gathering will also include CEOs of financial institutions and fintech companies, alongside experts and specialists from the region and globally.
A Vision For An Inclusive Future
H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, emphasized the summit’s significance, stating, “The Central Bank’s hosting of the MENA Financial Inclusion Leaders’ Summit demonstrates the UAE’s visionary leadership, delivering upon its commitment to building an advanced and inclusive financial sector. Through this summit, we aim to establish a new benchmark originating from the UAE to promote financial inclusion regionally and globally.”
He added, “Amid rapid global economic transformations, strengthening financial inclusion has become a strategic priority to drive greater financial stability and sustainable development. The Central Bank continues to intensify its efforts to develop policies and practices that ensure financial access for all segments of society. We look forward to the summit delivering impactful outcomes that drive innovation, enhance economic integration across the region and reinforce the UAE’s position as a leading global financial hub.”
About Central Bank of the UAE
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) is the principal regulatory authority for the financial and banking sector in the United Arab Emirates. Its mandate includes formulating and implementing banking, credit, and monetary policies, maintaining the government’s reserves of gold and foreign currencies, and promoting a stable and efficient financial system to support the nation’s economic growth.
Source: Zawya
