The MENA FinTech Association (MFTA) has officially constituted its Council for Policy & Regulation Working Group, a significant step in its mission to shape forward-looking fintech policy and regulatory frameworks across the Middle East and North Africa. The move formalizes a key initiative first launched during the Investopia 2023 conference.
Shaping Regional FinTech Regulation
The Council was initially unveiled at Investopia 2023 as an exclusive, invitation-only gathering for the region’s senior fintech leaders, regulators, and policymakers. Its purpose is to foster structured dialogue and collaboration to guide the future of financial services in MENA.
With its formal constitution, the working group will now focus on critical areas including regulatory harmonization, emerging financial technologies, digital assets, compliance frameworks, open banking, and cross-border collaboration. The group will convene quarterly to address the evolving challenges and opportunities within the ecosystem.
Seasoned Leadership and Founding Members
The Council for Policy & Regulation Working Group will be co-led by Zain Umer, Managing Director at CFC MENA, and Christine Abou Assali, Partner & Head of Corporate – Banking & Finance (UAE) at Alem.
MFTA also announced the first cohort of founding council members, a diverse group of industry experts:
- Maha Al-Saadi – Head of Regulatory Affairs, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)
- Abdallah Mukalled – Senior Policy Manager MEA, Ripple
- Dr. Jelena Janjusevic SFHEA – Global Deputy Head of Department (AEF), Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University
- Bessima Bahri – Legal Director, Remitly
- Bryan Stirewalt – Executive Advisor, Grant Thornton UAE
- Umair Ahmed – Co-Founder & CEO, SCS MENA and TI Analytic
- Vanessa Zuabi – Head of FI and Regulatory Partnerships, Lean Technologies
- Sylvain Massaad – Head of Compliance, Central Bank of Lebanon
- Rahul Kumar – Head of Digital Assets MENA, Capital.com
A Platform Rooted in Investopia
The Council’s origins trace back to Investopia 2023, the UAE’s global investment platform under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy. Its launch underscored fintech’s role as a core pillar of the new economy and reinforced the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for financial innovation.
Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA FinTech Association, commented on the initiative, stating, “We were proud to launch The Council during Investopia 2023, bringing together the most influential fintech leaders and experts across MENA. As fintech continues to play a critical role in economic growth and financial transformation, this platform enables meaningful collaboration between industry and regulators to shape the future of the ecosystem.”
H.E. Abdullah Ahmad Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Economy, added, “We are pleased to see the MENA FinTech Association launching The Council during Investopia, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading destination for financial and digital technology companies and supporting the growth of the fintech sector across the region.”
About MENA FinTech Association
The MENA FinTech Association (MFTA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a robust and collaborative fintech ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa. It serves as a platform that connects fintech startups, financial institutions, technology vendors, regulators, and investors to drive innovation, dialogue, and growth in the regional financial services industry.
Source: Business News Week
