Business Leaders ME | Qatar & Middle East Business News Magazine https://businessleadersme.com/tag/mena-fintech-festival/ Turning Milestones into Headlines Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:36:11 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://businessleadersme.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/bl-favicon-150x150.png Business Leaders ME | Qatar & Middle East Business News Magazine https://businessleadersme.com/tag/mena-fintech-festival/ 32 32 MENA Fintech & Insurtech Festival 2025 Concludes in Doha, Accelerating Digital Transformation Across the Region https://businessleadersme.com/mena-fintech-insurtech-festival-2025-concludes-in-doha-accelerating-digital-transformation-across-the-region/ Sun, 07 Dec 2025 13:59:36 +0000 https://businessleadersme.com/?p=3237 The MENA Fintech & Insurtech Festival 2025 successfully concluded its fourth edition at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC), reinforcing Qatar’s position as a rising hub for digital finance, insurtech innovation, and economic transformation. Over two days, the festival convened global and regional leaders across financial services, insurance, technology, investment, and regulation—uniting the industry to define the future of digital economies across the MENA region. This year marked a milestone with the festival’s expanded dual-focus format, integrating both fintech and insurtech under one powerful platform. Designed as a high-impact B2B matchmaking hub, the event brought together startups, investors, insurers, banks, regulators, and technology providers, advancing a shared mission: to accelerate financial inclusion, strengthen digital capabilities, and foster cross-sector collaboration across MENA. The opening ceremony featured a keynote address by the Director General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Federal Republic of Nigeria, who highlighted how AI, mobile technology, open banking, embedded finance, and digital infrastructure are reshaping global financial systems. He emphasised the growth of Bank 4.0, the importance of interoperable innovation, and proposed a unified MENA–Africa Digital Fintech Corridor to enhance connectivity, resilience, and inclusive growth across the Global South. Across the festival, attendees engaged in high-level discussions, fireside chats, and hands-on workshops exploring:   Reflecting on the success of the event, Malik Shishtawi, President of the MENA Fintech & Insurtech Festival, stated: “This year marked a major milestone as we brought fintech and insurtech innovators together on one stage. The MENA region is undergoing a historic digital transformation—powered by national vision strategies, progressive regulators, and a vibrant ecosystem of innovators. The collaboration and energy we witnessed reaffirm that this region is actively shaping the global future of financial and insurance technology.” The 2025 edition strengthens Qatar’s role as a regional catalyst for innovation, economic diversification, and digital transformation, fully aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030. For more information on upcoming editions, visit menafintechfestival.com.

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The MENA Fintech & Insurtech Festival 2025 successfully concluded its fourth edition at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC), reinforcing Qatar’s position as a rising hub for digital finance, insurtech innovation, and economic transformation. Over two days, the festival convened global and regional leaders across financial services, insurance, technology, investment, and regulation—uniting the industry to define the future of digital economies across the MENA region.

This year marked a milestone with the festival’s expanded dual-focus format, integrating both fintech and insurtech under one powerful platform. Designed as a high-impact B2B matchmaking hub, the event brought together startups, investors, insurers, banks, regulators, and technology providers, advancing a shared mission: to accelerate financial inclusion, strengthen digital capabilities, and foster cross-sector collaboration across MENA.

The opening ceremony featured a keynote address by the Director General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Federal Republic of Nigeria, who highlighted how AI, mobile technology, open banking, embedded finance, and digital infrastructure are reshaping global financial systems. He emphasised the growth of Bank 4.0, the importance of interoperable innovation, and proposed a unified MENA–Africa Digital Fintech Corridor to enhance connectivity, resilience, and inclusive growth across the Global South.

Across the festival, attendees engaged in high-level discussions, fireside chats, and hands-on workshops exploring:

  • Real-World Assets (RWA) and tokenisation
  • AI integration in Islamic fintech
  • Digital banking and neobank scalability
  • Fintech investment outlook for 2025 and beyond
  • Embedded finance and digital payments
  • Microinsurance and inclusive insurance models
  • Cross-sector partnerships to build resilient digital economies

 

Reflecting on the success of the event, Malik Shishtawi, President of the MENA Fintech & Insurtech Festival, stated:

“This year marked a major milestone as we brought fintech and insurtech innovators together on one stage. The MENA region is undergoing a historic digital transformation—powered by national vision strategies, progressive regulators, and a vibrant ecosystem of innovators. The collaboration and energy we witnessed reaffirm that this region is actively shaping the global future of financial and insurance technology.”

The 2025 edition strengthens Qatar’s role as a regional catalyst for innovation, economic diversification, and digital transformation, fully aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030.

For more information on upcoming editions, visit menafintechfestival.com.

The post MENA Fintech & Insurtech Festival 2025 Concludes in Doha, Accelerating Digital Transformation Across the Region appeared first on Business Leaders ME | Qatar & Middle East Business News Magazine.

]]> MENA Fintech Festival 2024 Concludes in Doha, Paving the Way for Fintech Innovation in the MENA Region https://businessleadersme.com/mena-fintech-festival-2024-concludes-in-doha-paving-the-way-for-fintech-innovation-in-the-mena-region/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 07:33:59 +0000 https://businessleadersme.com/?p=796 Doha, Qatar – December 8, 2024 The MENA Fintech Festival 2024 successfully concluded its third edition on December 5 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha. The three-day event, held from December 3 to 5, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to explore the latest trends and future opportunities in the financial technology sector. Building upon the success of its previous editions, the festival evolved from a traditional forum into a dynamic B2B matchmaking platform, fostering collaboration among startups, investors, corporate entities, regulators, incubators, and accelerators. This transformation underscores the event’s commitment to advancing fintech and financial inclusion across the MENA region. The opening ceremony featured a keynote address by H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Khalid Al-Thani, Assistant Governor for Financial Instruments and Payment Systems at Qatar Central Bank (QCB). He emphasized the pivotal role of financial technology as a fundamental pillar of modern financial services, highlighting QCB’s initiatives to establish an innovation-driven ecosystem aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030. Sheikh Ahmed noted, “Technology has reshaped the way businesses are conducted around the world, empowering individuals and creating new opportunities to enhance economic growth.” QNA The festival’s agenda included keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops addressing challenges and opportunities within the fintech industry, particularly in the MENA region. Discussions centered on the transformative impact of fintech in expanding access to financial services, the importance of tailored financial solutions, supportive regulatory frameworks, and the role of public-private partnerships in fostering financial inclusion. Malik Shishtawi, President of the MENA Fintech Festival, stated, “Qatar’s FinTech ecosystem exemplifies the impact of visionary leadership and strategic investment. Driven by the progressive policies of the Qatar Central Bank and bolstered by the support of key stakeholders, we are witnessing a profound transformation in financial services—one that is shaping the present and laying a solid foundation for generations to come.” The festival also provided a platform for networking and collaboration, with participants expressing optimism about the future of fintech in the MENA region. The event’s success reflects Qatar’s commitment to positioning itself as a global fintech hub, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth through financial technology. For more information about the MENA Fintech Festival and future events, please visit menafintechfestival.com.

The post MENA Fintech Festival 2024 Concludes in Doha, Paving the Way for Fintech Innovation in the MENA Region appeared first on Business Leaders ME | Qatar & Middle East Business News Magazine.

]]> Doha, Qatar – December 8, 2024 The MENA Fintech Festival 2024 successfully concluded its third edition on December 5 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha. The three-day event, held from December 3 to 5, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to explore the latest trends and future opportunities in the financial technology sector.

Building upon the success of its previous editions, the festival evolved from a traditional forum into a dynamic B2B matchmaking platform, fostering collaboration among startups, investors, corporate entities, regulators, incubators, and accelerators. This transformation underscores the event’s commitment to advancing fintech and financial inclusion across the MENA region.

The opening ceremony featured a keynote address by H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Khalid Al-Thani, Assistant Governor for Financial Instruments and Payment Systems at Qatar Central Bank (QCB). He emphasized the pivotal role of financial technology as a fundamental pillar of modern financial services, highlighting QCB’s initiatives to establish an innovation-driven ecosystem aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030. Sheikh Ahmed noted, “Technology has reshaped the way businesses are conducted around the world, empowering individuals and creating new opportunities to enhance economic growth.”

QNA

The festival’s agenda included keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops addressing challenges and opportunities within the fintech industry, particularly in the MENA region. Discussions centered on the transformative impact of fintech in expanding access to financial services, the importance of tailored financial solutions, supportive regulatory frameworks, and the role of public-private partnerships in fostering financial inclusion.

Malik Shishtawi, President of the MENA Fintech Festival, stated, “Qatar’s FinTech ecosystem exemplifies the impact of visionary leadership and strategic investment. Driven by the progressive policies of the Qatar Central Bank and bolstered by the support of key stakeholders, we are witnessing a profound transformation in financial services—one that is shaping the present and laying a solid foundation for generations to come.”

The festival also provided a platform for networking and collaboration, with participants expressing optimism about the future of fintech in the MENA region. The event’s success reflects Qatar’s commitment to positioning itself as a global fintech hub, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth through financial technology.

For more information about the MENA Fintech Festival and future events, please visit menafintechfestival.com.

The post MENA Fintech Festival 2024 Concludes in Doha, Paving the Way for Fintech Innovation in the MENA Region appeared first on Business Leaders ME | Qatar & Middle East Business News Magazine.

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