Fintech Surge 2024 To Commence In Dubai On 13 October With Global Leaders In Fintech Innovation

The Middle East and North Africa's largest fintech event, Fintech Surge, will commence on 13th October at Dubai Harbour. Over four days, it will gather experts in fintech, banking, and digital innovation from more than 70 countries. This event aims to establish Dubai as a global fintech hub amid the sector's rapid expansion.

Part of Expand North Star, powered by GITEX GLOBAL, this year's edition will feature leaders from the entire fintech ecosystem. Financial inclusion is a key trend, with Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh delivering a keynote on 'Regulating Non-Banking Financial Services to Accelerate Financial Inclusion'.

Prominent speakers include Markos T. Zachariadis from the University of Manchester, Azra Ahmed from Geidea, and Bo Liu from Miro. These experts will share insights over the four-day event. Their discussions will cover various aspects of financial technology and its future direction.

The MEA Finance Banks and Fintech Forum & Awards, in collaboration with Fintech Surge, will take place on 15th October. It will focus on evolving partnerships between banks and fintechs. The forum will explore current challenges and future adaptations required for finance.

Industry leaders like Anjali Aggarwal from Noon Payments and Anshu Sharma Raja from Standard Chartered will address crucial topics. These include SME inclusion, financial access for low earners and the unbanked, AI's impact, and sustainability in finance.

The forum concludes with the prestigious Fintech Awards to honour outstanding contributions to digital finance. Leading banks such as ADIB and Wio Bank sponsor this year's event alongside industry players Codego and Geidea.

Innovative Platforms and Networking Opportunities

The Unplugged Stage by Fintech Tuesdays is another highlight. Hosted by a grassroots community supporting fintech startups across MENA, it aligns with the UAE's commitment to pioneering fintech solutions. It offers networking opportunities through talks and panels on pressing industry topics.

This year introduces Demo Day where ten fintech scaleups present their innovative solutions. On 14th October from 11:00 to 12:00, companies like straitPay and DABA FINANCE will showcase live prototypes to investors and industry leaders.

Global Participation and Exhibitions

Global participation is enhanced by pavilions including London & Partners Pavilion, Fintech Lithuania, Hong Kong Pavilion by ABCD, and Tokyo Pavilion. These connect international players with the regional fintech ecosystem.

With over 100 exhibitors, 120 speakers, and more than 1,200 investors attending Fintech Surge 2024 promises an agenda filled with insightful discussions and live demonstrations. This sets the stage for the next era of fintech development in the region.

With inputs from WAM