UAE Launches National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2026–2030 At MENA Leaders’ Summit
The Middle East and North Africa Leaders’ Summit on Financial Inclusion commenced under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), inaugurated the event in Abu Dhabi. The summit, hosted by CBUAE with the Arab Monetary Fund and the World Bank, is being held for the first time in the UAE.
Key figures such as AbdulAziz Abdullah Al Ghurair, Chairman of the UAE Banks Federation, and Abdulrahman Al Saleh, Vice Chairman of the CBUAE Board of Directors, attended. Other attendees included Younis Haji Al Khoori from the Ministry of Finance and Ali Mohammed Bakheet Al Rumaithi from CBUAE's Board. Senior officials from central banks and financial institutions across MENA were also present.
The summit's theme, "Shaping Regional and Global Agendas," highlighted strategic issues like digital innovation and consumer protection. Khaled Mohamed Balama emphasised financial inclusion as vital for sustainable development. "The UAE continues to consolidate its position as a global model of economic and financial innovation and inclusive development, guided by a forward-looking vision anchored in UAE Vision 2031 and the UAE Centennial 2071," he stated.
The first day introduced national and international initiatives supporting financial inclusion. Notably, the UAE National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) 2026–2030 was launched. Developed with over 70 stakeholders, this strategy aims to provide fair access to financial services for all society members.
Fatma Al Jabri from CBUAE highlighted NFIS's goals for 2030, including increasing financial account ownership and expanding digital payment use. The strategy aligns innovation with regulatory frameworks to enhance sector resilience. It includes initiatives like universal financial accounts for residents and products targeting women, youth, and people of determination.
The NFIS also focuses on empowering entrepreneurs and MSMEs to access financial services. It adopts a national financial literacy plan to establish the UAE as a global hub for financial health. The strategy stresses robust governance and data-driven decision-making for lasting impact.
Panel Discussions and Keynote Addresses
The summit featured keynote speeches from World Bank and Arab Monetary Fund officials. Panel discussions explored expanding access to financial services. The regional "Findex" index results were announced, tracking progress in financial inclusion to aid policymakers in building resilient systems.
Sessions addressed foundations of financial health, including announcing that Global Money Week will be hosted by the UAE in 2026. Additional discussions focused on women's economic empowerment and promoting financial literacy.
The summit underscored advancing comprehensive ecosystems through strategic initiatives like NFIS. By fostering inclusive growth opportunities, it aims to support economic progress across all societal segments.
With inputs from WAM
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