Gulf regulators push for modernization

The Middle East’s financial centres are keen to collaborate on fintech, in an effort to catch up with US, UK and Asian markets. But with rich pickings on offer, there is also stiff competition to establish fintech dominance.

Chris Kiew-Smith, head of fintech strategy at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)

Last October, on the sidelines of its inaugural financial technology summit, Abu Dhabi did something that had never been done before. It brought together the principal financial authorities from around the Persian Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon) and sat them at a table with a single topic on the agenda: the development and regulation of fintech.

“It was the first time that we got together at a chairman/CEO level to talk about fintech and only fintech,” says Chris Kiew-Smith, head of fintech strategy at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

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