The UNION OF ARAB BANKS (UAB) is a non-profit organization representing over 360 banking, finance, and economic institutions, local banking associations and Central Banks in the Middle East and North Africa region. Hosting 3 major annual events and over 100 awareness forums and seminars, UAB is the premier agency providing regional and international professional development, high profile networking functions, and renowned conference and forum programming on topics and trends that impact the sector. Its Board of Directors is comprised of 20 high-level dignitaries, representing 20 Arab states. The UAB fosters cooperation between its members and the international banking and financial communities, including FATF, IMF, World Bank, OECD, Federal Reserve Board and European Central Bank, among others.
The DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTER (DIFC) is a leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. It is a vibrant business ecosystem of over 25,000 professionals working across more than 2,400 active registered firms that benefit from the center’s robust independent judicial system & regulatory framework, a global financial exchange, inspiring architecture, and enabling support services. The DIFC district features ultra-modern office space, retail outlets, cafes & restaurants, art galleries, residential apartments, public green areas and hotels, making it the ultimate destination where business meets lifestyle
The theme of the 2021 Conference explores the need of Central Banks to adapt with an ongoing basis to unexpectedly changing Arab and global economies and the challenges presented by competing new technologies on traditional banking. It examines topics key to central banks’ monetary policy strategies in the changing financial services landscape, a pandemic that has accelerated this change, how to harness the benefits of technology in effectively regulating and supervising the financial market, and how the regulators are to provide the essential forums to engage with financial services providers about their innovation engagement with the market.
