Event will kick off this weekend, welcoming visionary innovators and industry leaders from across the fintech world
Dubai – United Arab Emirates – 14th October 2024: Fintech Surge, the Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) largest fintech event, will kick off on Sunday (13th October) at Dubai Harbour. Over four days, the event will unite the brightest minds in fintech, banking, and digital innovation from over 70 countries, positioning Dubai as a global fintech hub at a time when the sector is experiencing rapid growth.
An integral part of Expand North Star, powered by GITEX GLOBAL, this year’s edition will welcome leaders from across the fintech ecosystem. With financial inclusion a significant and growing industry trend, Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Chairman of the Egyptian Financial Regulatory Authority, will give a visionary keynote on ‘Regulating Non-Banking Financial Services to Accelerate Financial Inclusion’. Other notable speakers across the four days include Markos T. Zachariadis, Professor and Chair in Financial Technology (FinTech) & Information Systems at University of Manchester (UK), Azra Ahmed, Group Chief Risk and Compliance at Geidea, and Bo Liu, Staff UX Researcher at Miro (Netherlands).
Meanwhile, MEA Finance Banks and Fintech Forum & Awards in partnership with Fintech Surge, will spotlight the evolving collaborations between banks and fintechs on Day three (15th October), exploring the current challenges and how they must adapt for the future of finance. Industry leaders including Anjali Aggarwal, Head of Business GCC, Noon Payments at Noon, Anshu Sharma Raja, Chief Transformation Technology Operations Officer, Africa and Middle East at Standard Chartered, Hasan Kazmi, Head of Digital Partnerships (Fintech) & Ventures at Visa, and others will dive into pressing themes, such as SME inclusion, financial access for low earners and the unbanked, AI’s impact, and sustainability in finance. The forum will conclude with the prestigious Fintech Awards, recognising exceptional contributions to the digital financial landscape.
Leading banks driving innovation in the region – and sponsors for this year’s Fintech Surge – are ADIB and Wio Bank, as well as industry players Codego and Geidea. Ahead of its participation, Prateek Vahie, Chief Commercial Officer at Wio Bank PJSC, comments: “Fintech Surge is a significant event for Wio Bank, providing an opportunity to connect with industry leaders and showcase our latest innovations in digital banking. We’re focused on delivering solutions that enhance customer experiences and drive the financial services sector forward. This event enables us to explore new collaborations and bring forward ideas that align with our vision of shaping the future of banking in the UAE and beyond.”
Simone Binotto Torre, Chief Operating Officer of Codego, also commented: “We are thrilled to be participating in Fintech Surge as platinum sponsor, an event that has become a key platform for driving innovation and collaboration in the fintech space. At Codego, we’re excited to showcase our latest technological advancements aimed at simplifying financial services and enhancing user experiences. This year, we’re focused on Core Banking and White Label solutions, which we believe will reshape the way businesses and consumers interact with digital finance. We look forward to connecting with industry leaders, sharing insights, and exploring new partnerships that will help shape the future of fintech.”
Another highlight will be Unplugged Stage by Fintech Tuesdays, hosted by the grassroots community that supports fintech and techfin startups across MENA. The initiative supports the UAE’s commitment to pioneering fintech solutions at every level and will see intimate networking and bite-sized talks and panels on pressing industry topics.
This year’s edition also introduces Demo Day, offering a stage for ten fintech scaleups to showcase their groundbreaking solutions. From 11am to 12pm on Monday (14th October), companies such as straitPay, DABA FINANCE, ZTLment, Triple-A, and more will demonstrate live prototypes to a global audience of investors and industry leaders, seizing opportunities for expansion in the UAE and GCC. They will also attend exclusive briefings by government officials and take advantage of a concierge matchmaking programme which will further boost collaboration.
Global participation will be enhanced by the London & Partners Pavilion, alongside country pavilions from Fintech Lithuania, Hong Kong Pavilion by ABCD, and Tokyo Pavilion, connecting key players from across the world with the regional fintech ecosystem.
With over 100 exhibitors, 120 speakers, and more than 1,200 investors, Fintech Surge 2024 is set to deliver an agenda packed with cutting-edge discussions and live demonstrations, setting the stage for the next era of fintech.
For more information, visit www.fintechsurge.com.
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About Fintech Surge
Fintech Surge is the most sought after gathering for the global fintech industry. Capitalising on Dubai’s pioneering status as a leading location for fintechs, it is the foremost platform where international finance and technology players meet to create limitless opportunities. More than 1,200 investors, 150 exhibitors and more than 100 speakers from more than 70 countries will gather to chart the way forward and inspire industry-wide transformation. The fourth edition of Fintech Surge will take place from 13-16 October 2024 alongside GITEX GLOBAL, uniting the global community at the iconic Dubai Harbour. It is co-located with GITEX IMPACT, Expand North Star, Future Blockchain Summit and Marketing Mania.
Expand North Star
Expand North Star 2024, the world’s largest event for start-ups and investors, will bring together leading founders, VCs, tech innovators, and ecosystem enablers to the Dubai Harbour, taking place from 13-16 October 2024. Hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and organised by Dubai World Trade Centre, Expand North Star features four co-located events: GITEX IMPACT, Fintech Surge, Future Blockchain Summit, and Marketing Mania. This 9th edition will welcome over 1,800 global startup exhibitors, 1,200 investors, and 250 speakers from 100 countries. The show is inspired by the world largest tech show, GITEX GLOBAL, which will take place from 14-18 October 2024, at Dubai World Trade Centre.
For media enquiries please contact:
Claudia Dalton
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