More than 400 fintech industry leaders will gather in Dubai, UAE, this month to showcase innovation in the sector, highlighting the future of fintech for the global and regional markets.

Held in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Finance, and showing off the latest products in action as well as boosting the UAE as an international hub for fintech, FinovateMiddleEast will take place on February 26 and 27, at the Madinat Jumierah Conference Centre.

The event will bring together early-stage start-ups, leading established companies, media, financial service institutions and funders drawn by the opportunity to see the future of fintech both regionally and globally, said a statement.

Heather Stowell, vice president of Finovate, a company with a large portfolio of events spanning across the globe, said: “We are really excited about bringing together start-ups, leading established companies, media, financial service institutions and funders this month to discuss the future of fintech.”

“The UAE Ministry of Finance will explore how the region is leading the way in innovation and smart technology and give their perspective on the future of fintech globally,” he said.

The event’s congress will bring together the biggest and best global names in fintech to Dubai including countries such as Australia, China, India, Malaysia, UAE, UK and beyond.

Keynote speakers over the two days will include: Ruth Wandhofer, managing director, global head regulatory and market strategy, Citi; Mike Cunningham, CEO, Clearly; Bryan Stirewalt, managing director, supervision, DFSA; and Sameer Singh Jaini, Fintech Asia top 100 influencer and CEO, Digital Fifth.

Other experts delivering sessions are: Paul Schulte, founder, Schulte Research; Jim Marous, author and publisher, The Financial Brand and the Digital Banking Report; Mark Hewlett, head of commodities, Ebury; Zhi Ying Ng, senior analyst, Forrester; Devie Mohan, CEO, Burnmark; Farrukh Habib, researcher, International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA); and Steve Naude, head Middle East and Africa, TransferWise.

Exploring three principal areas in fintech including financial inclusion, emerging technologies (application of AI and Blockchain technology) and how banks and fintechs can work better together, the event will focus on how the UAE is transforming from an oil-dependent economy to one led by fintech.

Other prominent topics throughout the two days will include a case study on an interbank Blockchain pilot featuring India and the UAE, how to reap the benefits from the changing environment in banking, how Malaysia is building a cryptocurrency and how banks and fintechs are working together in India.

Widely recognised as a landmark year for investing in financial technology in the Middle East, 2017 has paved the way for more investment opportunities, acquisitions and partnerships over the next 12 months.

Prominent companies such as EbankIT, munnypot, Dorsum, New Bridge, efigence, Ondot, RISQ, Wealth Migrate and ZagTrader are set to showcase and demonstrating their latest tech and products to delegates on the show floor, it stated.
 
Additionally, FinovateMiddleEast’s signature 7-minute demos will be a core feature of the show with start-ups and established companies delivering live demonstrations of their latest fintech innovations.

With over 40 marketing sponsors, FinovateMiddleEast is supported by strategic partner: the UAE Ministry of Finance; platinum sponsor: UAE Exchange; silver sponsor: Temenos; and bronze sponsors Loxon Solutions, Ortec Finance and Plug & Play.  

Finovate has established itself as the leading showcase for fintech innovation around the world, with five locations – New York, Silicon Valley, London, Hong Kong and Dubai. – TradeArabia News Service