Money2020 Middle East Unveils 2026 Agenda as Global Fintech Leaders, Investors and Policymakers Prepare to Gather in Riyadh

Money20/20 Middle East is preparing to bring the global money ecosystem together in Riyadh from 14–16 September 2026 at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre in Malham, convening fintech leaders, investors, policymakers and innovators for three days of content, connections and business opportunities.

Hosted by the Financial Sector Development Program (FSDP), Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), Capital Market Authority (CMA) and Insurance Authority (IA), and co-organised by Fintech Saudi and Tahaluf, Money20/20 Middle East will connect global financial leaders with the companies, institutions and policymakers shaping the next phase of financial services in Saudi Arabia and across the region.

The 2026 edition is expected to welcome more than 38,000 attendees, alongside 350 exhibiting brands, 350+ speakers, more than 600 investors and 150 startups, reflecting Riyadh’s growing role as a meeting point for the global and regional financial ecosystem.

Steve Durning, Assistant Vice President at Tahaluf, said: “The pace of transformation across financial services is extraordinary, and Money20/20 Middle East creates a place where the people driving that change can come together. Riyadh will bring global and regional leaders beyond dialogue to focus on building partnerships and driving investment that will shape the next chapter of fintech. We look forward to welcoming the global money ecosystem to the Kingdom for three days of meaningful connections, conversations and opportunities.”

This year’s programme will focus on some of the most significant developments reshaping financial services, including artificial intelligence, autonomous finance, open banking, embedded finance, payments, regulation, access to capital and cross-border financial infrastructure.

These conversations will take place across the Executive Summit, NextGen Money, The Bridge, The Capital Stage, The Boardroom, Off The Record and giving industry leaders opportunities to exchange insights, build relationships and explore new areas of cooperation.

The Next-Gen Money programme will also feature Godfrey Sullivan, Senior Vice President, Head of Products & Solutions, CEMEA at Visa, in the live demo session “Trust in the Age of Agentic Commerce.” The session will explore how AI agents can complete transactions on behalf of customers, including merchant selection, payments and authorisation, as well as questions around refunds, disputes and liability.

Godfrey Sullivan said: “Agentic commerce is opening a new chapter in how people discover, choose and pay. As AI becomes more integrated into everyday shopping, the industry has an important role to play in making these experiences secure, trusted and seamless. Money20/20 Middle East is a great opportunity to discuss with the payments ecosystem what it will take to move agentic commerce from innovation to real-world adoption.”

Joy Adams, Chief Operating Officer, Digital Assets Transformation, Corporate Bank at Deutsche Bank, will take part in a discussion focused on building intelligent financial institutions, while Tony Ashraf, Managing Director at BlackRock, will join a session examining what comes after payments as instant payment networks and programmable financial infrastructure increasingly converge.

The agenda will also examine the governance of agentic AI, the future of cross-border payment corridors, the role of regulation in supporting innovation and the conditions required to attract long term global capital.

Saudi Arabia’s fintech transformation will feature prominently throughout the programme. Nora M. Albakr, Deputy Governor for Financial Innovation at the Saudi Central Bank, will deliver an opening keynote, alongside sessions exploring how companies built in the Kingdom can expand internationally, why global investors are increasing their focus on Saudi Arabia, and how regulation, capital and infrastructure can support the sector’s next phase of growth.

Other confirmed speakers include Mostapha Tahiri, Chief Operating Officer at State Street; Hani Kablawi, Executive Vice Chair and Head of Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific at BNY; Ali Bailoun, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman at Visa; and Hisham Al-Falih, Co-Founder and CEO of Lean Technologies.

By connecting Saudi founders, financial institutions and regulators with global investors and technology leaders, Money20/20 Middle East will create opportunities for international collaboration, market access and long-term partnerships, supporting the Kingdom’s ambitions under Saudi Vision 2030 and the Financial Sector Development Program.

Registration for Money20/20 Middle East 2026 is now open. For more information, visit www.money2020middleeast.com.