FinTech Abu Dhabi ("FinTech AD") goes 'live' tomorrow with ten key features and new initiatives that will look to solve issues in the Fintech industry, connect people, and recognise success.  The MENA region's leading FinTech Festival is organised by Abu Dhabi Global Market ("ADGM"), the award-winning international Financial Centre, and supported by global innovation platform – Unbound.

FinTech AD is also proud to announce the following strategic partners for this year's event:

Government Partners

• Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development – regulates the business sector and leads economic initiatives to achieve knowledge-based, diversified and sustainable economic growth.
• Abu Dhabi Department of Finance – provides government entities with the best-in-class financial services and specialised solutions as well as managing available resources efficiently.
• Authority of Social Contribution – Ma'an - established in February 2019 by the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi with the aim of bringing together the government, the private sector and civil society to support a culture of social contribution and participation.
• Abu Dhabi Digital Authority - enables, supports and delivers a digital government that is proactive, personalised, collaborative and secure.

Platinum Partners

• Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank – one of the largest banks in the UAE.
• Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) – one of the UAE's leading Stock Exchanges.
• Etihad- one of the world's leading airlines and the National Carrier of the UAE.
• Hub71 – a global tech ecosystem that brings together key enablers for startups to succeed.

Accelerator Partner

• Plug and Play ADGM - is the ultimate innovation platform in the Middle East uniting startups with the unrivaled tech expertise of Silicon Valley and major corporations for a changing world. It currently runs three accelerator programmes in the MENA region: Fintech, Travel & Hospitality, and Health.

Gold Partners

• Anglo-Gulf Trade Bank - offers the world's first digital-only trade finance bank.
• Finablr - a global platform for Payments and Foreign Exchange solutions.

Silver Partners

• DEX - will operate as a regulated Crypto Asset Exchange and Crypto Asset Custodian under the OCAB Framework as structured by the FSRA that governs all crypto asset and digital asset financial activities in ADGM. 

Bronze Partners

• DLP Pipper – a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries, helping clients with their legal needs.
• Grant Thorton – a leading bisiness adviser that helps dynamic organisations to unlock their potential for growth.
• Habib Bank – Pakistan's largest bank and first bank to be established in Pakistan in 1947. A leading full-service commercial bank.

The Festival is packed with initiatives, competitions and events, designed and organised to address real life challenges in the FinTech industry.

A key philosophy of the Festival is connecting entrepreneurs and start-ups to potential investors

• A new addition to the Festival is the Investor Forum, co-hosted by Hub 71, where regional and international venture capital investors will exchange ideas and their best practices with attendees. Comprising keynote addresses and panel discussions, the Forum will feature prominent FinTech investment powerhouses, covering current trends in the venture capital industry.
• The Etihad Challenge supports one of the key elements of the Festival - to address challenges in the FinTech industry.  Entrants for the Etihad Challenge will be asked to solve problems currently faced by Etihad's finance and accounting teams. Start-ups will have the opportunity to compete in providing innovative solutions for specific FinTech-related problems.
• The Festival's signature Innovation Challenge, in collaboration with KPMG, poses a set of 16 FinTech problem statementsto selected FinTech applicants, and represents real challenges faced in the UAE and the wider MEASA region by financial institutions, corporate and consumers. This year ADX is the lead partner.
• The first FinTech-themed Youth Circle will encourage the next generation of potential entrepreneurs and problem solvers. This initiative, governed by the Federal Youth Authority, is designed to inspire youth-centric dialogue and engage young leaders to shape innovative solutions for global challenges. Speakers include: Alexander Graubner-Mueller, founder of Kreditech and Nicholas Cary, co-founder and Vice Chairman of Blockchain.

This year's event will also celebrate the brightest and most creative ideas and initiatives driving the FinTech industry.

• The inaugural FinTech Abu Dhabi Awards this year comprise ten categories with a new category- the Islamic FinTech of the Year award - sponsored by Grant Thornton. The winner will be a role model who led innovative solutions in the financial services industry that are driving positive change in the UAE/MENA region.

We accept Guest Posts

Download the Dubai City Guide iPhone mobile app

DubaiCityGuide.com is owned and managed by Cyber Gear