Dubai – Mubasher: Finastra Universe is returning to the Middle East for the fifth time on 13-14 November 2019 in Dubai, with regional experts, including banks, financial technology (fintech) companies, and developers.

Dubai is hosting the first leg of the global tour for leading financial centres, with stops scheduled for London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, and Singapore.

The Finastra event will look into the growing impact of technology on the financial sector as well as the challenges faced by corporates while accelerating their digital transformation initiatives, the company said in a press release on Thursday.

The event will feature 12 open forum sessions, including technology experts, industry leaders, and decision-makers, with the president of Finastra, Eric Duffaut and Finastra’s chief product and technology officer, Eli Rosner as keynote speakers.

“The banking sector is experiencing a once-in-a-generation shift in the Middle East, caused by regulation, digitalization, and transformation. Financial organizations need to develop business models that will give their increasingly tech-savvy customers the experiences they expect. With smartphone penetration rates among the highest in the world, and a government committed to innovation, the UAE is leading the drive toward digital transformation, making Dubai the perfect location for Finastra Universe,” said senior vice president and general manager for APAC and MEA at Finastra, Wissam Khoury.      

The Dubai event is forecast to host over 300 senior executives from across the Middle East and Africa, South Asia and Europe, sharing insights on how open platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud and payments are reshaping the banking sector.

It will further be attended by some of Finastra’s local customers such as Arab Banking Corporation (ABC) and Commercial Bank of Dubai and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB).

The fintech market is forecast to reach $2.5 billion across the MENA region by 2022, as governments and industry participants aim to develop and modernize the delivery of financial services.