MEBIS 2026 Opens in Dubai as Banking Leaders Gather for Two-Day Summit

The 17th Middle East Banking Innovation Summit brings together senior banking executives and technology providers for two days of discussions on the technologies and priorities shaping financial services in the region.

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Artificial intelligence, real-time payments, digital banking and cybersecurity will take up much of the agenda as banking executives from across the Middle East meet in Dubai this week for the 17th Middle East Banking Innovation Summit. The two-day event, which opens September 16 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, is bringing together more than 400 banking leaders, 60+ speakers and over 30 technology providers for discussions spanning technology, transformation, customer experience, data and financial infrastructure.

The program will examine Generative AI, Agentic AI and intelligent automation, including the move from AI assistants toward more autonomous systems and the governance, accountability and trust considerations associated with their use. Delegates will also examine the data foundations required for trusted AI, the application of intelligent technologies to customer journeys and decision-making, and the potential impact on operating models within financial institutions.

Payments will form another major part of the two-day program, with discussions covering real-time payment infrastructure, instant settlement, cross-border payments, digital wallets and interoperability. Customer experience will be considered alongside these developments, including the use of technology, data and automation for personalization and predictive service, as well as efforts to reduce friction across onboarding, service and fulfillment. Cybersecurity, fraud, data governance and digital trust will also feature across the program.

Now in its 17th edition, MEBIS has developed alongside the region's banking and technology community. More than 100 banks are expected to be represented, with delegates attending from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan. The audience includes executives responsible for technology, digital transformation, innovation, artificial intelligence, data, customer experience, payments, cybersecurity, operations and business strategy. The UAE Banks Federation is serving as the summit's Official Supporting Partner.

A Broad Technology Agenda

More than 30 technology providers are participating in the summit, covering areas including artificial intelligence, digital banking, payments, data and analytics, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, automation and customer experience. Companies including IBM, Snowflake, Temenos, Alteryx and Infosys Finacle are among those participating, alongside a broader group of technology providers.

More than 75% of attendees are expected to comprise C-suite executives and decision-makers. The event combines executive discussions, presentations, banking case studies, panel discussions and the MEBIS Innovation Lounge, giving delegates opportunities to engage with peers and technology providers during the two-day program.

"When MEBIS began 17 years ago, the banking technology conversation was very different. Today, banks are looking at AI, Agentic AI, real-time payments, cybersecurity, data and customer experience at the same time, and many of these technologies are moving from discussion to real implementation remarkably quickly. MEBIS has evolved with that journey, and this year bringing together more than 400 banking leaders, 60+ speakers and over 30 technology providers reflects both the pace of change and the strength of banking innovation across the Middle East." Said Shail Bisht, Regional Director at Expotrade Middle East

For the executives in the room, the discussions over the next two days will move across technologies that are increasingly being considered together, from AI and automation to payments, data, security and customer experience. The program leaves those subjects deliberately connected, reflecting the range of decisions now being considered within the same banking technology agenda.

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