The UAE Banks Federation (UBF) has launched preparations to host Sibos 2029, the annual global conference, exhibition, and networking event organized by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT). The announcement underscores the UAE’s growing stature as a global financial hub.
UBF has initiated consultations and strategic planning with key partners, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), which is the primary supporter of the event. The federation is also engaging its member banks, particularly national banks, to align plans that will showcase the UAE’s financial and banking sector on a global stage.
Preparatory efforts will begin with the participation of several UAE banks at Sibos 2025 in Frankfurt, Germany, scheduled from September 29 to October 2. The event is expected to attract over 10,000 leaders from global financial institutions, major fintech companies, and service providers, under the theme “The Next Frontiers of Global Finance.”
“The selection of the UAE to host Sibos 2029 reaffirms global confidence in the country’s stature and its pivotal role in leading initiatives under the supervision of the CBUAE,” said Jamal Saleh, Director-General of UBF and Chairman of the SWIFT User Group Steering Committee in the UAE. He added that participation at this year’s Frankfurt edition will help demonstrate the UAE’s progress in payments and its contributions to the global financial ecosystem.
Since its inception in 1978, SWIFT has held Sibos annually in major financial centers worldwide, offering a platform for banking leaders, policymakers, and technology providers to discuss industry trends and innovations.
Saleh also highlighted the UAE’s pioneering role in payments through the National SWIFT User Group (NMG), established by UBF in 2021 as the first of its kind in the MENA region. The group has focused on enhancing payment operations, improving security and efficiency of banking transfers, and providing a forum for knowledge-sharing and decision-making.
UBF’s early preparations signal a coordinated effort to position Dubai as a premier host city for international financial events, reflecting the UAE’s ambition to strengthen its influence in global banking and digital payment systems.
–Input WAM
