News

This year’s forum was held under the theme:
“A Decade of Fiscal Dialogue: Building Macroeconomic Resilience through Strengthening Fiscal Policies and Institutions.”

The forum witnessed broad participation from Arab Ministers of Finance and Governors of Central Banks, alongside senior officials and experts from regional and international financial institutions.

In his address during the forum, H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, stressed the importance of the forum as a platform to assess the outcomes of a full decade of dialogue on fiscal policies, and as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among Arab countries in light of global financial and economic developments.

H.E. stated:

The study reviews the evolution of the contributions of productivity, capital, and labor to economic growth, based on an analytical framework that compares the performance of Arab countries with regional and international peers. This approach contributes to a deeper understanding of macroeconomic characteristics and dynamics.

The study’s findings highlight the importance of enhancing resource-use efficiency and improving structural factors that support productivity, thereby fostering more sustainable and resilient economic growth.

The study concludes that adopting balanced, data-driven economic policies is a key element in supporting productivity and strengthening growth pathways in Arab economies.

The full version of the study is available on the following link:
https://www.amf.org.ae/en/publications/economic-studies/productivity-and-growth-assessment-framework-pgaf-technical-note

The study highlights that Arab countries possess promising fundamentals for improving productivity, particularly in terms of capital accumulation and labor availability. The findings indicate that certain policies such as adherence to disciplined monetary policies and improvements in human development indicators have had a positive impact on productivity, opening the way for more sustainable growth.

On the other hand, the study points out that rising government expenditure and public debt pose challenges to productivity enhancement, underscoring the need to develop effective fiscal frameworks that ensure more efficient use of resources.

The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of adopting economic policies that focus on macroeconomic stability and improving the efficiency of public spending as a fundamental step toward boosting productivity and enhancing the competitiveness of Arab economies.

The AMF Composite Index rose by 1.20% during October, driven by gains in eleven exchanges versus declines in three others. Amman led with an increase of 9.39%, followed by Muscat at 8.27%, while Bahrain, Palestine, Egypt, and Dubai recorded gains between 5.89% and 3.76%. In contrast, Iraq and Damascus posted the largest declines.

Globally, advanced markets ended the month on a positive note, with the Nikkei, Nasdaq, FTSE, and Morgan Stanley indices rising between 3.65% and 16.64%. MSCI Emerging Markets indices also recorded gains across Asia, the Arab region, Europe, and Latin America.

This improvement came alongside the U.S. Federal Reserve’s second interest rate cut of 2025, followed by similar moves in several Arab countries, supporting liquidity and investor confidence. Easing signals in U.S.–China trade discussions further strengthened sentiment across global and regional markets.

The meeting discusses several key topics, including emerging risks and trends in Arab financial systems, financial stability policies and support for economic growth, enhancements to supervisory processes, as well as the regulation and oversight of stablecoins, the role of artificial intelligence, and liquidity risk management.

H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, emphasized the importance of this annual platform, which brings together policymakers and senior officials to follow the latest supervisory developments. He noted that the issues raised this year reflect the rapid shifts taking place in the global financial landscape, underscoring the need to strengthen supervisory frameworks and enhance the capacities of Arab countries to ensure financial stability. He also reiterated that the Fund’s new strategic direction reinforces its role as a thought leader and strategic partner for its member countries.

The programs covered a wide range of topics, including:
advanced due diligence practices in investment operations; public revenue forecasting; public debt management strategies and the development of local capital markets; global trends in international trade; balance of payments analysis and exchange rate policy; supply and use tables and input–output tables; the use of emerging data and modern technologies in macroeconomic statistics; financial risk management; macroeconomic policies and forecasting; and regulatory frameworks for financial innovation.
Advanced programs were also delivered in collaboration with international institutions, including the World Bank, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the IMF Middle East Center for Economics and Finance (IMF-CEF), in addition to partnerships with regional and global central banks and financial institutions.

The sessions address key supervisory priorities, including the implementation of Basel capital adequacy standards, the modernization of regulatory and supervisory methodologies, and the alignment of banking legislation and accounting frameworks in Arab countries with international practices. Discussions also focus on enhancing coordination and knowledge-sharing across supervisory authorities, as well as strengthening capacity-building and technical assistance programs for member states.

On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, emphasized that the meeting serves as an important platform for exchanging experiences and enhancing coordination among Arab countries on priority issues in the field of credit information. His Excellency commended the efforts of Arab countries in strengthening the credit-information industry, noting that the sector is undergoing a transformative phase driven by technological advancement, artificial intelligence, and evolving regulatory frameworks, offering significant opportunities to enhance transparency and financial inclusion in the Arab region.

He highlighted that the share of adults accessing financing through formal channels remains below 20% in most Arab countries, while lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) accounts for only 8% to 22% of total credit, underscoring an urgent need to strengthen credit information exchange and to develop related products and services.

A number of international and regional institutions are participating in the meeting as observers, including the World Bank, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Better Than Cash Alliance, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs – Financial Sector Office, and the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP).

The Task Force aims to support the development of policies, promote cooperation, and facilitate the exchange of experiences among Arab countries in the field of financial inclusion. Its areas of focus include financial consumer protection, implementation of international standards, and enhancing financial awareness and literacy.