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.

Organized by the Arab Monetary Fund, in collaboration with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the World Bank, the two-day summit (17–18 November) features the participation of an elite group of Arab central bank governors and senior representatives of regional and international financial institutions. The opening session was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan; H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE; H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund; and Mr. Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, along with a number of distinguished dignitaries and officials from within and outside the UAE.

The summit addresses a range of priority topics, including the promotion of financial health, expansion of access to financial services, women’s economic empowerment, and financial literacy, all within the framework of ongoing efforts to build more inclusive and sustainable financial systems across the Arab region.

The programs covered a wide range of topics, including nowcasting using R software, measuring the impact of fiscal and monetary policies, financial stability, development of Arab financial markets, monetary and financial statistics, tax policy, green economy, and Islamic finance. Advanced programs were also delivered in collaboration with international institutions such as HEC Paris, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Deutsche Bundesbank, and the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF).

These programs were implemented in various formats: remote, in-person, and hybrid, reflecting the Institute’s commitment to providing high-quality training opportunities that contribute to advancing economic development across Arab countries.