In early September, the capital city of Riyadh will host the launch of the FinTech 24 Conference, the first edition of the international conference specializing in the fintech sector. It will take place from September 3–5, 2024, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Convention Center, hosted by the Financial Sector Development Program, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the Capital Market Authority, and the Insurance Authority, and jointly organized by “Fintech Saudi” and “Tahaluf,” a joint venture between the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones, Informa Global, and the Investment Events Fund.
The event is set to focus Fintech 24 Conference on supporting the thriving fintech community, as well as reviewing a number of specialized topics, with the aim of contributing to the development of the global banking and financial services sector, including: artificial intelligence, machine learning in financial operations, embedded finance, the evolution of open banking, and green finance; serving as a leading platform for regulators, policymakers, investors, technology experts, entrepreneurs, and academics to enhance collaboration within the fintech sector.
The conference also features a dedicated space to support startups and investors, called the “Fintech Innovation Hub,” which brings together the top 80 cutting-edge and innovative startups, alongside more than 200 investors. The "Fintech Competition" also offers the top 24 startups the chance to win prizes worth over 938,000 riyals (US$250,000), A select group of startups and investors will enjoy a program packed with inspiring discussions on the ”Fintech Innovation Investment Platform,” connecting investors with startups using artificial intelligence; to benefit from the guidance and advice of leading experts in the field, as well as providing an interactive space for networking, panel discussions, competitions, and presentations.
Fintech 24 aims to make a significant impact on the fintech sector, offering more than 175 hours of specialized content in its inaugural edition, featuring over 200 elite expert speakers, It also aims to attract more than 26,000 visitors, 300 exhibitors, and 200 investors, making it a prominent contender among the world’s top fintech conferences.
The “Fintech 24” conference also brings the world’s leading financial sector leaders to Saudi Arabia, featuring prominent figures in banking and financial services alongside regulatory leaders and policymakers from around the world, as well as prominent figures from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, among other key players in the fintech sector.
The “Fintech Trends” platform will focus on the key trends and technologies reshaping the financial sector, while the “Future Outlook” will host academic panel discussions and talent development sessions, while the “Investing with Innovation” platform aims to explore opportunities and facilitate knowledge exchange between founders and investors.
Fintech 24 will conclude with the “From Start to Finish” bootcamp, which offers emerging entrepreneurs and students the opportunity to apply to join and receive exclusive training in building fintech solutions. The camp has been specifically designed to meet the needs of aspiring entrepreneurs and their aspirations to establish fintech startups in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The conference is an extension of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to foster the growth of the entrepreneurship ecosystem and support startups, as well as its aspirations to become one of the fastest-growing fintech hubs in the Middle East and North Africa region, and is in line with the Vision 2030 goals for developing the sector.
