The Finance Frontier 2026 | Page 2

Amir Fardghassemi, CEO and Founder of Jingle Pay, shares how trust, innovation, and resilient financial infrastructure are transforming cross-border payments and shaping the future of global fintech.

Under his leadership, QIC Group has strengthened its position as one of the MENA region’s leading insurers, expanding its presence across regional and international markets through digital innovation and diversified insurance solutions.

Under his leadership, QIB reported net profit of QAR4.6 billion and total assets of QAR200.8 billion in 2024.

Viktor Uzunov, Founder and CEO of UEB3 Ventures, shares how digital assets, tokenization, and artificial intelligence are redefining wealth management and building the next generation of financial infrastructure.

Selim Kervancı leads HSBC’s operations across the Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye, and the UAE, bringing more than 28 years of banking experience and driving the bank’s corporate, institutional, and wealth banking strategy across the region.

Selim Elgan leads J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s UAE business, overseeing wealth management for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices across the UAE and the wider Middle East and North Africa.

Ahmed Abdelaal, Group CEO of Mashreq, brings more than three decades of international banking experience, leading one of the region’s foremost financial institutions across corporate, investment, retail, and Islamic banking.

Nadir S. Al Koraya has led Riyad Bank since 2024, bringing decades of treasury and investment expertise to one of Saudi Arabia’s leading financial institutions. Under his leadership, the bank has expanded its international presence, strengthened financial performance, and accelerated digital innovation.

Adnan Anwar has led the National Bank of Fujairah as CEO since 2024, drawing on more than 25 years of banking experience and nearly two decades with the bank to drive growth, digital transformation, and customer-focused innovation.

Shamsa Al Falasi is the CEO of Citibank, N.A. UAE Onshore Branch and Citi Country Officer for the UAE. As the first Emirati woman to lead Citi’s operations in the country, she brings more than two decades of international banking leadership experience.

Mahmoud Abu Ebeid, Co-founder and CEO of Global Software Solutions Group (GSS Group), shares how artificial intelligence, Open Finance, and digital transformation are reshaping financial services while reinforcing trust, resilience, and innovation across the banking sector.

Ayham Gorani, Co-founder and CEO of Pemo, is transforming business spend management for SMEs through innovative fintech solutions that automate expenses, streamline financial operations, and improve efficiency across the region.

Khaldoun Hilal, CEO and Co-Founder of Kama Capital, discusses how trust, institutional-grade infrastructure, and innovation are reshaping online trading while making advanced financial tools more accessible to retail investors.

Karim Awad is the Group CEO, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and a board member of EFG Holding. He joined EFG Hermes in 1998 in the investment banking department and became Head of Investment Banking in 2007. He eventually became the CEO of EFG Hermes in 2012 and Group CEO of EFG Holding in 2013. […]

“I would like my legacy to be one that expands economic agency by enabling more people and businesses to participate, make decisions, and pursue opportunities with confidence,” says Abdullah Al-Othman, founder and chairman of Geidea and AO Holdings, and co-founder of United Lemar Company Ltd. With investments spanning Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, the UK, […]

Under his leadership, QNB has advanced its digital transformation strategy through investments in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and blockchain technologies.

Under his leadership, Doha Bank reported total assets of US$32.8 billion and net profit of US$204.8 million in the first nine months of 2025.

"What Minted Money taught me is that trust in financial services is not universal but cultural. The mainstream financial system assumes that everyone trusts fiat currency, trusts banks, and trusts the same institutions, but they do not. Millions of people trust gold because they have seen currencies collapse, and they trust tangible assets because they have seen banks fail. That is not irrational. That is lived experience,” Munir says.

Widely regarded as a thought leader, Dr. Chilwan works closely with governments, regulators, academic institutions, and industry organizations to help shape the future of Islamic finance.

Under his leadership, Region Emerging Markets has embarked on an ambitious expansion strategy in core countries.

Mal is aiming to redefine how Islamic financial services are built and delivered. Rather than digitizing traditional banking systems, Mal has been designed from the ground up as an AI-native institution, embedding artificial intelligence across compliance, risk management, and customer experiences while remaining rooted in Sharia principles.