The global financial community has long viewed the Middle East through a lens of cautious optimism, often balancing the region’s immense wealth against its geopolitical complexities. However, as we navigate the first quarter of 2026, a remarkable narrative is emerging: the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is not just surviving regional tensions; it is thriving as […]
For over ten years, people have debated traditional finance versus crypto. But both systems actually serve the same purpose: storing and moving value and putting it to good use. The story of competition is shifting to one of coming together, especially in the Gulf region. What seemed like a battle was really a negotiation between […]
Despite the rapid spread of digital payments, cash in circulation across the MENA region continues to grow. Claudio Sgarlata, Global VP and Managing Director MEA at Giesecke+Devrient, global leader in SecurityTech, explains why central banks and financial institutions are investing in smarter cash infrastructure and what it takes to modernize a system that billions still […]
Financial markets are often described as “efficient.” Prices are assumed to reflect all available information, making persistent out-performance difficult without taking additional risk. This idea, formalized in the Efficient Market Hypothesis, underpins much of modern financial theory. Even its strongest proponents, however, have always made the same qualification: efficiency is a hypothesis, not a literal […]
Tell us about yourself, your background and how you got involved in Web3. I started my career at EY with a burning desire to be in the financial sector. I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of business and technology and equally, I’ve always known I wanted to build something of my own. That entrepreneurial […]
Tell us about yourself and your background I’m a Chartered Accountant by training, and a business builder and operator by experience. I enjoy bringing structure to complexity, spotting patterns in messy data, and using that insight to help businesses grow to their full potential. I’ve been involved in building companies from early stages through to […]
Artificial intelligence is no longer a strategic advantage in finance. It is a tactical necessity. Across the UAE’s dynamic business landscape, finance functions are integrating predictive analytics and intelligent automation, compressing reporting cycles and improving data visibility. Yet a paradox is emerging. Greater speed and volume have not consistently produced better decisions. In some boardrooms, […]
Tell us about yourself, your background, and your journey to founding MavenPay. My name is Chinedu Ochonogor, but everyone calls me Miles. I grew up in Nigeria, where my earliest fascination was with science. I wanted to become an astrophysicist, and throughout my school years, I consistently ranked in the top percentile of my class, […]
2025 is emerging as a defining year for the Gulf’s capital-market landscape. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has posted record registrations and a surge in hedge-fund and asset-management activity, signalling Dubai’s intent to be the region’s fund gateway. Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority has launched landmark reforms to further open Tadawul to foreign investors, aiming […]
I have spent nearly twenty years helping banks and insurance companies transform, integrate and scale across Europe, Latin America, the US, and the Middle East. One thing is clear: the future of financial services is not about slow or occasional change. It is about constant transformation: Banks and insurers must act like living systems, always […]
