With over 45,000 attendees, 450 global brands, and 600 investors, the region’s largest fintech gathering highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global financial innovation hub under Vision 2030.
Money20/20 Middle East officially opened today at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham, marking a milestone moment in Saudi Arabia’s journey to become a leading global fintech hub. Running until September 17, the three-day event doubles the scale of last year’s Fintech24 and underscores the kingdom’s rapid progress in transforming its financial sector under Vision 2030.
The conference has drawn over 45,000 participants, 450 exhibiting brands, and 600 investors, compared to 37,000 attendees and 300 exhibitors in 2024. Anchored by the theme “Where Money Does Business”, it has become the premier stage for global and regional leaders to shape the future of finance.
Global Leaders and Hot Topics
The speaker line-up features some of the biggest names in finance and technology, including US CFTC acting chair Caroline D. Pham, Ant International president Douglas Feagin, Standard Chartered’s chief data officer Dr Mohammed Rahim, and SWIFT chief innovation officer Tom Zschach.
Discussions across seven stages will cover AI in finance, embedded finance, regulatory harmonisation, and inclusive innovation. Highlights include Venturescape, a pre-event platform for venture capital deal-making, and the MoneySurge20/20 Pitch Competition, which offers startups $400,000 in equity-free funding.
Industry Voices: Why Money20/20 Matters
For investors, founders, and regulators alike, the event is more than just a showcase—it’s a meeting ground where innovation, capital, and regulation converge.
- Armineh Baghoomian, MD and head of EMEA at Partners for Growth, emphasized the importance of growth debt as a founder-friendly funding option in Saudi Arabia’s fast-evolving fintech sector. With $400 million already committed to GCC fintechs, she noted, “The right capital structure can be the difference between incremental progress and transformative growth.”
- Hisham Al-Falih, co-founder and CEO of Lean Technologies, highlighted how fintech is moving to the heart of Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation. “Real-time payments, open access, and data-driven innovation are building the infrastructure of a modern, inclusive economy,” he said.
- Hasan Haider, managing partner at +VC, pointed to the momentum of open banking, embedded finance, AI, and regulation, stressing that founders still face challenges in raising capital. “Our vision is clear: to be the partner of choice for high-growth founders in fast-moving fintech spaces,” he added.
- Naif AbuSaida, founder of Hakbah, underscored the sector’s explosive growth, noting fintech funding in H1 2025 reached $596 million, tripling year-on-year. With over 1.3 million registered users, Hakbah is reshaping savings culture in line with Saudi Arabia’s National Household Savings and Financial Literacy strategy. “This momentum is building an inclusive financial ecosystem for the next decade,” he said.
Saudi Arabia at the Forefront of Fintech
The event reflects Saudi Arabia’s unique role in reshaping global finance. By creating an enabling environment for startups, attracting international investors, and fostering regulatory innovation, the kingdom is positioning itself as the region’s fintech epicenter.
As the fintech sector grows into a multi-billion-dollar industry, Money20/20 Middle East serves as a crucial platform for shaping partnerships, accelerating innovation, and building the financial architecture of the future.
