Fintech
’24 Fintech’ to Elevate Riyadh’s Global Fintech Capital Ambitions
A fintech transformation is coming to Riyadh. Called “24 Fintech,” the new annual event is hosted by the Financial Sector Development Program (FSDP), Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), Capital Market Authority (CMA), Insurance Authority (IA) and co-organized by Fintech Saudi and Tahaluf, and aims to create a world-class event that will elevate Riyadh’s global fintech ambitions and demonstrate the Kingdom’s commitment to shaping the future of finance.
Tahaluf, the strategic partnership between Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) and the Events Investment Fund (EIF), has announced plans for a major new fintech event to be held in Riyadh this September, aiming to rival some of the world’s top fintech conferences.
Taking place at the capital’s Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre from September 3-5, 2024, 24 Fintech was created to showcase a collective commitment to unlocking business and networking opportunities, embracing change, and leading innovation. The three-day event will combine an exhibition and summit, featuring 175 hours of expert-led content, with a series of satellite events, including industry meetups and brand activations, taking place throughout the week, from September 1-6.
With the aim of establishing the Kingdom as a global technology-driven financial powerhouse and Riyadh as an international fintech hub, Tahaluf has set ambitious goals for 24 Fintech. The event aims to become the most influential and impactful fintech event, platform and community in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
With the support of an international summit that will bring together regulators, financial services professionals, policy makers, investors, technologists and academics, 24 Fintech will provide a platform for industry stakeholders globally to shape, promote and stimulate collaborative fintech transformation.
Initial estimates from Tahaluf predict that the inaugural edition of 24 Fintech will attract over 25,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors, 200 investors and 80 fintech startups. The fair will host over 200 expert speakers to address pressing issues in the financial sector as the fair seeks to manage the immense technological changes impacting operations, from infrastructure provision to customer service. Target attendees include central bank governors, regulators, policy makers, financial and non-financial institutions, large technology providers, investors and venture capitalists, academics, researchers, as well as professional and industry associations.
“Our vision is to advance finance by bringing together key stakeholders and driving practical transformation globally, in line with the economic development agenda outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030,” said Annabelle Mander, Senior Vice President of Tahaluf.
The inaugural 24 Fintech will feature four stages hosting three days of programming, including keynotes, panel discussions and industry announcements, with dedicated areas for investment and startups, technology and academia. Across the stages, panelists will explore a range of topics, including governance, regulation, interoperability, investment and reimagining the financial services landscape.
In addition to the main and special stages, the show will feature special initiatives, including the Regulators’ Village, a dedicated zone that connects regulators with fintechs looking to establish themselves in the Kingdom. The inaugural 24 Fintech will also feature an investor program with an exclusive stage and lounge, as well as Venturescape, a pre-show initiative that will bring together over 200 global investors and over 100 fintechs for a series of workshops, mentoring and pitch practice.
A dedicated startup zone will highlight 80 of the world’s leading fintech companies, across all major fintech verticals, including but not limited to payments, lending, insurtech, regtech, capital markets, compliance and open banking. Aspiring startups can benefit from personalized mentoring and matchmaking sessions, as well as a 24-person fintech pitch competition. The top startups will compete in timed pitch competitions, culminating in a grand finale with over SAR 900,000 (over US$250,000) in free equity prizes.