Council of Arab Finance Ministers
Following the decision of the Arab League Summit held in Kuwait in January 2009, which called for greater coordination among Arab finance ministers and tasked them with identifying the best way to achieve it, the ministers agreed to hold regular meetings in the form of a Council, with the Arab Monetary Fund serving as its Technical Secretariat.
The Council aims to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of expertise in fiscal policy among Arab countries and coordinate their positions in addressing international financial challenges, advancing their shared interests while contributing to the resolution of economic problems.
Objectives
In accordance with its Rules of Procedure, the Council aims to:
Exchange experiences and expertise in fiscal policies among member countries.
Coordinate positions on economic and financial issues and developments, including in international forums and meetings.
Coordinate efforts to promote inter-Arab investment.
Coordinate tax policies and address double taxation issues among Arab countries.
Seek to coordinate and harmonize financial legislation and regulations among Arab countries.
Coordinate investment policies and cooperate in protecting sovereign wealth.
Raise awareness of economic and financial issues and the fiscal reform efforts undertaken by Arab countries.
Coordinate positions on official development assistance and highlight Arab support in this area.
Monitor international rules and principles governing the dissemination of fiscal data and statistics.
Coordinate and support Arab representation in positions and management bodies within international financial institutions.
Strengthen Arab countries’ participation in setting international standards across financial and economic fields.
Seek to standardize Arabic terminology used in financial and economic fields.
Preparatory Committee
The Arab Finance Ministers approved the establishment of a Preparatory Committee comprising the Chair of the current annual meeting, the Chair of the next annual meeting, and the Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, in the Fund’s capacity as the Council’s Secretariat.
The Committee follows up on the implementation of the Council’s decisions and recommendations between sessions and prepares for Council meetings, including agreeing on the dates of regular sessions and preparing draft agendas. It also undertakes any other tasks within the authority assigned to it by the Council.
Council Meetings
The Council’s annual meetings are attended as observers by the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs of the League of Arab States, the Director General of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, and the Executive Directors representing Arab countries at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The Arab Monetary Fund also participates in its capacity as the Council’s Technical Secretariat.
The Council’s annual meetings are generally held on the sidelines of the joint annual meetings of Arab financial institutions. The Council may also hold extraordinary meetings whenever necessary.
Latest News
Arab Monetary Fund Convenes the 24th Meeting of the Financial Stability Task Force in Arab Countries
The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) convenes today the 24th meeting of the Financial Stability Task Force in Arab Countries at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The two-day meeting brings together directors of financial stability departments at Arab central banks and monetary authorities, as well as representatives of regional and international financial institutions and bodies.
The meeting is held in line with the AMF’s strategic directions aimed at strengthening economic stability across Arab countries and reinforcing its role as a trusted policy advisor and strategic partner supporting the development of financial and monetary policies and enhancing institutions’ capacity to address emerging risks and challenges.
The meeting discusses a range of priority issues, including risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence in the financial sector and related mitigation tools; stress testing and the macroprudential framework for cybersecurity risks; capital flow management and macroprudential tools to address external shocks and global market volatility; as well as structural vulnerabilities and resilience in sukuk markets. The meeting also reviews preparations for the 2027 Financial Stability Report, along with the Task Force’s future directions and work plan.
Arab Monetary Fund Convenes the 24th Meeting of the Financial Stability Task Force in Arab Countries
The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) convenes today the 24th meeting of the Financial Stability Task Force in Arab Countries at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The two-day meeting brings together directors of financial stability departments at Arab central banks and monetary authorities, as well as representatives of regional and international financial institutions and bodies.
The meeting is held in line with the AMF’s strategic directions aimed at strengthening economic stability across Arab countries and reinforcing its role as a trusted policy advisor and strategic partner supporting the development of financial and monetary policies and enhancing institutions’ capacity to address emerging risks and challenges.
The meeting discusses a range of priority issues, including risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence in the financial sector and related mitigation tools; stress testing and the macroprudential framework for cybersecurity risks; capital flow management and macroprudential tools to address external shocks and global market volatility; as well as structural vulnerabilities and resilience in sukuk markets. The meeting also reviews preparations for the 2027 Financial Stability Report, along with the Task Force’s future directions and work plan.
The Council
Contact Council of Arab Finance Ministers
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