News And Press Releases

The AMF Composite Index rose by 1.20% during October, driven by gains in eleven exchanges versus declines in three others. Amman led with an increase of 9.39%, followed by Muscat at 8.27%, while Bahrain, Palestine, Egypt, and Dubai recorded gains between 5.89% and 3.76%. In contrast, Iraq and Damascus posted the largest declines.

Globally, advanced markets ended the month on a positive note, with the Nikkei, Nasdaq, FTSE, and Morgan Stanley indices rising between 3.65% and 16.64%. MSCI Emerging Markets indices also recorded gains across Asia, the Arab region, Europe, and Latin America.

This improvement came alongside the U.S. Federal Reserve’s second interest rate cut of 2025, followed by similar moves in several Arab countries, supporting liquidity and investor confidence. Easing signals in U.S.–China trade discussions further strengthened sentiment across global and regional markets.

The meeting discusses several key topics, including emerging risks and trends in Arab financial systems, financial stability policies and support for economic growth, enhancements to supervisory processes, as well as the regulation and oversight of stablecoins, the role of artificial intelligence, and liquidity risk management.

H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, emphasized the importance of this annual platform, which brings together policymakers and senior officials to follow the latest supervisory developments. He noted that the issues raised this year reflect the rapid shifts taking place in the global financial landscape, underscoring the need to strengthen supervisory frameworks and enhance the capacities of Arab countries to ensure financial stability. He also reiterated that the Fund’s new strategic direction reinforces its role as a thought leader and strategic partner for its member countries.

The programs covered a wide range of topics, including:
advanced due diligence practices in investment operations; public revenue forecasting; public debt management strategies and the development of local capital markets; global trends in international trade; balance of payments analysis and exchange rate policy; supply and use tables and input–output tables; the use of emerging data and modern technologies in macroeconomic statistics; financial risk management; macroeconomic policies and forecasting; and regulatory frameworks for financial innovation.
Advanced programs were also delivered in collaboration with international institutions, including the World Bank, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the IMF Middle East Center for Economics and Finance (IMF-CEF), in addition to partnerships with regional and global central banks and financial institutions.

The sessions address key supervisory priorities, including the implementation of Basel capital adequacy standards, the modernization of regulatory and supervisory methodologies, and the alignment of banking legislation and accounting frameworks in Arab countries with international practices. Discussions also focus on enhancing coordination and knowledge-sharing across supervisory authorities, as well as strengthening capacity-building and technical assistance programs for member states.

On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, emphasized that the meeting serves as an important platform for exchanging experiences and enhancing coordination among Arab countries on priority issues in the field of credit information. His Excellency commended the efforts of Arab countries in strengthening the credit-information industry, noting that the sector is undergoing a transformative phase driven by technological advancement, artificial intelligence, and evolving regulatory frameworks, offering significant opportunities to enhance transparency and financial inclusion in the Arab region.

He highlighted that the share of adults accessing financing through formal channels remains below 20% in most Arab countries, while lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) accounts for only 8% to 22% of total credit, underscoring an urgent need to strengthen credit information exchange and to develop related products and services.

A number of international and regional institutions are participating in the meeting as observers, including the World Bank, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Better Than Cash Alliance, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs – Financial Sector Office, and the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP).

The Task Force aims to support the development of policies, promote cooperation, and facilitate the exchange of experiences among Arab countries in the field of financial inclusion. Its areas of focus include financial consumer protection, implementation of international standards, and enhancing financial awareness and literacy.

Organized by the Arab Monetary Fund, in collaboration with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the World Bank, the two-day summit (17–18 November) features the participation of an elite group of Arab central bank governors and senior representatives of regional and international financial institutions. The opening session was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan; H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE; H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund; and Mr. Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, along with a number of distinguished dignitaries and officials from within and outside the UAE.

The summit addresses a range of priority topics, including the promotion of financial health, expansion of access to financial services, women’s economic empowerment, and financial literacy, all within the framework of ongoing efforts to build more inclusive and sustainable financial systems across the Arab region.

A total of 12 Arab exchanges recorded gains, led by the Muscat, Cairo, and Amman exchanges. In the United Arab Emirates, both the Abu Dhabi and Dubai exchanges saw an increase in performance, with Dubai recording growth between 2.35% and 3.98%, while Abu Dhabi recorded an increase of less than 1%.

In terms of liquidity, the value of trading in Arab markets rose to USD 252.2 billion, supported by a notable increase in the Egyptian and Kuwaiti exchanges. The market capitalization of Arab stock exchanges also grew by 2.16%, reaching approximately USD 4.31 trillion.

Monetary easing policies had a positive impact on the markets, as several central banks, including the Central Bank of the UAE, reduced interest rates, contributing to improved liquidity and increased investment activity. The Central Bank cut the Overnight Deposit Facility rate to 4.15%.

The programs covered a wide range of topics, including nowcasting using R software, measuring the impact of fiscal and monetary policies, financial stability, development of Arab financial markets, monetary and financial statistics, tax policy, green economy, and Islamic finance. Advanced programs were also delivered in collaboration with international institutions such as HEC Paris, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Deutsche Bundesbank, and the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF).

These programs were implemented in various formats: remote, in-person, and hybrid, reflecting the Institute’s commitment to providing high-quality training opportunities that contribute to advancing economic development across Arab countries.