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The Working Group operates under the Council of Arab Central Banks and Monetary Authorities’ Governors and comprises directors of financial inclusion departments at Arab central banks, in addition to the Arab Monetary Fund, which serves as the technical secretariat of the Group. Representatives from several international and regional institutions are also participating, including the World Bank and the Better Than Cash Alliance.

On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, emphasized that the meeting represents an important platform for exchanging experiences and expertise, and for strengthening coordination among Arab countries on priority issues related to financial inclusion.

The conference highlighted the strategic transformation in the concept of financial inclusion—from focusing on access to financial services to fostering individuals’ financial health—thereby enhancing their ability to achieve financial stability and economic sustainability.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, stated that Arab countries have achieved notable progress in expanding financial inclusion, with financial account ownership reaching approximately 53% by the end of 2024, compared to 43% in 2014. He emphasized that the next phase requires moving from merely enhancing access to financial services to focusing on the actual impact of these services on individuals.

The meeting discusses the latest developments in financial technologies, including regulatory frameworks for stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), as well as the use of artificial intelligence in supporting financial supervision and oversight functions. Participants also examine the implications of emerging technologies in the financial sector, such as quantum computing, data sovereignty issues, cloud computing governance, and ways to enhance the resilience of financial infrastructure.

H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, emphasized the importance of the Working Group in fostering knowledge and experience sharing among Arab countries, and in supporting the development of regulatory and supervisory frameworks that keep pace with rapid technological advancements. He noted that these efforts contribute to promoting innovation and strengthening financial stability across the Arab region.

The meeting comes amid ongoing global economic developments and challenges, underscoring the importance of strengthening financial stability frameworks and enhancing the readiness of the banking sector in Arab countries.

The Task Force operates under the Council of Arab Central Bank Governors and Monetary Authorities and comprises directors of financial stability departments at these institutions, in addition to the Arab Monetary Fund, which serves as the technical secretariat. The meeting also includes representatives from several international institutions, including the Financial Stability Board and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.

The meeting discusses key regional and international developments in payment systems, with a focus on instant payments, as well as enhancing the efficiency of cross-border payments and accelerating their execution—particularly in light of the increasing importance of remittances in supporting economic activity in the region.

The sessions also address a number of regulatory and supervisory topics, including “Buy Now, Pay Later” services, cybersecurity requirements, and strong customer authentication. In addition, discussions cover future supervisory priorities related to asset tokenization, digital asset-based financial infrastructures, and the use of artificial intelligence in overseeing payment and settlement systems.

Arab financial markets recorded mixed performance during February 2026, in line with trends observed across advanced and emerging markets during the same period. The AMF Composite Index for Arab financial markets declined by 0.83 percent by the end of the month.

Nine Arab stock exchanges registered improved performance, supported by gains in the banking, financial services, energy, and basic materials sectors. These gains contributed to strengthening market capitalization in several markets, particularly those where these sectors hold significant weight.

The Muscat Stock Exchange led the region’s top-performing markets, recording growth of 16.79 percent, followed by the Tunis Stock Exchange with an increase of 5.72 percent. The stock exchanges of Egypt, Amman, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai also recorded gains ranging between 1.06 percent and 2.99 percent. Meanwhile, Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait posted more moderate increases.

Nine Arab stock exchanges recorded improved performance during the period, supported by gains in the banking, energy, insurance, financial services, and consumer retail sectors, contributing to an increase in market capitalization. The Egyptian Exchange led the rising markets with an increase of 14.24 percent, followed by the Saudi and Muscat exchanges at 8.50 percent and 7.90 percent, respectively. The markets of Tunisia, Dubai, and Qatar also recorded gains of 6.72 percent, 6.42 percent, and 5.09 percent, respectively, while the Abu Dhabi and Palestine exchanges rose by 2.89 percent and 1.68 percent, respectively. 

In contrast, five Arab stock exchanges recorded declines in their indices due to weaker performance in certain sectors, including travel and leisure, consumer services, and media. The Casablanca Stock Exchange declined by less than one percent, while the markets of Bahrain, Amman, Iraq, and Kuwait recorded declines ranging between 1.09 percent and 3.84 percent. 

Published annually, the report represents a model of Arab institutional cooperation, providing a comprehensive analysis of economic developments in Arab countries and presenting an integrated overview of the state of the Arab economy considering regional and global developments.

At the level of Arab stock exchanges, indices rose in ten markets, led by the Amman stock exchange with a gain of 19.07 percent, followed by Egypt and muscat with increases of 14.07 percent and 13.22 percent, respectively. Several other exchanges also posted varying gains. In contrast, six Arab exchanges recorded declines, most notably Saudi Arabia and Damascus.

The total market capitalization of Arab financial markets decreased by approximately USD 107 billion, or 2.48 percent, to reach USD 4,208.08 billion by the end of the fourth quarter, compared to USD 4,315.08 billion at the end of the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the value of trading increased to USD 261.42 billion, marking a rise of USD 9.19 billion.

Published annually, the report represents a model of Arab institutional cooperation, providing a comprehensive analysis of economic developments in Arab countries and presenting an integrated overview of the state of the Arab economy considering regional and global developments.

The report reviews economic developments across Arab countries during 2024, including the impact of global economic conditions on the region. It covers key sectors such as agriculture and industry, oil and energy, public finance, monetary and banking developments, financial markets, external and intra-Arab trade, balance of payments, external public debt, and exchange rates.

This year’s forum was held under the theme:
“A Decade of Fiscal Dialogue: Building Macroeconomic Resilience through Strengthening Fiscal Policies and Institutions.”

The forum witnessed broad participation from Arab Ministers of Finance and Governors of Central Banks, alongside senior officials and experts from regional and international financial institutions.

In his address during the forum, H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, stressed the importance of the forum as a platform to assess the outcomes of a full decade of dialogue on fiscal policies, and as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among Arab countries in light of global financial and economic developments.

H.E. stated: