AMF and IFSB Formalise Partnership to Advance Financial Resilience and Growth in the Arab Region

The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) and the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Strategic Partnership Framework to strengthen cooperation in advancing Islamic finance regulation, financial resilience, and sustainable financial and economic development across the Arab region.

The partnership agreement was signed by Dr Fahad Alturki, Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, and Dr Ghiath Shabsigh, Secretary-General of the IFSB. The agreement formalises a strategic collaborative framework in four key areas: policy advice, capacity development, knowledge sharing and research, and analytical support for the AMF’s regional engagements and initiatives.

Aligned with both organisations’ strategies, the IFSB Strategic Plan 2025–2027, and the AMF Strategy 2025-2030, the agreement enhances both institutions’ ability to deliver technical assistance, support the adoption of global prudential standards, and facilitate the development of robust, sound, and inclusive Islamic finance sector in the region. It also builds on previous cooperation between the two institutions, expanding their joint efforts to address evolving sectoral challenges through structured and scalable engagement.

The Arab Monetary Fund Organizes the 44th Meeting of the Arab Committee on Banking Supervision 7–8 May 2025

The 44th regular meeting of the Arab Committee on Banking Supervision begins today, Wednesday, and will run over two days via videoconference. The Committee operates under the umbrella of the Council of Governors of Arab Central Banks and Monetary Agencies and includes in its membership heads and senior officials of banking supervision departments, along with the Arab Monetary Fund.

On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, commended the ongoing efforts of Arab central banks and monetary authorities to enhance the resilience of the financial and banking sector. He highlighted their strides in strengthening regulatory frameworks, advancing prudential policies, and aligning with global standards and best practices. He also noted the importance of the topics on the Committee’s agenda and the valuable insights they offer.

 

H.E. Dr. Alturki further welcomed the participation of regional and international financial institutions, underlining the important role such engagement plays in enriching discussions. He concluded by reaffirming the strong interest and support of the Governors of Arab central banks in the Committee’s work and its essential contribution to the exchange of expertise and experiences across the region.

Arab Monetary Fund Issues Issue No. (120) of the Quarterly Bulletin on the Performance of Arab Stock Markets – Q1 2025

The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) has issued Issue No. (120) of the Quarterly Bulletin on the Performance of Arab Stock Markets, which reviews performance indicators for the first quarter of 2025. The data revealed mixed performance across Arab financial markets, mirroring similar trends seen in global financial markets—both advanced and emerging—during the same period.

In this context, the AMF's Composite Index, which measures the overall performance of stock markets in Arab countries, recorded a 1.55% increase by the end of the first quarter of 2025 compared to the end of the fourth quarter of 2024. On an annual basis, the index achieved a growth rate of 4.37%.

At the individual market level, five Arab exchanges registered gains in their performance indicators during the first quarter, while ten exchanges saw declines during the same period. The Casablanca Stock Exchange led the list of top performers with a rise of 20.19%, followed by the Tunis Stock Exchange (10.25%), Kuwait (9.66%), Egypt (7.68%), and Amman (6.12%).

On the other hand, the stock markets of Saudi Arabia, Palestine, and Abu Dhabi posted slight declines of less than 1%. Seven other Arab exchanges experienced drops ranging from 1.21% in the Dubai Financial Market to 12.69% in the Beirut Stock Exchange.

Arab Financial Inclusion Day

Theme: "Promoting the Integration of People with Disabilities and Vulnerable Groups into the Formal Financial System" 

The Council of Governors of Arab Central Banks and Monetary Institutions underscored the importance of advancing financial inclusion across the region, emphasizing that the integration of people with disabilities and vulnerable groups into the formal financial system is fundamental to achieving sustainable economic development and promoting social justice. 

The Council noted that access to financial services, including bank accounts and loans, plays a crucial role in improving living standards, supporting the financial independence of targeted groups, and reducing poverty rates. It further highlighted that the inclusion of these segments fosters innovation in the development of financial services and contributes to reinforcing economic stability. 

The Council also drew attention to the growing number of initiatives launched by public institutions and the private sector in Arab countries to enhance access to financial services for people with disabilities and vulnerable groups, through the enactment of supportive legislation and the development of tailored financial products. 

Memorandum of Understanding between the Arab Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank

H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, held in Washington, D.C.

 

The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation on strategic issues related to financial development in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Arab region by focusing on three key areas:

 

The Arab Monetary Fund Signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Latin American Reserve Fund

H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Latin American Reserve Fund (FLAR) on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, held in Washington, D.C.

 

The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions in several key areas, including the exchange of expertise on economic policies, support for the global financial safety net, collaboration on capacity building, statistics, and technical assistance, as well as the preparation of joint economic studies.

H.E. Dr. Alturki affirmed that this partnership aligns with the AMF’s strategic approach to expanding its relationships with regional and international financial institutions, thereby enhancing its role in supporting financial stability and achieving sustainable development in Arab countries.

Dr. Fahad M. Alturki Holds a Series of Bilateral Meetings with Arab Finance Ministers on the Sidelines of the Annual Meetings of Arab Financial Institutions in Kuwait

Dr. Fahad M. Alturki Continues to Strengthen Arab Financial Cooperation Through Bilateral Meetings with Ministers and Financial Institution Officials on the Sidelines of the Annual Meetings of Arab Financial Institutions in Kuwait.

H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, held a series of bilateral meetings with a number of esteemed ministers and governors of Arab central banks, during his participation in the annual meetings of Arab financial authorities held in the State of Kuwait.

The meetings included:

  • H.E. Mr. Yahya Shunnar, Governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority;
  • H.E. Dr. Youssef El Khalil, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Lebanon;
  • H.E. Mr. Fethi Zouhair Nouri, Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia;
  • H.E. Mr. Sid’Ahmed Ould Bouh, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

During these meetings, H.E. Dr. Alturki discussed the Arab Monetary Fund’s new strategic directions, aimed at enhancing its role as a catalyst for financial stability and sustainable economic growth, in addition to being a key partner in institutional capacity-building across member countries.