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:

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.

The study reviews the evolution of the contributions of productivity, capital, and labor to economic growth, based on an analytical framework that compares the performance of Arab countries with regional and international peers. This approach contributes to a deeper understanding of macroeconomic characteristics and dynamics.

The study’s findings highlight the importance of enhancing resource-use efficiency and improving structural factors that support productivity, thereby fostering more sustainable and resilient economic growth.

The study concludes that adopting balanced, data-driven economic policies is a key element in supporting productivity and strengthening growth pathways in Arab economies.

The full version of the study is available on the following link:
https://www.amf.org.ae/en/publications/economic-studies/productivity-and-growth-assessment-framework-pgaf-technical-note

The study highlights that Arab countries possess promising fundamentals for improving productivity, particularly in terms of capital accumulation and labor availability. The findings indicate that certain policies such as adherence to disciplined monetary policies and improvements in human development indicators have had a positive impact on productivity, opening the way for more sustainable growth.

On the other hand, the study points out that rising government expenditure and public debt pose challenges to productivity enhancement, underscoring the need to develop effective fiscal frameworks that ensure more efficient use of resources.

The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of adopting economic policies that focus on macroeconomic stability and improving the efficiency of public spending as a fundamental step toward boosting productivity and enhancing the competitiveness of Arab economies.

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.