التكنولوجيا وأخبارها بوابة مصر لأخبار تكنولوجيا المعلومات والإتصالات وفي أفريقيا كما تعتبر مصدر رئيسي للمعلومات حول تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات والفرص الاستثمارية المرتبطة بالاقتصاد الرقمي في المنطقة بالكامل
The 22nd Connected Banking Summit – Innovation & Excellence Awards 2025 took center stage at the Radisson Blu Riyadh Convention and Exhibition Center, bringing together senior banking executives, technology innovators, fintech leaders, and policymakers. The summit served as a strategic platform to explore how the Kingdom’s financial industry is embracing innovation, digital inclusion, and collaboration to redefine the future of finance.
Vision 2030 in Action: From Strategy to Execution
Throughout the summit, participants reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is no longer a theoretical roadmap but a living reality transforming the nation’s financial sector. Banks and financial institutions are moving decisively from planning to implementation, redesigning operations, infrastructure, and customer engagement through cutting-edge technology.
The evolving ecosystem reflects a new operating model for financial services—one that places digital enablement, agility, and inclusion at its core, aligning with the Kingdom’s economic diversification goals.
Leadership and Key Voices Shaping Financial Transformation
The event was held under the presence of Mohammed AlSarrani, Deputy Director General, Financial Sector Development Program (Ministry of Finance, KSA), who attended as Guest of Honour on behalf of the Minister of Finance. His participation underscored the government’s commitment to accelerating financial modernization as a national economic priority.
Highlights from Distinguished Speakers
- Soha Hussein Aboul Farag, CEO, Bank of Jordan KSA, emphasized that successful digital transformation depends on trust and customer-centric adoption, ensuring technology aligns with cultural and behavioral expectations.
- Dhary Alshammry, Expert in Audit & Governance, highlighted that resilience is a leadership mandate. He called for governance, cybersecurity, and operational integrity to progress alongside technological innovation.
- Marat Ismagulov, Human Capital Management Director and Management Board Member, Alfa Bank, stressed that AI transformation is powered by people—with skills, organizational structure, and decision-making being just as critical as technology itself.
Executives from Zoom, Nintex, Newgen, Appice, and Alfa Bank shared real-world insights demonstrating how AI, automation, and intelligent workflows are already transforming efficiency and elevating customer experiences across financial institutions.
Core Themes Driving the Future of Connected Banking
Discussions throughout the summit revealed several key themes defining the next era of financial services in Saudi Arabia:
- AI-driven customer experience fostering simplicity and trust
- Cybersecurity and operational resilience as enterprise-wide imperatives
- Open banking evolving from compliance frameworks into revenue-generating opportunities
- Embedded finance making services more accessible and intuitive in everyday life
- Organizational culture serving as the foundation for transformation at scale
The prevailing tone across sessions was pragmatic—affirming that true transformation occurs when technology, governance, and execution advance in harmony.
Celebrating Excellence: Awards Recognize Industry Pioneers
The Connected Banking Innovation & Excellence Awards 2025 honored organizations that achieved tangible progress in digital transformation and customer value creation.
The winners included:
- Excellence in Digital Banking: Bank Albilad
- Best Use of AI in HR Tech: Alfa Bank
- Excellence in International Banking Partnership: Nintex
- Excellence in Digital Innovation: Appice
- Excellence in Regional Banking and Cross-Border Financial Services: First Abu Dhabi Bank KSA
These awards spotlighted institutions that have moved beyond strategic intent to achieve measurable innovation and real-world implementation, embodying the spirit of Saudi Arabia’s dynamic financial evolution.
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