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Welcome to Xchange by Money20/20 Middle East – where money meets ideas 

What happens when you put 38,500 fintech minds in one place?

You get sparks. Partnerships. Major deals. And ideas that can change the world. 

That’s exactly what happened at the first-ever Money20/20 Middle East, where the region’s financial future took centre stage. From AI in banking and cross-border payments, to startup pitches that redefined the sector’s ambition – this event marked the moment when the Middle East took the lead in the global fintech conversation. 

The numbers tell a story 

• 38,500 attendees – with 19% international participation.
• 1,051 investors – split 50/50 between local and international.
• 451 exhibiting brands – showcasing everything from digital banking infrastructure to the next-gen rails for cross-border payments.
• 157 startups – selected from 31 countries.

These stats are signs of the region’s fintech acceleration. The ecosystem is scaling at startup speed; and we want you to come on this journey with us. 

So, welcome to the conversation 

We’ll bring Money20/20 Middle East energy to you every week, here in the Xchange by Money20/20 Middle East. 

Think of this newsletter as a marketplace of ideas landing in your inbox – a space where bold questions meet diverse perspectives. We’ll start each edition with a thesis, and then unpack it together; with insights from founders, regulators, investors, and the thinkers shaping finance across the Middle East and around the world. 

Some weeks we’ll zoom in – on remittances, open banking, or AI in credit. Other weeks, we’ll zoom out – exploring how money, tech, and human behaviour are rewriting old systems. Always backed by solid data, high-level insight, and a dash of curiosity.

Why Xchange? 

Because ideas are like capital: they grow when they circulate.

Money20/20 Middle East is built on that belief – and this newsletter is its weekly pulse. A space for collaboration, for debate, for connection. A reminder that fintech is about more than technology; it’s about people reimagining the flow of value in an interconnected world. 

Our first thought to kick things off…

Is the Middle East about to become the world’s fastest-growing fintech ecosystem — or has it already happened?

We’ll unpack that in next week’s issue, with data, stories, and voices from across the region.

Until then: welcome to the conversation.

Catch you next week,
The Money20/20 Middle East Team