The financial industry is entering a new stage of transformation, driven by artificial intelligence and the way it changes how financial services are delivered. At the same time, digital assets are becoming increasingly mainstream, and the payment infrastructure continues to evolve with their participation.

But even in the middle of all of these technological advances, one thing remains the same as it always was: trust is still the foundation of all sustainable growth in finance. So how do we continue building that trust in a way that allows all these technological solutions to scale efficiently?

That question is set to take the spotlight at Money20/20 Middle East, taking place in Riyadh from 14–16 September 2026. The event will bring together leaders from across the financial ecosystem, including regulators, financial institutions, fintechs, investors and technology leaders, to discuss the trends shaping the industry's future. Among them are an impressive number of women, including Joy Adams of Deutsche Bank, Sophie Guibaud of the International Finance Corporation, Amira Abdelaziz of the Central Bank of Egypt, and many others.

This growing influence of female leadership also lies at the foundation of the partnership between Money20/20 and Women Leading the Way by Drofa Comms. It reflects how across the financial industry, women increasingly help shape the conversations around responsible innovation and governance — the very things that define how trust is built and preserved over time.

Why Trust Is a Competitive Advantage in Finance

General Outline

Financial products today are developed fast and reach the market even faster, but their actual adoption in the long-term depends on whether companies can earn and maintain trust from customers, regulators and institutional partners.

What does trust in financial innovation mean today, and what are companies still getting wrong? Why is it a strategic differentiator? What common mistakes do companies continue making when introducing new technologies?

Quote from WLTW (Valentina Drofa):

“As I see it, trust is built through countless everyday decisions and continuous efforts. How openly a business communicates, what it promises and how consistently it delivers, how it reacts in crisis situations, how willing it is to listen to the feedback it receives from its audience, etc. Innovation may capture people’s attention, but it’s these things that ultimately determine whether they will choose to stay."

Why Innovation Can Move Faster Than User Confidence

General Outline

Technological advancements like AI, embedded finance, digital assets and tokenisation continue to reshape financial services, but user confidence often develops at a slower pace than the tools themselves. Closing this gap requires a joint effort between developers, regulators and the ecosystem at large.

What needs to change for users, regulators and institutions to feel more confident? How do you balance innovation with responsible implementation? Where is credibility still struggling to catch up with innovation? What role does regulation play in building confidence across both retail and institutional sectors to accelerate adoption?

Quote from Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President at Tahaluf:

"Money20/20 Middle East has redefined what a fintech event can achieve. This is where regulators, financial institutions, investors and innovators come together to build partnerships and shape the future of financial services. As fintech momentum continues to build, Riyadh has become a key meeting point for the global fintech community, creating the connections and conversations that will define the next chapter of finance."

How Women Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Finance

General Outline

Women play an increasingly visible role across global finance — not simply because of representation quotas, but by genuinely influencing product strategy, governance, and customer-centric strategies. Their leadership is helping shape a more resilient and responsible industry.

How can women leaders help shape a more responsible, transparent and inclusive financial ecosystem? How does diversity factor in as a driver of better decision-making? The importance of mentoring women who would go on to become future leaders themselves.

Quote from Miranda Naidoo, Co-Founder and CEO of Scale:

"The biggest gap I see in emerging markets is translational - turning a powerful new rail like embedded card issuing into something a first-time cardholder or a local regulator actually understands and trusts. Closing that gap takes a different kind of leadership than shipping the technology itself: the patience to build relationships market by market, and the willingness to design for realities far from where most fintech is built. In my experience, that's exactly the kind of leadership women are often bringing to the table in Africa's financial sector, and it's a big part of why the innovation is actually reaching the people it was built for.”

Quote from WLTW (Valentina Drofa):

"Many of the speakers that come to our project tend to speak about diversity and how it is a major factor in executive teams. By bringing together different experiences and perspectives, new ways of solving problems can emerge — which ultimately leads to better, stronger decisions that can benefit broader audiences."

What Comes Next for Financial Trust

General Outline

As financial services keep moving forward, trust will increasingly influence which innovations become firmly entrenched and stay for the long term. Success will be determined by more than just having the most cutting-edge tech; an even bigger part of it will come down to how good a job companies do when building secure, transparent, and customer-focused systems.

“Which organisations can be trusted enough to deliver the breakthroughs?” — this is arguably the next biggest question to be discussed.

Looking at the future of finance (both globally and in the Middle East specifically), what major shifts will matter most over the next few years?

Quote from Money 20/20 Team:

“The pace of transformation across financial services is extraordinary, and Money20/20 Middle East brings together the people driving that change. In Riyadh, global and regional leaders will move beyond dialogue to build partnerships, unlock investment and create opportunities that will help shape the next chapter of fintech. We look forward to welcoming the global money ecosystem to the Kingdom for three days of meaningful connections and conversations.”

Conclusion

Money20/20 Middle East will bring together many of the people who help shape the future of global finance. Women Leading the Way continues its mission of amplifying female voices across the industry, and this partnership provides a great opportunity to showcase the role of women in leadership positions and the part they play in powering those innovations.

To learn more about Money20/20 Middle East and register for the event, visit the Money20/20 Middle East website.