Wednesday, 21 January 2026 | Dubai, UAE – Building on the successful launch of The Council during Investopia 2023, the MENA FinTech Association (MFTA) has formally constituted its Council for Policy & Regulation Working Group, reinforcing its commitment to shaping forward-looking fintech policy and regulatory frameworks across the Middle East and North Africa.
The Council was first announced during Investopia 2023, the UAE’s global investment platform hosted under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy, as the region’s first exclusive, invitation-only gathering of senior fintech leaders and experts. The initiative was launched to foster structured dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas between regulators, industry leaders, and policymakers shaping the future of financial services in MENA.
With its formal constitution in 2026, the Council for Policy & Regulation Working Group now enters its next phase as a dedicated platform focused on regulatory harmonization, emerging financial technologies, digital assets, compliance frameworks, open banking, and cross-border collaboration.
Working Group Leadership
The Council for Policy & Regulation Working Group is co-led by:
- Zain Umer, Managing Director, CFC MENA
- Christine Abou Assali, Partner & Head of Corporate – Banking & Finance (UAE), Alem
Founding Council Members
As part of this formal constitution, MFTA announces the first cohort of Council members:
- Maha Al-Saadi – Head of Regulatory Affairs, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)
- Abdallah Mukalled – Senior Policy Manager MEA, Ripple
- Dr. Jelena Janjusevic SFHEA – Global Deputy Head of Department (AEF), Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University
- Bessima Bahri – Legal Director, Remitly
- Bryan Stirewalt – Executive Advisor, Grant Thornton UAE
- Umair Ahmed – Co-Founder & CEO, SCS MENA and TI Analytic
- Vanessa Zuabi – Head of FI and Regulatory Partnerships, Lean Technologies
- Sylvain Massaad – Head of Compliance, Central Bank of Lebanon
- Rahul Kumar – Head of Digital Assets MENA, Capital.com
A Platform Rooted in Investopia
The Council was originally unveiled at Investopia 2023, held on 2–3 March 2023 in Abu Dhabi, as one of the conference’s key outcomes. The launch underscored the importance of fintech as a core pillar of the new economy and reinforced the UAE’s role as a leading global fintech hub.
Speaking at the launch, Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA FinTech Association, said:
“We were proud to launch The Council during Investopia 2023, bringing together the most influential fintech leaders and experts across MENA. As fintech continues to play a critical role in economic growth and financial transformation, this platform enables meaningful collaboration between industry and regulators to shape the future of the ecosystem.”
H.E. Abdullah Ahmad Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Economy, added:
“We are pleased to see the MENA FinTech Association launching The Council during Investopia, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading destination for financial and digital technology companies and supporting the growth of the fintech sector across the region.”
Looking Ahead
The Council for Policy & Regulation Working Group will convene on a quarterly, invitation-only basis, bringing together senior executives, founders, regulators, and academics to address evolving regulatory challenges and opportunities. The MENA FinTech Association will continue to expand the Council in phases, with additional members to be announced as the Working Group’s mandate evolves.