Soha Hussein Aboul Farag
CEO, Bank of Jordan KSA
“Trust-based digital adoption and aligning transformation with customer expectations and cultural realities.”
Event recap · November 2025
Transforming the future of finance
The 22nd Connected Banking Summit Innovation & Excellence Awards 2025 gathered senior banking leaders, technology firms, policymakers and fintech innovators at Radisson Blu Riyadh Convention and Exhibition Center to define the next chapter of financial transformation in the Kingdom.
Vision 2030 in motion
Throughout the summit, the message was consistent. The Kingdom’s financial sector is moving from discussion into delivery. Banks and financial institutions are redesigning services, infrastructure and customer engagement with technology at the core. This reflects Vision 2030 not as a policy statement, but as an operating model taking shape across the market.
Leadership
Key voices in the room
The summit was held in the presence of Mohammed AlSarrani, Deputy Director General, Financial Sector Development Program (Ministry of Finance, KSA), who attended as Guest of Honour representing the Minister of Finance. His presence underlined financial modernisation as a national economic priority.
Dhary Alshammry
Group Chief Internal Auditor, Al Rajhi Bank
“Governance, cybersecurity and operational assurance must advance alongside innovation.”
Marat Ismagulov
Human Capital Management Director, Alfa Bank
“Scaling AI depends on people. Skills, structure and decision-making are as critical as the technology itself.”
Executives from Zoom, Nintex, Newgen, Appice and Alfa Bank contributed implementation insight — showing AI, automation and intelligent workflows already improving efficiency and customer experience across financial institutions.
Discussions
Key themes
The tone throughout was practical. Transformation succeeds when technology, governance and execution are aligned and paced correctly.
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01
AI-led customer experience Enhancing trust and simplicity at the point of service.
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02
Cyber and operational resilience Treated as enterprise-wide priorities, not isolated IT workstreams.
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03
Open banking Shifting from regulatory compliance into commercial value creation.
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04
Embedded finance Making services more intuitive and accessible in daily life.
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05
Organisational culture The foundation for transformation that can actually scale.
Awards 2025
Innovation & Excellence
The awards recognised organisations that delivered measurable progress in digital finance and customer value — institutions moving beyond announcements and into meaningful implementation.
Excellence in Digital Banking
Category
Best Use of AI in HR Tech
Category
Excellence in International Banking Partnership
Category
Excellence in Digital Innovation
Category
Excellence in Regional Banking and Cross Border Financial Services
Category
About the organiser
The International Center for Strategic Alliances (ICSA) designs platforms for collaboration, knowledge exchange and leadership dialogue across banking, technology, sustainability and digital transformation. ICSA convenes decision makers, innovators and policy leaders through high-impact executive forums, strategic summits and thought leadership initiatives.
Learn more at www.intercsa.com