Transforming the Future of Finance: Connected Banking Summit Saudi Arabia 2025

The 22nd Connected Banking Summit Innovation & Excellence Awards 2025 took place at the Radisson Blu Riyadh Convention and Exhibition Center, gathering senior banking leaders, technology firms, policymakers, and fintech innovators 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 and Key Voices

The summit was held in the presence of Mohammed AlSarrani, Deputy Director General, Financial Sector Development Program (Ministry of Finance, KSA), who attended as the Guest of Honour representing the Minister of Finance. His presence highlighted the importance of financial modernization as a national economic priority.

Soha Hussein Aboul Farag

CEO, Bank of Jordan KSA

"Trust-based digital adoption and aligning transformation with customer expectations and cultural realities."

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 real implementation insights, showing AI, automation, and intelligent workflows already improving efficiency and customer experience across financial institutions.

Key Themes from the Discussions

• AI-led customer experience that enhances trust and simplicity
• Cyber and operational resilience treated as enterprise-wide priorities
• Open banking shifting from regulatory compliance into commercial value creation
• Embedded finance making services more intuitive and accessible in daily life
• Organizational culture as the foundation for transformation at scale

The tone throughout the summit was practical. Transformation succeeds when technology, governance, and execution are aligned and paced correctly.

Innovation and Excellence Awards 2025

The awards recognized organizations that delivered measurable progress in digital finance and customer value:

These awards highlighted institutions moving beyond announcements and into meaningful implementation.

Event Gallery