Financial Center News #137

ADGM welcomed NYU students for an on-site engagement examining how modern financial centres design, implement and uphold effective governance frameworks.

Led by Lord David Cameron, former UK Prime Minister & Visiting Lecturer at NYU, the visit provided insight into ADGM's regulatory ecosystem, institutional architecture and approach to global best practice, connecting academic learning with real-world application.

Abu Dhabi continues to position itself as a living classroom for the next generation of global leaders.

Strategic Wealth Allocation: ITRP programme

Selecting the right jurisdiction is only the first step; the second is choosing the right assets. The AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme (ITRP) enables investors to allocate capital across a range of high-liquidity financial instruments.

The ITRP is a specialised residency scheme designed for international investors and high-net-worth individuals. It offers a structured pathway to tax residency in Kazakhstan, providing access to tax preferences on foreign-source income, a long-term investor visa, and a business-friendly environment governed by English Common Law.

Learn more about the financial instruments available under the ITRP.

In this episode of DIFC Unplugged, we sit down with Rajeev Sibal, Senior Global Economist at Morgan Stanley Research, to unpack the forces shaping the global economy.

From the defining economic shifts of 2025 to the key themes, risks and opportunities ahead in 2026, the discussion explores how a new world order in trade is reshaping global supply chains and what this means for the UAE's positioning on the global stage.

A timely conversation on resilience, opportunity and the region's evolving role in an increasingly complex economic landscape.

Exploring Strategic Partnerships for Sector Advancement

As part of our collective advocacy for the advancement of Nigeria's Financial and Professional Services (FPS) sector, EnterpriseNGR's CEO and management team paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe, FCIB.

The discussion underscored a strategic and collaborative commitment by all parties to work towards a shared objective of uniting and strengthening the insurance sector. This collective effort was positioned as a critical step toward enhancing the insurance industry's contribution as a key driver of a stronger, more resilient Financial and Professional Services (FPS) sector.

Malta's financial sector is positioning its next phase around higher quality standards, resilience, and strategic specialisation, as highlighted at FinanceMalta's 18th Conference. Leaders and policymakers called for stronger collaboration between industry, regulators, and government, alongside sustained investment in talent and innovation, to reinforce Malta's role as a trusted EU financial centre. The conference also underscored opportunities in fintech, digital finance, insurance, wealth management, capital markets, and emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain, supported by Malta's track record in crypto regulation.

426 Emirati Professionals Working in the Insurance and Capital Market Sectors Joined Tamkeen Programs in 2025, a Practical Step Towards Leading a Promising and Sustainable Financial Sector.

Special award for Dr. Lutz Raettig

Our Honorary President Dr. Lutz Raettig was awarded the Badge of Honour of the City of Frankfurt by Lord Mayor Mike Josef today in the Kaisersaal of the Römer. The personal laudatory speech was held by Jürgen Fitschen.

As "Mister Financial Centre", Lutz Raettig has had a significant impact on Frankfurt for many years. During his 12 years as President of Frankfurt Main Finance, Frankfurt has been further strengthened as the home of key supervisory and financial institutions, including the European Central Bank, EIOPA and the Deutsche Bundesbank. He thought the financial centre out of the world and explained Frankfurt to the world. With vision, integrity and a deep sense of responsibility.

In addition to his commitment to the financial center, Lutz Raettig was also passionately committed to Frankfurt's cultural landscape, including the Alte Oper, the Frankfurt Opera, the Schirn and the English Theatre.

Frankfurt Main Finance is indebted to him and congratulates Lutz Raettig from the bottom of its heart on this honour from the city.

Warsaw ranked #2 on the New York Times list of places to visit in 2026!

That's not just great news for tourism – it's a powerful signal that Warsaw is increasingly recognised on the global stage as a vibrant, dynamic and forward-looking metropolis.

For our community, this recognition goes beyond travel trends. Warsaw's growing international profile mirrors its emergence as a leading tech and innovation hub in CEE – a place where talent, capital and creativity converge. The city's evolution as an economic and business centre makes it a compelling backdrop for the development of fintechs, scale-ups, investment activity and cross-border collaborations.

At Future Finance Poland, we see this as part of a larger shift: global audiences are not only noticing Warsaw's cultural and lifestyle appeal, they're also increasingly aware of its role in shaping the future of finance, technology and entrepreneurship.

As Warsaw continues to rise in global rankings and conversations, the opportunities for fintech innovation – from talent attraction to investment and ecosystem growth – are becoming ever more visible on the world map.

Join Us Next Week — Secure Your Spot at FSDC Talent Day 2025

Are you ready to thrive in a financial services industry transformed by AI? FSDC Talent Day 2025 brings together leaders from finance and fintech to share insights, trends, and opportunities shaping the future of work.

What's in it for you? • Network with leaders driving innovation and AI adoption in finance. • Gain practical insights into how AI is reshaping the financial landscape. • Discover emerging roles and key skillsets essential for your career paths.

Event Details: Friday, 23 January 2026 2:15–6:00pm (Registration starts at 1:45pm) HKEX Connect Hall, Central

Don't miss this chance to connect with industry leaders and fintech communities and explore how AI is transforming finance, along with the skills you'll need to shape your career.

The Middle Corridor is redefining East–West trade by connecting China, Central Asia, Türkiye and Europe through an increasingly efficient transport network. With average transit times of around 18 days and growing freight volumes, Türkiye's strategic location and multimodal infrastructure place it at the heart of Eurasian logistics.

In his latest blog, Yiow Tan, our Director – South East Asia, shares insights into the key trends reshaping the region's financial services landscape, including:

Malaysia's role in driving the globalisation of Islamic finance

The growing alignment between ESG and Shari'a principles

Increasing demand for efficient cross-border investment routes

The expansion of family offices and the search for trusted partners

The continued importance of real assets in institutional portfolios

Super Early Bird for #IFF2026 closes in 3 days!

Secure early access to the Inclusive FinTech Forum, the convening platform for policy leaders, investors, and innovators shaping fintech growth across Africa and beyond.

What happens after a trade is executed? For many, post-trading remains one of the least visible parts of capital markets. Yet it is the infrastructure that keeps global finance moving.

In the latest On the Move video, Philippe Seyll, CEO of Clearstream Fund Services, part of Deutsche Börse Group, explains why post-trading is the engine room of finance and the wide range of career paths it offers in Luxembourg.

From technology driven roles shaping digital post-trade platforms, to client facing positions connecting market participants across more than 100 countries, and critical functions in risk, compliance and legal, post-trading brings together global impact, innovation and responsibility.

Luxembourg plays a central role in this ecosystem, hosting key post-trade activities that support asset managers, distributors and investors worldwide.

Watch the video to discover how careers in post-trading help build the foundations of the global financial system.

QFC is pleased to welcome Mansoor Al-Khater as Chief Executive Officer, effective 11 January 2026, succeeding Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida.

With more than 28 years of leadership experience, Al-Khater brings strong strategic insight to the role as he leads QFC in advancing its strategic objectives and strengthening its position as a trusted international financial and business hub. His mandate will remain closely aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, supporting national priorities and economic diversification.

Working alongside the executive management team, he will drive key priorities across financial services development, wealth attraction, and digital transformation. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo Tunisia, following senior roles within the Ooredoo Group and 11 years at Qatar Petroleum.

We look forward to this next chapter for QFC under his leadership.

Through the International Regulatory Strategy Group (IRSG) – our joint venture with the City of London Corporation – we have published our latest report, 'AI in financial services: emerging global norms', examining how AI regulation is evolving across leading jurisdictions.

The IRSG's analysis determines AI largely amplifies existing risk rather than introducing wholly new ones and advocates for interoperable, principles-based supervision anchored in existing technology-neutral rules and that no new global rules on AI should be created.

Farmida Bi, Chair of the IRSG Council, said, "We don't need new global rules for AI at present but, international cooperation across regulators, policymakers, and international standard setters to share experiences on how AI is being deployed to identify where adjustments can be made to encourage interoperability of AI. This report recommends clear, actionable steps that promote the safe and responsible innovation of AI in financial services".

Key findings include:

Most jurisdictions draw on OECD/G20/G7 principles, yet implementation spans prescriptive rulebooks (e.g., EU) to non-statutory, outcomes-focused supervision (e.g., UK), and voluntary co-created guidance (e.g., Singapore).

AI is a general-purpose technology that can magnify model risk, data governance, third-party concentration, and cyber threats (particularly for generative AI) but does not introduce wholly new financial-sector risks.

Given AI's rapid evolution, rigid international rulebooks risk obsolescence. Interoperability, aligned taxonomies and indicators, and compatible supervisory tools are the pragmatic way forward.

Data localisation and extra-territorial measures can fragment markets and impede responsible innovation; cross-border cooperation and proportionate oversight are essential.

As we reflect on 2025, I'm deeply grateful to our TRIFIC SEZ's Members and partners for an outstanding year of growth, collaboration, and impact.

Together, we advanced Nairobi's position as a global services and innovation hub, unlocking new business engagements, expanding service exports, and strengthening an ecosystem that enables companies to scale with confidence and purpose.

As we step into 2026, we are back in office and more committed than ever to: • Deepening strategic partnerships • Creating new, high-impact opportunities • Delivering tangible value for every member and stakeholder

The journey ahead is ambitious, and we are ready. Let's scale even higher, together.