• Fintech startups in the UAE attracted $265 million in investments in 2024, equivalent to a third of all startup funding nationwide.
• The UAE fintech market is expected to grow from USD 3.16 billion in 2024 to USD 5.71 billion by 2029.
• 89% of consumers in the UAE today use digital bank accounts.
• Artificial intelligence is radically transforming financial services with improved levels of personalization, compliance, and risk management.
• Cross-system collaboration and innovative policies are key factors in strengthening the UAE’s regional leadership in fintech.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates : Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT), has released its FinTech 2025 report, "Between Code and Capital: The UAE FinTech Revolution," prepared in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers. The report, recently showcased at the Dubai FinTech Summit 2025, in which the bank participated as the Official Banking Partner, offers a comprehensive, data-driven outlook on the UAE's evolving fintech ecosystem and provides a roadmap for stakeholders at the forefront of financial innovation within the ecosystem.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of the sector, highlighting key regional trends, from the boom in digital adoption and venture capital to the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence. The UAE is growing in stature as a leading hub for fintech activity, supported by its robust regulatory environment and evolving fintech ecosystem.

On this occasion, Niraj Maken, Group Head of Strategy, Analytics and Venture Capital at Emirates NBD, said: “We are proud to launch our FinTech 2025 report, which highlights the UAE’s success in establishing itself as a leading FinTech hub and the role Emirates NBD’s innovations play in this success. In 2024, the UAE recorded USD 265 million in FinTech investments, reflecting strong investor appetite and confidence in the country’s FinTech ecosystem. The UAE boasts a strong Venture Capital network, a large and diverse talent pool, and clear exit mechanisms, which position it to attract further investment and prepare future FinTech leaders.”

According to the report, fintech startups in the country attracted investments worth nearly $265 million in 2024, representing a third of the total funding allocated to startups in the country. The size of the fintech market in the UAE is expected to grow from $3.16 billion in 2024 to $5.71 billion by 2029, supported by widespread consumer adoption of fintech innovations, investor confidence in the opportunities offered by the local market, and the strength of public-private partnerships.

For his part, Miguel Rio Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, Emirates NBD, said: “Emirates NBD is at the forefront of the fintech revolution in the region, thanks to its strategic partnerships, internal innovations, and bold investments. In this report, we demonstrate how established banking institutions can leverage fintech to drive further growth, enhance operational efficiencies, and deliver superior customer experiences. As the sector continues to evolve, we are committed to building an open and collaborative ecosystem that delivers long-term value to our customers and the broader financial sector . ”

Stephen Anderson, Strategy Leader at PwC Middle East, said: “The FinTech 2025 report highlights the dynamism of Dubai’s fintech landscape. The Middle East has been transformed by innovation, technological advancements, and the adoption of forward-thinking strategies by countries in the region. With the UAE at the forefront of this transformation, we are committed to enabling our clients, partners, and the communities we serve to thrive in an increasingly connected and intelligent financial future.”

The report also highlights the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in reshaping financial services across all fronts, from personalization to compliance, risk modeling, and management. Emirates NBD's adoption of AI technologies in its operations has resulted in significant improvements in efficiency, control, and operational volume.

As fintech adoption continues to expand, the FinTech 2025 report encourages banks and startups to proactively collaborate to keep pace with this evolution, embracing open APIs, regulatory sandboxes, and collaborative innovation models as essential factors to maintain the sector's momentum and enhance its impact on customers.

About Emirates NBD  

Emirates NBD, listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) under the symbol ( Emirates NBD ), is a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) region, with a presence in 13 countries and serving over 9 million active customers. As of March 31, 2025, its total assets were AED 1 trillion (equivalent to approximately USD 272 billion). The Group operates in the UAE, Egypt, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia, and Bahrain, and has representative offices in China and Indonesia through a network of 839 branches and 4,539 ATMs and CDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE, with a brand value of USD 4.54 billion.

Emirates NBD Group serves individuals, businesses, government entities, and institutions, helping them achieve their financial goals by offering a range of banking products and services, including retail, corporate, institutional, Islamic, investment, and private banking, asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage operations. The group is a major contributor to the global digital banking industry, with over 97% of financial transactions and requests processed outside its branches. Liv ., Emirates NBD's digital bank, has nearly half a million customers and remains the fastest-growing bank in the region.

Emirates NBD contributes to building a sustainable future through its ongoing commitment to participating in and supporting sustainable development initiatives in the UAE, including financial well-being and the inclusion of people of determination. Emirates NBD is committed to supporting the UAE's Year of Sustainability, and in addition to being the Principal Banking Partner for the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( COP28 ), the bank was a pioneer in supporting the Dubai Initiative for Sustainability, an emirate-wide initiative aimed at reducing the use of single-use plastic drinking water bottles.

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