Riyadh is preparing for the second edition of the Money20/20 Middle East 2026 conference, which gathers top leaders in the financial and technology sectors, investors, policymakers, and innovators from around the world to discuss the transformations reshaping the future of financial services, payments, and investments.

The conference runs until September 16, 2026 at Mlem Exhibition and Convention Center in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Financial Sector Development Program Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, who will deliver the opening keynote on leading the next chapter of economic transformation.

The event is hosted by the Financial Sector Development Program, Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, Capital Market Authority, and Insurance Regulatory Authority, with joint organization by Fintech Saudi and Taawon Company to provide a platform connecting regulatory bodies and global financial institutions with tech companies, investors, and entrepreneurs.

The 2026 edition aims to attract over 38,000 participants, alongside 350 exhibitors, more than 350 speakers, over 600 investors, and 150 startups, making the event a wide-ranging meeting point for various stakeholders in the financial and technology sectors.

The program focuses on a range of files driving the sector's transformation, including smart financing, open banking, integrated financial services, payments, regulatory frameworks, and access to capital, as well as the future of financial infrastructure and cross-border payment corridors.

Artificial Intelligence Reshapes Payments

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds a prominent place in the conference agenda, especially with the growing use of AI agents capable of executing tasks and transactions on behalf of users.

The 'Next-Gen Money' program includes a live presentation by Godfrey Sullivan from Visa titled 'Building Trust in the Age of AI-Driven Commerce', which outlines the transaction journey that an AI agent can perform, from selecting a merchant to payment and authentication.

Discussions also cover the challenges accompanying this model, including refund processes, disputes, and liability determination, as well as governance of AI agents and setting frameworks for transitioning from technical experiments to broad financial and commercial applications.

The conference also explores the future of cross-border payments, the role of regulations in enabling innovation, and the mechanisms needed to attract global capital and enhance the growth and expansion of financial institutions and fintech companies.

Discussions and meetings are distributed across a range of specialized platforms and tracks, including the Executive Summit Platform, Next-Gen Money Platform, Bridge Platform, and Capital Platform, as well as meeting rooms and closed sessions, providing opportunities for forming partnerships, reaching investors, and exchanging experiences among sector leaders.

The second edition of the Money20/20 Middle East conference is held amid the rapid transformations in the Saudi financial sector, with the expansion of the fintech and digital payments ecosystem and the growing role of modern technologies and AI in developing financial services, supporting the goals of the Financial Sector Development Program and Saudi Vision 2030.