IBM title sponsors MEBIS 2026 to drive AI banking in Dubai

The Middle East's financial landscape is undergoing a profound digital transformation, with artificial intelligence at the very heart of this evolution.

IBM has officially joined the 17th edition of the Middle East Banking Innovation Summit (MEBIS) as the Title Sponsor. Scheduled for the 16th and 17th of September 2026 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, the summit is the premier banking technology event in the region.

This major announcement, placed prominently ahead of the industry gathering, underscores IBM’s commitment to equipping regional institutions with enterprise-grade solutions. The summit serves as the ultimate platform to shape the future of autonomous banking with C-level executives and digital innovators converging in the United Arab Emirates.

The shift towards AI-powered financial services

Banking today transcends traditional transaction processing; it is fundamentally about hyper-personalised customer experiences and frictionless digital ecosystems. MEBIS 2026 explores the AI-driven transformation reshaping the sector, focussing heavily on the critical transition from basic automation to advanced Generative and Agentic AI technologies.

IBM’s sponsorship highlights the urgent need for a cohesive digital strategy as institutions face escalating pressure to modernise. The technology leader helps clients across more than 175 countries capitalise on deep data insights, streamline complex processes, and reduce operational costs. Thousands of corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to execute their digital transformations rapidly and securely.

Innovation cannot come at the expense of enterprise security. IBM’s advancements in quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions, and artificial intelligence are backed by a steadfast commitment to transparency and responsibility. At the summit, senior figures, including Shukri Eid, Vice President and General Manager for Gulf, Levant, and Pakistan at IBM, will join strategic discussions on scaling AI responsibly whilst ensuring robust cybersecurity controls are maintained.

Key themes shaping the 2026 summit

The MEBIS 2026 agenda brings banking transformation to the foreground, tackling real-world challenges faced by the region’s boldest banking minds. The structured programme carefully blends visionary keynotes, executive dialogues, and practical case studies.

Attendees will actively explore several critical industry pillars:

• Intelligent Automation: Focussing on responsible scaling, agentic workflows, and delivering a tangible return on investment from artificial intelligence applications.

• Data Strategy: Establishing trusted analytics through enhanced data quality, robust lineage tracking, and strict institutional governance controls.

• Cloud Architecture: Transitioning to modern data platforms that allow for high-speed interoperability and seamless, non-disruptive system upgrades.

• Digital Banking and CX: Designing fully connected omnichannel networks to deliver hyper-personalised customer journeys.

• Risk and Cybersecurity: Implementing advanced threat intelligence and a proactive 'trust-by-design' framework across all digital finance touchpoints.

• Embedded Finance: Utilising open APIs to build collaborative digital ecosystems and unlock entirely new revenue models.

Gathering the region’s financial elite

Attracting over 400 attendees annually, MEBIS draws a highly influential crowd, with more than 75 per cent of delegates holding C-suite or key decision-making roles. The event consistently unites representatives from over 100 retail, corporate, and Islamic banks.

This unparalleled concentration of expertise provides unmatched networking opportunities. Emphasising the importance of this gathering, Saket Saith, Group Chief Technology and Data Officer at RAKBANK, noted: “It's always great to come here, meet people, and understand what's happening in the industry. We can't operate in isolation anymore, networking, sharing challenges, and discovering creative solutions together is essential. That's what brings me back to this event every year.”

Paving the way for digital success in the UAE

Dubai’s strategic position as a global financial hub makes it the ideal host for MEBIS 2026. The active participation of the UAE Banks Federation and top executives from regional heavyweights—such as Mashreq, Emirates NBD, and Dubai Islamic Bank—ensures that the summit’s outcomes will ripple across the wider Middle East.

By securing the Title Sponsor position, IBM is actively architecting the technological framework supporting the next decade of digital finance. As banking leaders convene this September, the focus remains firmly on actionable insights and forming dynamic partnerships that drive the region towards a secure, autonomous, and AI-enabled financial future.