For the first time, the region will host Money20/20’s celebrated initiative dedicated to women in fintech
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, September 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 13 Sept, 2026: Money20/20 Middle East, scheduled for 14–16 September 2026 at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre (RECC) in Malham, will debut RiseUp in the Middle East, marking the first arrival of Money20/20’s globally recognized program for women in fintech and financial services. This introduction coincides with Saudi Arabia’s accelerated digital transformation and its growing status as a worldwide center for financial innovation, gathering leaders, innovators, regulators, and investors who are defining finance’s future.
The debut of RiseUp at Money20/20 Middle East represents a significant achievement for Money20/20’s worldwide initiative focused on advancing women in fintech and financial services. This first regional group extends RiseUp’s core principles of access, visibility, and opportunity to Saudi Arabia, empowering senior women executives in one of the fastest-growing innovation markets globally.
Since its inception in 2018, RiseUp has aided over 600 women worldwide, with 85% feeling more ready for advancement, more than 70% transitioning into higher-level positions, 95% crediting the RiseUp community for career progression, and a remarkable 99% endorsing the program to colleagues. RiseUp graduates come from major global firms such as Visa, Deutsche Bank, Adyen, Revolut, Uber, JPMorgan Chase, EY, Accenture, Booking.com, Standard Bank, and others, creating one of the most powerful women-in-fintech networks internationally.
This first Middle East edition of RiseUp will welcome 30 senior women executives chosen for the regional cohort. These participants represent top organizations including Verto, Network Global, Visa, Sharaka Capital, Safqah, Samsung Electronics, TikTok, and more.
“Launching RiseUp in Saudi Arabia is more than a program milestone, it’s a powerful demonstration of what becomes possible when women are given real access, real visibility, and real support to lead,” said Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer of Money20/20. “The Middle East is one of the most exciting innovation markets in the world, with momentum that is reshaping the global fintech landscape. This region is undergoing extraordinary transformation, and we’re creating pathways for women who are building, scaling, and redefining the future of finance to accelerate their impact in this dynamic ecosystem. I look forward to meeting these extraordinary women in person in Riyadh.”
“Money20/20 Middle East is about creating a platform that reflects both the scale of change taking place across the region’s financial ecosystem and the people driving that change. Launching RiseUp as part of this year’s edition gives us an important opportunity to recognise and strengthen the role of women who are already helping shape the future of finance across Saudi Arabia and the wider region. By connecting this cohort with an international community of leaders, investors and innovators, we want to create relationships and opportunities that extend well beyond the three days of the show,” said Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President, Tahaluf.
RiseUp closely mirrors the central themes of Money20/20 Middle East 2026; such as digital financial inclusion, AI driven transformation, cross border collaboration, and the future of payments, ensuring participants engage with the most critical discussions shaping finance’s future.
As a component of Money20/20 Middle East, RiseUp will feature a tailored schedule of events in Riyadh, designed around the distinct opportunities and hurdles facing women in the region. This initiative goes beyond just content or networking; it focuses on transformation, confidence, skill building, and securing a place at decision-making tables.
Over two days, the group will connect with a worldwide community of women leaders across continents who are challenging norms, breaking conventions, and demonstrating that when women advance, entire industries advance with them.
Program Highlights
• Women Who Are Driving AI Innovation in the Middle East: A session highlighting women influencing the region’s AI sector and spearheading technological progress.
• The Compass Within: Women Driven Leadership for the Middle East: Facilitated by Mary Ann Francis, Executive Consultant, Global Payments & Strategic Initiatives. This session gathers inspiring women leaders who are redefining leadership on their own terms, maneuvering through cultural norms, forging fresh paths, and leading with genuineness and purpose.
• Empowered by Design: Women Leading the Fintech Revolution: Facilitated by Joy Adams, COO, Digital Assets, Deutsche Bank and RiseUp alumna. This session showcases true stories of influence: women attaining financial independence, entrepreneurs securing capital, and communities uplifted through digital financial inclusion. This is about more than technology—it’s about dignity, opportunity, and the transformative power of financial access.
As part of the RiseUp agenda at Money20/20 Middle East, Haifa Al Obaid, Senior Expert at the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF), will participate in the session ‘The Compass Within: Women-Driven Leadership for the Middle East,’ offering an essential regional viewpoint to the discussion.
Haifa Al Obaid, Senior Expert, Credit Relationship Department, SIDF, “Saudi women are receiving strong support from the government, with continued commitment from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which has helped expand leadership and career opportunities across sectors. The key challenge is organisational consistency: if workplace leadership doesn’t prioritise women’s empowerment, women may not receive the resources and support they need to succeed. RiseUp is a wonderful opportunity to connect with top women leaders from inside and outside the region. It highlights why increasing the presence and visibility of women leaders is so important.”
The introduction of RiseUp at Money20/20 Middle East marks the initial phase of a long-term regional initiative. As Riyadh solidifies its role as a gathering point for global fintech cooperation, Money20/20 intends to expand RiseUp across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), strengthen alliances with regional entities, and cultivate a cadre of women leaders defining fintech’s future.
Susan Elmesslamy, Founder of ZTS, RiseUp Asia Alumni 2024, and workshop leader at RiseUp Middle East 2026, offers her viewpoint on the program’s growth: “RiseUp didn’t just expand my network, it gave me confidence that changed how I show up in my career. The RiseUp Network is a fallback family—you know they’re there when you need them, and that support is everything. Bringing RiseUp to the Middle East is going to be transformative, not just for the women in the program, but for how the world sees this region. It brings visibility and enhances collaboration on a scale we haven’t seen before.”
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About Money20/20
Established by industry experts in 2012, Money20/20 has swiftly become the core of the global fintech ecosystem. Over the past decade, the most innovative and agile ideas and companies have accelerated their growth on our platform. Mastercard, Airwallex, J.P. Morgan, SHIELD, GCash, Stripe, Google, Visa, Adyen, and others secure transformative deals and elevate their global presence with us. Money20/20 draws leaders from the world’s premier banks, payment firms, VC funds, regulators, and media outlets—uniting to forge industry-shaping agreements, build revolutionary partnerships, and unlock future-defining opportunities in Riyadh (September 14–16, 2026), Las Vegas (October 18–21, 2026), Amsterdam (June 8–10, 2027), Miami (March 16-18, 2027), Bangkok (April 27–29, 2027) and Melbourne (February 15 – 17, 2028). Money20/20 is where the world’s fintech leaders gather to expand their brands. Money20/20 is part of Informa PLC. Follow[LT1.1] Money20/20 on X and LinkedIn for show developments and updates.
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