The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has fortified its position as a global leader in economic empowerment by signing a landmark strategic agreement with the World Bank Group. Held at the CBUAE headquarters in Abu Dhabi, the high-level signing ceremony marks a sophisticated evolution in the ongoing collaboration between both institutions.
Industry sources added that this partnership is designed to accelerate financial inclusion, heighten financial literacy, optimise consumer protection, and pioneer advanced financial dispute resolution mechanisms across the region.
A Visionary Alliance for Sustainable Growth
The signing was witnessed by H.E. Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, and Ms. Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank Group, during a high-level meeting held at the CBUAE headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The two sides discussed a number of priority areas of cooperation, including financial literacy and financial inclusion initiatives, digital fraud prevention principles, enhancing banking and insurance dispute resolution mechanisms, and the second edition of the Regional Summit on Financial Health and Inclusion, scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi in September 2026 and organised by the CBUAE.
The accord was formally executed by H.E. Fatma Abdulla Al Jabri, Assistant Governor for Financial Crime, Market Conduct, and Consumer Protection at the CBUAE, alongside Mr. Ousmane Dione, Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the World Bank Group, in the presence of the CBUAE Assistant Governors and a number of senior officials from both organisations.
This high-level corporate alliance bridges regional regulatory excellence with global institutional expertise, establishing a benchmark for macroeconomic stability and equitable financial health.
Core Pillars of the Strategic Framework
The collaborative roadmap focuses on shifting traditional banking paradigms into inclusive, digitally secure frameworks through four core pillars:
- National Financial Literacy Strategy: Developing comprehensive frameworks to empower individuals and enterprises, ensuring highly informed and responsible financial decision-making.
- Next-Generation Consumer Protection: Establishing rigorous standards to safeguard consumer rights and cultivate absolute trust within the financial ecosystem.
- Digital Fraud Prevention: Instilling sophisticated principles to mitigate security threats and protect digital financial infrastructure.
- Advanced Dispute Resolution: Enhancing banking and insurance dispute mechanisms to maintain marketplace integrity and operational transparency.
On this occasion, H.E. Fatma Abdulla Al Jabri, Assistant Governor for Financial Crime, Market Conduct and Consumer Protection at the CBUAE, affirmed: โThis agreement reflects the CBUAEโs commitment to advancing financial inclusion and financial literacy, and enhancing consumer protection as key pillars for building a society that is better equipped to make informed and responsible financial decisions. The CBUAE, in cooperation with partners from various public and private sector entities, is working to develop the National Financial Literacy Strategy, contributing to enhancing financial literacy among individuals and businesses, and supporting a more inclusive and sustainable financial ecosystem.โ
Mr. Ousmane Dione, Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the World Bank Group, said: โThis agreement reaffirms the depth of our partnership with the Central Bank of the UAE and our shared commitment to further strengthening the UAEโs position as a leader in financial inclusion and financial health.โ
