The CEOs Consultative Council of UAE Banks Federation held its second meeting in 2024.

The CEOs Consultative Council of UAE Banks Federation (UBF) held its second regular meeting of the year. Mohammed Omran Al Shamsi, Vice Chairman of UAE Banks Federation and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ras Al Khaimah National Bank, chaired the meeting. They discussed developments in the banking sector and the Federation's plans for the second half of the year.

At the meeting, they reviewed the steps taken by the UBF in the first half of the year, as well as the significant achievements made during this period to keep pace with the rapid developments in the banking sector. Mohammed Omran Al Shamsi, Chairman of the CEOs Consultative Council, emphasized the remarkable developments in the banking sector and reiterated the commitment to working with strategic partners to provide a secure and seamless banking and financial experience.

The meeting, attended by CEOs and general managers of UBF member banks, praised the Federation's efforts in the Emiratisation of the sector and implementing its ambitious plan to increase Emirati participation in the banking and financial sector. They also affirmed the ability of the banking sector to continue its strong performance while complying with regulatory and supervisory frameworks.

They also highlighted the high level of customer confidence in the UAE banking sector, as shown by the Annual Trust Index Survey 2023. The Customer Trust Index in the UAE's banking sector rose to 90% last year, compared to 84% in 2022. Participants at the meeting acknowledged the contributions of various entities and emphasized the importance of furthering the development of innovative banking solutions and promoting sustainable finance to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Finally, Jamal Saleh, Director General of UBF, presented an overview of the performance of the UAE banking sector and the achievements made by UBF in the first half of the year in implementing programmes and initiatives under the Federation's strategy for 2024.
He stated that the Advisory and Consultative Councils, which consist of the CEOs of member banks, continue to play a crucial role in achieving the strategic priorities of the Federation. These priorities include Emiratisation, Sustainability, Compliance, Governance and Transparency, Accelerating Digital Transformation, Enhancing Financial Inclusion, and Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises, as per the directives of the Central Bank of the UAE. The two councils contribute to fortifying the work of the General Secretariat and the technical and advisory committees of the Federation by expanding the participation in decision-making, aiming to further develop the banking and finance sector, meet customer needs, and reinforce the UAE's position as a global financial and banking center in alignment with the guidelines and strategies of the Central Bank of the UAE.