Photo Credit : WAM
The Tenth Annual Arab Fiscal Forum opened on Tuesday at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, bringing together senior policymakers and economic leaders from across the region to discuss the future of fiscal policy in the Arab world.
Organised by the Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the Arab Monetary Fund and the International Monetary Fund, the forum is being held as part of the preliminary day of the World Governments Summit 2026.
The event is attended by Arab finance ministers, alongside a broad group of economic experts and senior officials from regional and international financial institutions. Discussions are centred on fiscal policy directions in the Arab region amid ongoing global economic shifts.
Key sessions are examining how governments can balance economic growth with fiscal sustainability and climate action, while responding to mounting international uncertainties. Participants are also exploring future fiscal policy priorities, including the growing impact of digitalisation on public finance.
A major focus of the forum is the role of government technology and artificial intelligence in enhancing governance efficiency, improving public spending management, and strengthening resource allocation. Speakers are also reviewing mechanisms to finance sustainable development and the critical role of financial institutions in supporting Arab countries’ long-term economic objectives.
The agenda further addresses the opportunities and challenges associated with advanced financial technologies, highlighting their potential to accelerate digital transformation across the financial sector and boost regional competitiveness.
The forum will conclude with a ministerial roundtable bringing together Arab finance ministers and senior leadership from the International Monetary Fund and the Arab Monetary Fund. The closing discussions will focus on the implications of technological advances, particularly artificial intelligence, for public finance management, as well as future expenditure priorities amid global economic developments and ongoing international crises.
