Emirates NBD, a banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT), has announced the release of its 2025 report titled From Code to Capital: The UAE’s FinTech Revolution. The report was developed in collaboration with PwC.

The report was previewed at the Dubai FinTech Summit 2025, where Emirates NBD served as the Premium Banking Partner. It provides a data-driven outlook on the UAE’s FinTech sector and offers a roadmap for ecosystem stakeholders.

The FinTech 2025 report highlights trends such as digital adoption, venture capital growth, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence. It positions the UAE as a growing hub for FinTech innovation, supported by strong regulation and a maturing ecosystem.

Neeraj Makin, Group Head of Strategy, Analytics and Venture Capital at Emirates NBD, revealed that the UAE attracted USD 265 million in FinTech funding in 2024, accounting for one-third of the country’s startup investments. He emphasized the country’s potential to attract more investment due to its strong VC network, skilled talent pool, and defined exit strategies.

Key findings from the report include:

• The UAE FinTech market is projected to grow from USD 3.16 billion in 2024 to USD 5.71 billion by 2029.
• FinTech startups attracted about USD 265 million in funding in 2024.

Miguel Rio-Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emirates NBD, stated that the bank is leveraging partnerships, in-house innovation, and venture investments to advance the regional FinTech sector. He noted the shift from pre-AI to post-AI operations, which led to improvements in efficiency, control, and scalability.

Stephen Anderson, Strategy Leader at PwC Middle East, said the region is being transformed by innovation and technology, with the UAE at the forefront of this shift.

The report also revealed that artificial intelligence is reshaping financial services, from personalization to compliance and risk modeling. It encourages collaboration between banks and startups through open APIs, regulatory sandboxes, and joint innovation initiatives to sustain growth.

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