Arab banking sector must strengthen resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty

The Arab banking sector must maintain and strengthen its resilience in the face of ongoing geopolitical turbulence, International Monetary Fund Executive Director and Arab Group and Maldives Representative Mohamed Maait said.

Speaking to the Middle East News Agency (MENA) on the sidelines of the 2025 Arab International Banking Summit in Paris, Maait warned that the annual conference comes amid “highly complex and uncertain” global and regional conditions whose impact may extend beyond politics and security into the economic sphere.

“No one knows the full consequences of these crises yet. They won’t be limited to political or military aspects—they will certainly affect the economy,” Maait said. “The banking sector is now focused on navigating this heightened uncertainty and rapid change.”

He underscored the importance of such summits in fostering dialogue, calling the banking sector the “backbone of any economy.” The conference—organized by the Union of Arab Banks in partnership with French banking institutions—provides a platform for practical discussions and policy proposals, he said.