Inside UAE Banking: Growth & Digital Trends

 After more than a decade leading businesses through transformation across global markets, I’ve seen the industry go through many cycles of innovation, but what I witnessed at Seamless UAE this year signals more than just another phase, it marks a genuine structural change in how financial services are built, delivered and scaled. 

The focus is no longer solely on digitisation, instead, we’re seeing a fundamental re-architecting of systems for a world that is digital by default. The industry is moving away from legacy tech stacks that belong to the analog era. Core banking is being rebuilt (and rightly so) to prioritise agility, modularity and vastly improved customer experiences. Throughout the event, there was a consistent recognition that modern platforms must be dynamic and interconnected. This isn’t about layering new features on top of outdated infrastructure, it’s about fundamentally rebuilding the stack to support rapid scaling, deep integration and long-term customer engagement. 

It’s become clear that digital banking is not a destination; it’s a journey that begins with the customer and grows with them. Modern users, whether individuals or businesses, expect a more human and seamless experience, built on personalisation, relevance and speed. These are no longer differentiators; they are the baseline. Across the region, there is strong momentum behind delivering financial experiences that are not just digital, but intuitive and context-aware. 

At the same time, scale cannot come at the cost of stability. Resilience and regulatory alignment are non-negotiables. One of the most compelling insights I took from the event came from a discussion on wealth platforms: to grow sustainably, we need systems that are structurally sound, legally layered and capable of withstanding scrutiny. Managing assets across multiple entities with a unified view all within a strong regulatory framework is essential. The platforms that will thrive in the long term are those engineered for transparency and trust, not just for growth. 

Adaptability also emerged as a recurring theme. It came through clearly in how leaders are now thinking about hybrid infrastructure which involves building systems that can operate across both cloud and on-premise environments. These platforms are designed to be “future-ready” but still grounded in current operational realities. There’s no longer room for manual workarounds or legacy bottlenecks. If we are truly building digital-first solutions, they must be flexible enough to integrate with (and ultimately replace) traditional setups. 

What energised me most, however, was the region’s spirit of collaboration. There is a real openness to building together and to forming intelligent partnerships across the ecosystem, with banks, fintechs and infrastructure providers alike are recognising that value creation happens faster and more sustainably when it’s shared. Seamless Dubai didn’t feel like a collection of siloed pitches, instead, it felt like a convergence of ambition, where the right conversations are happening between the right people. 

Anna Porra, CRO, Paymentology