“As a Platinum Sponsor of the event, Mastercard was proud to support the Arab Fintech Forum. Events like these are vital to fostering dialogue, deepening relationships, and driving innovation across our industry. The organizers brought together regional leaders from across the financial technology space to drive conversations that will ultimately fuel the ongoing evolution of MENA’s fintech ecosystem.”
Erdem Cakar, Country Manager (Qatar & Kuwait), Mastercard
“It was a fantastic regional Fintech event. Thank you, Malik Shishtawi, and the entire MANGUSTEEN team for curating and organizing this important forum. Hyperpay is proud to be part of and contribute to the regional Fintech ecosystem and look forward to the next chapter.”
Nile Younis, Senior Regional Director of Strategic Products, Hyperpay
“I had the incredible opportunity to participate as a panelist at the Arab Fintech Forum 2023 at Ritz Carlton in Doha, Qatar. It was a pleasure to share insights and engage in discussions about the future of finance.”
Bryan D’Souza, Strategic Alliance & Partner Ecosystem Lead, R3
“An Excellent event and great achievements by the MANGUSTEEN team, supported by an impressive lineup of key ecosystem stakeholders.”
Fadi Saab, Chairman & CEO, Trans Capital Finance
“Reflecting on Arab Fintech Forum 2023 at Ritz Carlton Doha, I Had the privilege of sharing my insights on Blockchain technology in the Middle East at this year’s Arab Fintech Forum. Also, I had the chance to deliver and discuss the vibrancy of ideas and the depth of discussions around open banking, especially its implications for Qatar, was truly enlightening. A big thank you to the organizers for curating such a dynamic platform. It was also wonderful connecting with so many industry visionaries and thought leaders. Grateful for the new connections and looking forward to future collaborations.Until next time! “
Hani Khateeb, Founder, Web3Qatar
“Congratulations to Malik Shishtawi for putting together such a great fintech community event in Doha, Qatar. Humbled and honored to have listened to a great early-stage founder’s venture stories. Upwards and onwards!”
Marcel Dridje, GCC Ambassador, EBAN
“I had the pleasure of serving as a judge alongside esteemed investors at the Arab Fintech Forum. The event proved to be an incredible platform for innovation, collaboration, and the celebration of groundbreaking ideas in the world of financial technology. As a judge, I had the opportunity to witness the remarkable talent of the participating startups. Each startup brought forth unique solutions and disruptive ideas that have the power to reshape the future of finance in the region. Thank you Malik Shishtawi for organizing such a remarkable event!”
Zainab Al Sharif, Principal at Venture Plus Capital
“Very privileged to conclude the second day of the Arab Fintech Forum where we learned about the latest trends in fintech, including financial inclusion using DeFi, scale-up using Agile, and many other topics. I would like to thank Malik Shishtawi for the great event and fruitful discussions.”
Mona Tarkhan, Consultant, EY
“Excellent event, I think it is very valuable what you do here for the region and necessary. Let’s establish a vibrant ecosystem in Qatar!”
Maximilian Plank, Executive Board Member, TRUSTSQUARE
“Congratulations to the Arab Fintech Forum that concluded last week. We need more forums such as this that give the opportunity for knowledge sharing and new innovators to have a platform to showcase. Thank you Malik Shishtawi for the invitation. It was also great meeting other local and regional ecosystem enablers.”
Indica Amarasinghe, Chapter Director, Startup Grind Qatar
“I was delighted to take part in the Arab Fintech Forum #ArabFTF at the The Ritz-Carlton, Doha. It was very informative, and the speakers were of the highest quality. Thanks to the organizers MANGUSTEEN, and the great speakers! I’ll always be there to support this great initiative. See you soon!”
Ali Houcine, Co-Founder, SHARZ
“Great days at the Arab Fintech Forum to engage with industry experts, discover groundbreaking innovations, and gain valuable insights into the future of banking in the Middle East.”
BKN 301 Delegates
“Congratulations Malik Shishtawi and the MANGUSTEEN team for successfully hosting the 2nd Arab Fintech Forum at the Ritz Carlton Doha. It was great to hear insights from a good friend and former co-panelist Bryan D’Souza , as well as from other fellow panelists.”
Greg Loayon, General Manager & Senior Executive Officer, Zurich Insurance Company
“I attended the Arab Fintech Forum at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha Qatar, and it was a Fintechstic day! The event was filled with insightful conversations, valuable networking opportunities with like-minded professionals, and impeccable arrangements that left nothing to be desired. A big shout-out to Malik Shishtawi for orchestrating such an outstanding event! I had the privilege of attending insightful panel discussions on various Fintech topics and also had the opportunity to interact one-on-one with many Fintech leaders from various countries, which was incredibly insightful. Attending events like the Arab Fintech Forum helps us understand and contribute to the ecosystem.”
Ritu Ashar, Co-Founder, Workfall
“It was a great experience attending the Arab Fintech Forum workshop and The Pitch Pit / Awards Gala Dinner at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Thanks to Mr. Vugar for taking us through the Scrum master training and the others. Abhishek Bhattacharya, thanks for the autographed book on AI and Blockchain. The programme was great, full of insight, ideas, connecting and networking with some top decision makers in the region, and the pitch pit participants were all amazing . Kudos to the ladies that pitched their e-learning business to the investors and congratulations to them for getting funding proposals. Thank you Malik Shishtawi for organizing such event. Kudos to the MANGUSTEEN team. looking forward to the 3rd edition.”
Idayat Akanji Ogunlade, Founder, Hidaya
“We extend our heartfelt thanks for the incredible opportunity to be part of the Arab Fintech Forum. Engaging with experts and sharing insights during the event was an enriching experience. Participating in the Pitch Pit allowed us to showcase our ideas and connect with fellow innovators. A special thanks go to Malik Shishtawi for his support and contributions.
We’re deeply grateful for the presence and expertise of the Angel investors and venture capital at the Fintech Forum; thank you for joining the Forum. We also want to express our sincere appreciation to the organizers, and everyone involved in managing the forum. Your unwavering dedication and hard work were instrumental in making the event a resounding success, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your tireless efforts. We eagerly anticipate more fruitful collaborations in the future.”
Peqal Team
“We had the privilege of attending the Arab Fintech Forum at the luxurious Ritz Carlton. The experience was nothing short of incredible as we connected with some of the finest minds in the fintech industry. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Malik Shishtawi, the visionary President of the Arab Fintech Forum, for affording us this remarkable opportunity. At S-Treasury, we believe in the power of collaboration, and this event truly exemplified that. We had insightful discussions, exchanged ideas, and formed valuable connections with experts and innovators from all corners of the fintech landscape. Our journey towards reshaping the future of finance has been significantly enriched by the knowledge and inspiration we gathered here. This event was a testament to the dynamic nature of the fintech industry and its potential to drive positive change. We look forward to the opportunities and partnerships that will arise from this incredible experience, further fueling our mission to revolutionize financial services through technology and innovation. Thank you to the Arab Fintech Forum for this fantastic gathering and thank you to all the wonderful individuals we met along the way. Stay tuned for exciting updates as we continue to push the boundaries of fintech!”
S-Treasury Team
“Just wrapped up two incredible days at the Arab Fintech Forum as a delegate! These two days were a deep dive into the world of fintech, and I’ve learned so much from industry experts like Abhishek Bhattacharya, FADI SAAB, Giorgio Torre, Ahmet Faruk Aysan, Lauren Jones, Darryl Brian D’Souza, Mo Salah, Vugar Rustamli, from financial inclusion to cutting-edge tech, it’s clear that fintech is reshaping our region’s future. A big thank you to Malik Shishtawi for making this event such a success, and to all the inspiring professionals I had the privilege to connect with.”
Wardah Zubair, Human Resource Specialist, ABUISSA Holding
“A terrific end to the two-day Arab Fintech Forum in Doha Qatar. I was very fortunate enough to attend this year as a delegate on behalf of my university! The forum provided valuable insights into the rapidly evolving world of financial technology. I had the opportunity to attend engaging presentations, insightful panel discussions, and hands-on workshops presented by many experts in the field such as, Abhishek Bhattacharya, Lauren Jones, Vugar Rustamli, Maximilian Plank, Thuraya Nasser Al-Mulla and many more. From open banking to financial inclusions and blockchains, it is safe to say that fintech is reshaping the industry. A big shoutout to Malik Shishtawi for hosting such a successful event and providing opportunities for students to learn and engage!”
Haniyah Umair, Student, University of Aberdeen
