Beirut will open its doors on Thursday to the annual Arab Banking Conference, held under the patronage of President Joseph Aoun and themed “Investing in Reconstruction and the Role of Banks.”
Six years ago, this event would have reaffirmed Beirut’s status as a leading Arab financial hub. Today, however, it raises pressing questions: What is the value of a banking conference in a country whose banking sector remains largely paralyzed, locked out of normal financial activity and awaiting a revival that hinges entirely on resolving its core crisis: the fate of depositors’ funds?
Support for the Banking Sector
Wissam Fattouh, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Banks, emphasized that Lebanon’s financial crisis will take center stage during the conference, especially discussions surrounding the reforms required and the challenges raised by the International Monetary Fund.
Fattouh highlighted that the strong Arab presence, particularly from Gulf and Emirati banks, represents important support for Lebanon and its struggling financial sector. He also noted the return of the Association of Banks in Lebanon, participating for the first time since 2019, an encouraging sign, he said, of a potential gradual recovery and a first step toward restoring confidence.
He stressed that the bilateral meetings scheduled on the sidelines, away from the formal sessions, will be especially crucial, fostering deeper cooperation between Lebanese banks and their Arab counterparts.
Broad Regional Participation
According to Fattouh, this year’s conference in Beirut will bring together a wide array of participants from across the Arab world. He confirmed that every Arab country will be represented without exception, with notable participation from the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Egypt, alongside banking institutions from various Arab nations, including Libya.
Iraq’s Central Bank Governor will attend with a large delegation, in addition to representatives from Sudan and Syria.
The Union of Arab Banks, which comprises 20 member states, will be fully represented, Fattouh added. European participation will also be present through delegates from France and Brussels representing the European Union.
He concluded by noting that the Arab League will take part in the event, represented by Ambassador Hossam Zaki, head of the Secretary-General’s office.
Key Points of the Conference
- The role of banks in developing productive and economic sectors
- Mobilizing local and regional financial resources for reconstruction projects
- Arab banks as a key link with international financial institutions
- The importance of public–private partnerships in infrastructure development
- How governments can create supportive legislative and regulatory environments
- Bank participation in financing major infrastructure projects
- Enhancing the business and investment climate through effective public–private collaboration
- Development financing: how financial institutions and banks support productive and sustainable projects
- Entrepreneurship and innovation as new drivers of economic growth
- Toward a unified Arab market led by the private sector
- Regional development financing and the role of banks in supporting joint projects
- The private sector as a catalyst for innovation and competitiveness in Arab economies
