Abu Dhabi to Host 2029 World Bank Group and IMF Annual Meetings
The United Arab Emirates has secured the honour of hosting the prestigious 2029 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund, a distinction that underscores the nation's emergence as a preeminent global financial centre.
The United Arab Emirates has signed the formal agreement to host the 2029 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Abu Dhabi, a momentous occasion that affirms the Emirates’ ascendancy as a trusted custodian of international economic dialogue and cooperation.
Concluded at the 2026 Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, this agreement represents a profound endorsement of the UAE’s sophisticated economic and financial ecosystem. The signing ceremony brought together Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, alongside Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.
The decision to hold these landmark gatherings in Abu Dhabi reflects international recognition of the nation’s exceptional capacity to orchestrate gatherings of strategic consequence. The Minister of State for Financial Affairs emphasised that this selection translates the UAE leadership’s visionary aspirations into tangible action, advancing the resilience of the nation’s economic model whilst expanding partnerships and fostering multilateral cooperation.
Abu Dhabi’s selection builds upon the Emirates’ distinguished record in hosting major international economic events and its substantive contributions to sustainable development and digital transformation. The 2029 Meetings will convene finance ministers, central bank governors, policymakers, economic experts and representatives from the private sector, civil society, media and academia from 191 countries, creating an unparalleled forum for examining global economic challenges and opportunities.
Khaled Mohamed Balama noted that this hosting opportunity will enable the Central Bank of the UAE to advance global financial and monetary stability whilst accelerating innovation in digital financial services and the transition towards sustainable finance. The Central Bank will contribute its considerable expertise in financial infrastructure development and digital financial innovation to international discussions addressing global economic challenges.
Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, characterised the hosting as reflecting international confidence in Abu Dhabi as a centre of global economic and financial dialogue. He underscored Abu Dhabi’s institutional strength, regulatory certainty and investment capacity as essential foundations for supporting sustainable economic growth.
This represents the Emirates’ second time hosting the Annual Meetings, following Dubai in 2003. The 2029 Meetings will provide an exceptional platform for advancing international cooperation on the pivotal challenges confronting the global economy, strengthening multilateral dialogue and cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a preeminent centre for economic decision-making.
Source: WAM