The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and the World Bank Group have signed a formal cooperation agreement to advance financial inclusion, literacy, consumer protection and dispute resolution across the UAE.
The agreement was signed at the CBUAE headquarters in Abu Dhabi, witnessed by CBUAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama and Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank Group. The signing was formalised by Fatma Abdulla Al Jabri, the CBUAE's Assistant Governor for Financial Crime, Market Conduct and Consumer Protection, and Ousmane Dione, World Bank Group Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Discussions between both parties covered a broad range of priority areas, including digital fraud prevention, financial literacy initiatives, and strengthening banking and insurance dispute resolution mechanisms. The two organisations also addressed plans for the second Regional Summit on Financial Health and Inclusion, set to take place in Abu Dhabi in September 2026 and hosted by the CBUAE.
Al Jabri noted that the agreement reflects the central bank's commitment to building a society capable of making informed financial decisions, adding that the CBUAE is actively developing a National Financial Literacy Strategy in collaboration with public and private sector partners.
Dione described the agreement as a reaffirmation of the partnership's depth and a shared commitment to strengthening the UAE's standing as a regional leader in financial inclusion and financial health.
The move aligns with the UAE's broader push to build a more resilient, transparent and inclusive financial ecosystem, with consumer education and protection sitting at the centre of that agenda.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
