Arab Banks Awards & Commendations of Excellence 2026
Twenty Years of Leadership, Achievement and Arab Banking Excellence
Twenty years after its establishment, the World Union of Arab Bankers marked a defining milestone in its journey in Istanbul—bringing together prominent banking and financial leaders to celebrate achievement, recognize leadership, and look toward the next chapter of Arab banking.
On Friday, September 11, 2026, The Peninsula Istanbul hosted the Arab Banks Awards & Commendations of Excellence 2026, an evening that combined the distinction of one of the Arab banking community’s established annual gatherings with the significance of the 20th anniversary of the World Union of Arab Bankers (WUAB).
The occasion carried a meaning that extended well beyond the presentation of awards. It represented two decades of relationships built across the Arab banking community, of professional exchange and institutional cooperation, and of sustained efforts to recognize the leaders and institutions whose achievements have contributed to the advancement of banking across the region. Since its establishment in 2006, WUAB has brought together banking leaders, professionals and decision-makers, complementing the institutional role of the Union of Arab Banks and strengthening the bonds that connect the wider Arab banking community.
Istanbul: Where Banking Communities Meet
The choice of Istanbul once again gave the ceremony a distinctive international character. A city historically positioned between East and West, Istanbul provided a fitting setting for an evening that brought Arab and Turkish banking and financial communities together around shared interests, closer institutional relations and expanding economic engagement.
The gathering reflected the growing importance of Arab-Turkish financial relations and the opportunities that stronger ties can create across banking, investment, trade and development. The significance of this relationship was echoed throughout the evening, with particular emphasis placed on the value of sustained dialogue and deeper cooperation between financial institutions in Türkiye and across the Arab world.
Against this backdrop, the ceremony welcomed a distinguished audience of banking and financial leaders, senior executives and prominent personalities from Türkiye and the Arab region, reinforcing the event’s role as a meeting point for leadership, recognition and professional exchange.
Celebrating Excellence with Purpose
At the heart of the evening were the Arab Banks Awards & Commendations of Excellence 2026, honoring institutions and individuals whose achievements reflect the ambition, adaptability and leadership of the Arab banking sector.
The meaning of excellence in banking has expanded considerably. Financial performance remains fundamental, but today’s leading institutions are equally defined by their capacity to innovate, strengthen governance, adopt new technologies, develop human capital, manage emerging risks and respond intelligently to changing economic conditions. Artificial intelligence, fintech, digital banking, regulatory requirements and new patterns of investment and trade are continuously reshaping the industry, while the enduring principles of trust, integrity and responsibility remain at its core.
It is within this broader understanding of excellence that the WUAB awards have developed their significance. They recognize more than individual accomplishments; they place a spotlight on banking experiences, institutional achievements and leadership journeys that can contribute to the wider progress of the sector.
Twenty Years Behind — and the Next Twenty Ahead
The twentieth anniversary gave the 2026 ceremony a natural moment for reflection, but its strongest message was ultimately about the future.
Two decades after WUAB began its journey, banking itself is entering a period of profound change. The institutions that will shape the coming years will be those capable of combining innovation with sound governance, technological advancement with human expertise, and commercial strength with a wider responsibility toward economic development.
As highlighted during the evening, the role of banks today reaches well beyond the traditional provision of finance. Banking institutions have become essential partners in supporting investment, enabling development, strengthening economic resilience, creating opportunities and building confidence within economies and societies.
The Arab Banks Awards & Commendations of Excellence 2026 therefore stood at the intersection of legacy and ambition: celebrating twenty years of WUAB, honoring achievements that are shaping Arab banking today, and opening the conversation on what leadership and excellence must represent in the years ahead.
It was a fitting setting for the messages that followed—from H.E. Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye; Dr. Wissam Fattouh, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks and the World Union of Arab Bankers; and Dr. Emad Boukhemsi, Deputy Chairman of the World Union of Arab Bankers—each addressing, from a different perspective, the importance of cooperation, banking leadership and the future of financial relations between the Arab world and Türkiye.
Dr. Wissam Fattouh: Two Decades of Leadership, Partnership and Banking Excellence
In his address at the 2026 Annual Gala Dinner of the World Union of Arab Bankers in Istanbul, Dr. Wissam Fattouh, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Banks and the World Union of Arab Bankers, framed the evening as both a celebration of banking excellence and a reaffirmation of the deepening ties between the Arab and Turkish banking communities. Marking the 12th edition of the annual gathering, he placed the occasion within a broader story of institutional continuity, partnership and recognition.
Dr. Fattouh highlighted Istanbul’s enduring role as a bridge between East and West, noting that the city’s hosting of the event for the third consecutive year reflected the strength of cooperation between Arab and Turkish financial institutions. He extended particular appreciation to H.E. Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye, and to Mr. Alpaslan Çakar, Chairman of the Banks Association of Türkiye, for their participation, support and continued engagement with the Arab banking sector. He also underscored UAB’s readiness to place its regional network and institutional capabilities at the service of initiatives that can expand banking, investment and trade cooperation between Türkiye and the Arab world.
A central theme of the address was the twentieth anniversary of the World Union of Arab Bankers. Dr. Fattouh described the milestone as twenty years of building professional relationships, strengthening capacities and recognizing achievement across Arab banking. He distinguished the complementary roles of UAB and WUAB: while UAB represents Arab banking institutions and the sector’s regional and international relations, WUAB brings together banking leaders, professionals and decision-makers, reinforcing cohesion across the wider Arab financial community.
Turning to the purpose of the awards, Dr. Fattouh emphasized the importance of cultivating a culture that recognizes achievement, honors leadership and learns from successful experience. He then paid tribute to several distinguished honorees, including H.E. Ahmed Osman Ali, Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti; Mr. Abdelrazak Mohamed El Housh, Chairman of the Libyan Banks Union and General Manager of First Gulf Libyan Bank; Mr. Antoine Habib, Chairman and General Manager of Banque de l’Habitat in Lebanon; and Mr. Hanna Ayoub, whose career he presented as an example of a new generation building on institutional legacy while shaping its own path forward.
Looking beyond the anniversary, Dr. Fattouh placed the focus firmly on the next twenty years. He called for a banking sector that is more innovative, more committed to governance, transparency and international standards, and more capable of financing development, investment and employment. His closing message was that banking today extends beyond financing the economy: it is an essential partner in building trust, stability and sustainable development, while creating stronger bridges between Arab institutions and their counterparts in Türkiye and worldwide.
Dr. Emad Boukhemsi: Innovation, Partnership and the Future of Arab Banking
In his remarks, Dr. Emad Boukhemsi, Deputy Chairman of the World Union of Arab Bankers, welcomed guests to Istanbul and described the city as a natural meeting point between East and West, history and the future. He presented the 2026 gala as an occasion to celebrate the achievements of Arab banks, financial institutions and banking leaders amid an increasingly complex global economic environment, while reaffirming the importance of dialogue and cooperation across the region’s financial community.
Dr. Boukhemsi expressed appreciation to the Republic of Türkiye for its hospitality and acknowledged the presence of H.E. Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance, as well as the cooperation of the Banks Association of Türkiye and its Chairman, Mr. Alpaslan Çakar. He stressed the importance of strengthening Arab-Turkish banking relations through wider cooperation in investment, trade finance, development projects and the exchange of expertise, describing mutual trust and institutional partnership as essential foundations for future growth and shared economic opportunity.
He also focused on the rapid changes reshaping banking, from artificial intelligence, fintech and digital banking to evolving compliance, risk-management and global trade requirements. Against this backdrop, he argued that Arab financial institutions must continue to innovate, invest in people and technology, and adapt to change while preserving the core banking values of trust, integrity and responsibility.
Dr. Boukhemsi concluded by congratulating the award recipients and expressing his hope for continued excellence and achievement across the Arab banking and financial sector, with institutions equipped to meet change confidently while remaining anchored in sound professional values.
H.E. Mehmet Şimşek: Advancing Arab-Turkish Economic and Financial Cooperation
The occasion was particularly distinguished by the presence of H.E. Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye, whose participation lent special significance and prominence to the 2026 Arab Awards and Commendations of Excellence. His presence at this high-level gathering of Arab and Turkish banking and financial leaders reflected the importance of sustained dialogue and engagement between the public and financial sectors, while further reinforcing the event’s role as a platform for strengthening ties between Türkiye and the Arab world. It also gave particular resonance to an evening dedicated not only to celebrating banking excellence and leadership, but also to fostering closer institutional, economic and financial relations across the two regions.
Addressing the gathering, H.E. Minister Şimşek warmly welcomed Arab banking leaders and delegations to Istanbul and spoke broadly about the importance of further advancing economic and financial cooperation between Türkiye and Arab economies. His remarks touched on the Turkish economy and the prospects for expanding investment, financial cooperation and engagement between Turkish and Arab institutions. His participation added an important dimension to the gathering and underscored the value of sustained dialogue, closer institutional ties and mutually beneficial economic cooperation between Türkiye and the Arab region.
