The Central Bank of the UAE has convened the MENA Leaders’ Summit on Financial Health and launched the National Financial Literacy Strategy 2027–2031. The strategy provides a national roadmap to help individuals at every stage of life and micro, small and medium enterprises make informed, responsible and safe financial decisions. The summit is promoting a regional shift from measuring financial inclusion through accounts and transactions toward assessing outcomes such as resilience to shocks, long-term savings, responsible borrowing and informed financial behavior. The central bank also joined the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor Council of Governors, making the UAE the first country in the region to do so, and signed a letter of intent with the United Nations Capital Development Fund. The planned cooperation covers knowledge exchange and institutional capacity building in financial health, financial sector development and digital public infrastructure governance. Participants also reviewed a financial health measurement framework and findings on artificial intelligence in regional financial services and women’s financial health. On the summit’s second day, the central bank will launch a global Financial Health Innovation Challenge seeking solutions for individuals and micro, small and medium enterprises in the UAE. Selected providers will receive support, grants and partnerships to test their solutions with licensed financial institutions, with applications open until Nov. 30, 2026.

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