We’re at Dubai Fintech Week. But this isn’t really about fintech. What’s happening here is far more ambitious: A region setting out to reimagine the entire financial system - not through whitepapers or panel debates, but by executing at scale, with speed, and with long-term purpose.The focus?
The Focus Areas Are Clear — and Bold
- Crypto, Stablecoins & AI — not just buzzwords, but core pillars of policy and infrastructure.
- Sustainable Finance — surprisingly central, and backed by enormous financial commitments.
- Customer-First Experiences at Scale — not pilots, but production-ready systems that are live and evolving.
This Is What Scale Looks Like
- The seven largest banks in the UAE have just pledged 1 trillion AED (~$270 billion) until 2030 to reach net zero by 2050.That’s not a press release. That’s financial firepower as policy.
- AI - not just a tool, but a new foundation. When intelligence runs at the cost of electricity, when advice becomes code and execution becomes instant, the rules change. The bet: AI can deliver objective, real-time financial guidance, end-to-end. The human advisor doesn’t disappear — but they’re no longer top of funnel.
- And while Europe is still debating pilots and PoCs, here in the Gulf, blockchain and customer-facing innovation are already live — integrated into infrastructure, not siloed off in innovation hubs.
And Where’s Europe? A Mindset We Need to Embrac...
Every region showed up in Dubai. Except Europe. No banks. No regulators. No coordinated institutional presence - with a few notable exceptions 😉
Just two days ago - back in Germany - I wasn’t convinced. But being here, it’s impossible not to feel the energy, clarity, and ambition of a region that refuses to be held back by legacy systems or mental borders.
This is not about giving up sovereignty. But in a digitized world, we won’t stay relevant if we can’t think beyond our map. Europe is still planning 5-year roadmaps while the rest of the world is building the next financial operating system - now.
We need to stop defending relevance and start creating the future.
We’ll be back in December - and we’re happy to organize a delegation.
👉 If you’re serious about the future of finance
👉 If you want to learn from a region that’s not just dreaming, but delivering
👉 Get in touch: jk@siliconpauli.com
Because if Europe wants a seat at the table, it needs to start showing up.
It’s good business to think far into the future.
.avif)
