The Arab Monetary Fund inaugurated, on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, the 32nd regular meeting of the Arab Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems, held virtually, with the participation of representatives from Arab central banks, as well as regional and international financial institutions. The meeting takes place amid the accelerating shift toward digital payments and their growing role in supporting financial stability and financial inclusion across Arab countries.

The meeting discusses key regional and international developments in payment systems, with a focus on instant payments, as well as enhancing the efficiency of cross-border payments and accelerating their execution-particularly in light of the increasing importance of remittances in supporting economic activity in the region.

The sessions also address a number of regulatory and supervisory topics, including "Buy Now, Pay Later" services, cybersecurity requirements, and strong customer authentication. In addition, discussions cover future supervisory priorities related to asset tokenization, digital asset-based financial infrastructures, and the use of artificial intelligence in overseeing payment and settlement systems.

In this context, H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among Arab central banks and regional and international financial institutions to further develop payment and settlement systems. He highlighted their pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency and security of financial infrastructure, stressing the importance of exchanging expertise and international best practices to keep pace with the rapid developments in the financial sector.