The winners of the MEA Finance Banking Technology Awards 2023, held at the Armani Hotel Burj Khalifa, were announced on the 11th of May in a ceremony attended by over 250 senior executives from banking and financial technology providers. These awards recognise the market building achievements of technology leaders across the banking, finance and financial technology sectors, highlighting their delivery and implementation of smart banking solutions for driving growth in the Middle East and Africa’s increasingly competitive regional markets.

Organized by MEA Finance Magazine and recognised as the pinnacle of recognition for banking technology excellence across the region, the awards programme spotlights the genuine innovations and stand-out performance of institutions in the banking and financial technology space.

A record number of entries underwent rigorous evaluation by a panel of judges comprised of industry experts before conferring the prestigious awards to the winners. The panel selected fifty-four category winners following concentrated consideration of their research and knowledge of the market, understanding of the needs of their full range of clients and customers and an assessment of all relevant developments and achievements from the preceding year.

The fifty-four winners of the awards were presented in two groups, firstly for technology vendors, followed by banks and financial institutions.

Here follows the full list of the MEA Finance Banking Technology Awards 2023 winners:

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS:

  • Digital Banking Innovation of the Year – UAE – Mashreq
  • Digital Banking Innovation of the Year – KSA – Riyad Bank
  • Best Neobank – Wio Bank
  • Best Digital Transformation in Islamic Finance – Aafaq Islamic Finance
  • Best Data Management – Standard Chartered Bank
  • Best Data Management – Egypt – EFG Hermes
  • Best Analytics System – Dubai Islamic Bank and GBM
  • Best Mobile Banking Services – Commercial Bank of Dubai
  • Most Innovative Emerging Technology Implementation – First Abu Dhabi Bank
  • Best Cloud Implementation – Network International
  • Best Innovation in User Experience – Dubai Islamic Bank
  • Best Digital Wallet User Experience – payit powered by FAB
  • Best Innovation in Retail Banking – Mashreq
  • Best Innovation in Corporate Banking and Finance – RAKBANK
  • Best Innovation in Trade Finance – National Bank of Fujairah
  • Best Fintech Solutions Implementation – Network International
  • Most Innovative Mobile Banking App – UAE – Wio Bank
  • Most Innovative Mobile Banking App – KSA – Bank Albilad
  • Most Innovative Trading Platform – National Bank of Fujairah
  • Best Branch Digitisation Implementation – UAE – First Abu Dhabi Bank
  • Best Branch Digitisation Implementation – Jordan – Capital Bank of Jordan
  • Best Corporate Payments Service – Dubai Islamic Bank
  • Best Risk & Compliance Implementation – Emirates NBD
  • Best Open Banking & API Implementation – Mashreq and GBM
  • Best Retail Payments Implementation – Emirates NBD and TCS BaNCS
  • Best Treasury Management Implementation – First Abu Dhabi Bank
  • Best Fintech Enabled Corporate Service Provider – Virtuzone
  • Technology Leadership Award – Zul Javaid, CEO, UAE Trade Connect
  • Chief Technology Officer of the Year – Saud Al Dhawyani, Chief Technology Officer, Emirates NBD

TECHNOLOGY VENDORS AND PROVIDERS:

  • Digital Banking Provider of the Year – Backbase
  • Islamic Digital Banking Provider of the Year – Azentio Software
  • Best RegTech Solutions Provider – 4most powered by Paragon
  • Best Core Banking Solutions Provider – Tech Mahindra
  • Best User Experience Solution Provider – UAE – Skiply – RAKBANK
  • Best User Experience Solution Provider – Bahrain – The Family Office Company B.S.C.
  • Best Risk Management Solutions Provider – UAE Trade Connect
  • Best Islamic FinTech Solutions Implementation – DDCAP Group for ETHOS AFP
  • Best Analytics Solutions Provider – Finshape
  • Most Innovative Cloud Banking Services Provider – Amazon Web Services (AWS) and GBM
  • Best AI Technology Implementation – SmartStream Technologies
  • Best Trading Infrastructure Provider – Premium Technology
  • Best AML/KYC Solutions Provider – Newgen Software Technologies Ltd
  • Best Open Banking & API Solutions Provider – Ericsson and MTN
  • Best Collection Solution Provider – Loxon
  • Most Innovative Payments Solutions Provider – Arab Financial Services (AFS)
  • Best Payments Provider Contribution to Digital Transformation – Mastercard Payment Gateway Services
  • Best Cross-Border Payments Provider – Swift
  • Best Digital Platforms Provider – Backbase
  • Best B2B Payments Solutions Provider – TCS BaNCS
  • Best Composable Banking Technology Solutions Provider – Infosys Finacle
  • Best Wealth and Investment Technology Provider – additiv
  • Most Innovative Digital Wallet Deployment – Ericsson and MTN
  • Best Issuer & Acquirers Payments Provider – netcetera
  • Best Payments Implementation Provider – Global Software Solutions (GSS) Group
  • Financial Services Technology Leadership Award – Nandan Mer, Group Chief Executive Officer, Network International