Dubai: The Innovation Hub of the Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF Innovation Hub), in collaboration with the UAE Banks Federation (UBF) and KPMG Middle East, has concluded a 2-day AI Innovation Workshop aimed at accelerating the adoption of Agentic AI within the UAE's banking ecosystem.
According to Emirates News Agency, the initiative was spearheaded by the EIF Innovation Hub as a platform for financial innovation, organized by the UAE Banks Federation and facilitated by KPMG Middle East. Agentic AI, an evolving class of intelligent systems with autonomous reasoning and adaptive learning capabilities, is poised to revolutionize how banks manage risk, prevent fraud, and offer personalized customer experiences.
The workshop, held in Dubai, gathered senior leaders and innovation experts from major UAE banks, including First Abu Dhabi Bank, Emirates NBD, Mashreq, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, and HSBC. Participants engaged in collaboration, ideation, and prototyping of AI-driven solutions addressing the sector's priorities, such as risk management, compliance, customer experience, and operational efficiency.
Conducted in a hackathon-style format, the forum promoted real-time exploration of Agentic AI applications through design thinking and iteration. Teams identified challenges, developed prototypes, and presented to a jury from the EIF Innovation Hub, UBF, selected banks, and KPMG Middle East. The focus was on problem clarity, technical feasibility, AI guardrails, and business impact. Utilizing KPMG Middle East's Innovation Funnel Framework, participants moved from challenge definition to experimentation and scaling, showcasing AI concepts for practicality and business value.
Marwan Abunwas Almheiri, General Manager of the Emirates Institute of Finance, stated that the EIF Innovation Hub was created to foster collaboration among regulators, banks, and ecosystem partners in shaping the future of financial services. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to advancing responsible innovation and applying emerging technologies like Agentic AI safely across the sector.
Jamal Saleh, Director-General of the UAE Banks Federation, emphasized that such initiatives strengthen the UAE's position as a regional leader in financial innovation and digital transformation. The collaboration between UBF, the EIF Innovation Hub, and KPMG highlights the sector's commitment to safe and effective AI use, aiming to ensure innovation serves people, builds trust, and drives competitiveness.
Jamal Habahbeh, Head of Financial Services at KPMG Middle East, noted that Agentic AI is redefining institutional approaches to automation and decision making. Supported by the UAE's national investment in AI, the EIF Innovation Hub leads AI adoption in finance, moving from theory to responsible implementation. The UAE's banking ecosystem is setting a global benchmark for innovation and trust, translating the nation's digital ambitions into measurable impact.
The initiative aligns with the UAE's National AI Strategy 2031, promoting collaboration among regulators, banks, and global advisors. Insights and prototypes from the workshop will inform future innovation sprints under the EIF Innovation Hub, advancing AI-driven transformation in the UAE's banking sector.