UAE signs agreement to host 2029 World Bank and IMF annual meetings in Abu Dhabi

The UAE formally signed an agreement on October 18, 2026, to host the 2029 annual meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Abu Dhabi, bringing together finance ministers, central bank governors and more than 10,000 delegates from over 190 countries. The signing ceremony took place in Bangkok at the conclusion of the 2026 annual meetings, with UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini and Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama representing the Emirates, alongside World Bank President Ajay Banga and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

The October 2029 meetings will mark the return of the global financial gathering to the UAE for the first time since Dubai hosted in 2003. IMF Managing Director Georgieva said the UAE has become an important hub for ideas, finance, innovation and international cooperation, while World Bank President Banga praised Abu Dhabi as a fitting host where the focus is on development impact. The Board of Governors of both institutions voted in April 2026 to select Abu Dhabi as host, reflecting growing global confidence in the UAE's economy and its position as the Arab world's second-largest economy and a major international financial center.

Sources

The National, UAE signs agreement to hold 2029 World Bank and IMF meetings in Abu Dhabi, October 18, 2026, thenationalnews.com; Arabian Business, Abu Dhabi to host 2029 IMF and World Bank meetings as UAE signs agreement, October 18, 2026, arabianbusiness.com; Times Kuwait, UAE to host IMF, World Bank annual meetings in 2029, October 18, 2026, timeskuwait.com; MyJoyOnline, IMF/World Bank signs agreement with UAE over holding 2029 Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi, October 18, 2026, myjoyonline.com; IMF press release, World Bank Group and IMF to Hold 2029 Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 10, 2026, imf.org