Saudi Arabia’s financial ambitions take centre stage as the 13th Annual Saudi Trade Finance Summit returns to Riyadh on 17–18 November 2025. The event will unite key figures from finance, commerce, and industry for two days of discussions, collaboration, and insights aimed at steering the country’s next phase of economic expansion.
Held under the theme “Legacy to Future: Empowering Saudi Trade & Finance on Leadership, Digitalization, and Sustainable Growth,” the 2025 summit will explore how the Kingdom’s trade and financial sectors are adapting in alignment with Vision 2030. Over the years, the gathering has evolved into a critical meeting point for senior leaders across government and business working to broaden access to capital, reinforce supply chains, and accelerate digital trade reform.
Throughout the two-day programme, delegates will unpack the shifting landscape of Saudi and regional trade. Contributions from economists, policymakers, and senior finance executives will provide practical guidance on increasing non-oil exports, enhancing secure cross-border commerce, and securing funding for major development schemes — all supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to build a world-class trade and logistics hub.
The summit opens with a keynote from Dr. Said Alshaikh, Director General of the Studies and Consultation Center at the University of Business & Technology, who will analyse the Kingdom’s trade trajectory against global economic changes as 2026 approaches. His address precedes a series of sessions including one by Sean Bowey, Head of Product, Global Trade Solutions at SAB, who will spotlight advances in the digitisation of Saudi trade routes and the financing tools strengthening the nation’s links to global markets.
Further sessions on Day One will examine how Shariah-compliant instruments are shaping ethical and inclusive financing models, followed by a high-level debate on the state of trade finance in transition—addressing liquidity, risk, and resilience in an unpredictable economic climate. In a panel on “Driving Trade Excellence: Smart Solutions for Global Growth,” Dr. Mohammed Maaytah, Group CFO at Almunif Pipes, and Mohamed Medhat, Group CFO at AIMCO, will share perspectives on how Saudi enterprises are leveraging liquidity solutions and trade finance structures to expand regionally and internationally. A Cross-Industry Debate featuring bank’s perspective with industry thought leader Ali N. Alkhamis from BSF, and corporate viewpoint with Ahmad Alshubbar from Rawabi Holding Group and Mohsin Jalali from LAFANA Holding Company will uncover trade finance in transition, exploring liquidity, resilience, and opportunity amid volatility. The momentum continues with Mohamed Etman from FlyAkeed decoding the human and strategic factors behind financial performance, and a dynamic CFO Perspective Panel uniting leaders from ENAYAH, Pharma Group, and the Saudi Automobile Federation to explore how technology, talent, and trade innovation are shaping Saudi competitiveness on the world stage.
The day opens with an insight from Afzal Hussain Mohammed Nakheeb, Chairman and Head of Strategy at Trade57, on powering the next phase of economic growth, highlighting the shift from stability to scalable, innovation-driven financial systems. Zia Mustafa, CFO of Arabian Medical Products Manufacturing Co. (ENAYAH), will share insights on how manufacturing firms are redefining export strategies through smarter financing and supply chain integration.while Alaa Mansour, Group CFO, Ahmed Eltohamy, CFO of Saudi Amad for Airport Services and Transport Support, and Dr. Saad Almushabbab, CFO of John Cockerill Defense, will bring perspectives from the industrial, logistics, and defense sectors respectively—illustrating the diversity of industries being transformed by financial innovation.
Speaking ahead of the event, Sidh N.C., Director of QnA International, said: “This Summit is where strategy meets execution not just a forum for ideas, but a catalyst for the partnerships, policies, and financial strategies driving Saudi Arabia’s next chapter of growth. As the Kingdom accelerates its transformation, conversations around digitalisation, sustainable finance, and trade innovation have never been more critical. The Saudi Trade Finance Summit 2025 brings together the voices shaping this evolution, empowering leaders to move from insight to impact, from ambition to measurable economic progress.”
