{
  "id": 15397734,
  "title": "UAE signs agreement to hold 2029 World Bank and IMF meetings in Abu Dhabi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/uae-signs-agreement-to-hold-2029-world-bank-and-imf-meetings-in-abu-15397734",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T10:18:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2026/10/18/uae-signs-agreement-to-hold-2029-world-bank-and-imf-meetings-in-abu-dhabi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has formally agreed to host the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2029. This decision, signed during the 2026 World Bank and IMF meetings in Thailand, demonstrates growing international trust in the UAE's economic and financial capabilities. The UAE Ministry of Finance announced the agreement, which will reinforce the country's status as a global financial hub and contribute to the stability and future of the global economic system. The deal was signed by Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and Khaled Balama, governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, alongside World Bank President Ajay Banga and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Bangkok.\n\nHosting the event in Abu Dhabi will offer a platform for global financial leaders and decision-makers to discuss strategies for advancing financial and monetary stability and developing finance. The UAE's selection to host the summit follows its successful hosting of major economic events, with Dubai having previously hosted the meetings in 2003. Participation at these annual meetings has expanded, with over 10,000 attendees at each event, including country group discussions, civil society forums, and press conferences.\n\nThe World Bank-IMF annual meetings are typically held at their headquarters in Washington DC, with participating countries rotating every three years. The UAE and Turkey are the only Middle Eastern nations to have previously hosted the meetings, with Abu Dhabi chosen as the ideal location to emphasize the country's commitment to economic dialogue and development. The meetings bring together finance ministers, central bank governors, policymakers, and experts from more than 190 countries to address global economic challenges and opportunities. The IMF and World Bank will also present their outlooks for growth and financial stability, as well as discuss future policy directions supporting inclusive and sustainable development. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasized that the 2029 meeting in Abu Dhabi will provide an opportunity to shape a better future for the global economy.",
  "summary": "The UAE has formally signed the agreement to host the 2029 annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Abu Dhabi. The deal signed at the conclusion of the IMF and the WB 2026 annual meetings in Thailand, is a mark of growing international confidence in the UAE’s economic and financial ecosystem, the UAE Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Sunday. The formal pact to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "UAE signs agreement to hold 2029 World Bank and IMF meetings in Abu Dhabi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/uae-signs-agreement-to-hold-2029-world-bank-and-imf-meetings-in-abu",
        "published": "2026-10-18T10:18:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dhaka Tribune Business",
        "title": "Al-Arafah Islami Bank executes Murabaha agreement with JP Morgan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/al-arafah-islami-bank-executes-murabaha-agreement-with-jp-morgan",
        "published": "2026-10-18T10:19:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arabian Business",
        "title": "Abu Dhabi to host 2029 IMF and World Bank meetings as UAE signs agreement",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/abu-dhabi-to-host-2029-imf-and-world-bank-meetings-as-uae-signs",
        "published": "2026-10-18T12:00:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}