Why Open Finance Could Change UAE Banking

Jun 23

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Is digital banking really about technology anymore?

It is becoming a battle for customer relationships, trust, data, and who owns the financial experience.

In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Raheel Ahmed, Group CEO of RAKBANK, returns to discuss open finance, AI, stablecoins, SME banking, regulation, and the future of financial services in the UAE.

Raheel explains why open finance is being built for customers rather than banks, why products and pricing are becoming increasingly commoditized, and how financial institutions must rethink where they create value in a more transparent and competitive market.

The conversation explores how AI is already being deployed inside banks, the opportunities around stablecoins and tokenization, the future of SME financing, and why customer relationships may become the most important asset banks have.

From digital transformation and regulation to competition and emerging technologies, this episode examines how banking is evolving and what it will take to stay relevant in the years ahead.

🎙️ In this episode:

• Why open finance is a bigger disruption than many banks realize
• How AI is already transforming banking operations
• Why customer relationships matter more than products
• The future of stablecoins and tokenized deposits
• How RAKBANK approaches partnerships and innovation
• The evolution of SME banking and financing in the UAE
• Why regulation is accelerating change rather than slowing it down
• What banks must do to remain competitive in the next decade

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 The future of banking, AI, and open finance
01:59 How UAE banks handled recent uncertainty
06:27 Regulation and the changing banking landscape
08:48 Why digital banking still needs a human touch
12:24 Payments, partnerships, and customer data
15:35 Stablecoins and tokenized deposits
22:11 Why open finance is a major disruption
27:13 The future of SME banking and lending

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