October 22, 2024
Riyadh
The Seamless Saudi Arabia Conference and Exhibition kicked off in Riyadh at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the theme “The Future of Digital Commerce.” The event is sponsored by the League of Arab States and supported by the National Payments Network (mada), the Saudi Central Bank, and the Arab Federation for Digital Economy. It is also organized by Terrapin International for Exhibitions and Conferences Management.
The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Abdulaziz Abanmi, Deputy Governor for Payments at the Central Bank. In his opening remarks, he stated that the payments sector in the Kingdom has witnessed several turning points, recording unprecedented performance across various digital payment products. He added that digital payment systems, specifically national payment systems, witnessed a 16% increase in the number of transactions by the end of the third quarter of this year, while the value of transactions also increased during the same period, reflecting the widespread acceptance of digital payments.
The Central Bank’s Undersecretary for Payments praised the Seamless exhibition, describing it as a scientific and global platform aimed at exchanging expertise and showcasing experiences and ideas for digital payments and financial technology technologies. It also provides an opportunity to share best practices and global experiences in this increasingly important field.
The Arab Federation for Digital Economy participated in the conference with a high-level delegation headed by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Darmaki, Deputy Secretary-General of the Federation. He delivered a keynote speech in which he noted that digital transformation is no longer merely a facilitating tool, but has now become the driving force for achieving economic competitiveness. He noted that the global digital economy will reach more than $24 trillion by 2025, and that these figures reflect the significant opportunities that Arab countries can seize if properly invested in digital transformation.
Dr. In his speech, Al Darmaki highlighted the initiatives launched by the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, including the “Arab Vision for Digital Economy,” adopted by the Council of Arab Leaders in 2022. This initiative represents a roadmap for digital transformation in Arab countries, along with the Arab Digital Economy Index, which measures Arab countries’ progress in the digital economy and helps governments assess their level of digital readiness and identify gaps that need improvement. He also reviewed other initiatives of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, such as the “Arab Digital University” and the “One Million Arab Entrepreneurs” initiative, which focuses on empowering youth and developing their digital skills. He also reviewed the “E-Commerce Platform” initiative, which is currently in its first phase working within the scope of food security and seeks to support Arab economic integration. The conference will include several sessions, including a keynote panel discussion on Digitizing Payments in Saudi Arabia: Evolution and Future Prospects, a keynote panel discussion on Pushing the Limits of Possibility: Reshaping How Marketers Communicate with Today’s Audiences and Setting New Standards for Marketing Success, and a panel discussion on The Kingdom of Digital Commerce and Retail: Enabling Dynamic and Innovative Online Experiences in the Region Through Transformative Leadership and Disruptive Technologies.
Over the course of three days, Seamless is expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors, over 350 speakers, and over 600 exhibitors. This event targets merchants, institutions, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the digital commerce space.
