Dubai FinTech Summit is going to be held in Pakistan, for the first time. Collaborating with Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA), the much-awaited event is planned to be organized on August 18-19, 2026. This action is the first sign of the international expansion of the UAE-based summit and an indication of the increasing financial and regulatory involvement between the two countries as Pakistan actively pursues the expansion of the digital economy and aims to attract foreign investment.
Rising FinTech Activity and Funding
According to official data, the activity of fintech in Pakistan has increased significantly in the last two years. By the first half of 2025 alone, the sector had attracted 52.5 million dollars of sector funding, and by late November 2025, the venture capital raised by 450 fintech companies had reached 391m. However, thanks to this impressive growth, digital penetration of the sector still remains a challenge because of infrastructure limitations and predominance of cash-based transactions.
DIFC Innovation Hub, the largest start-up and innovation hub in the world operating out of Dubai International Financial Centre in partnership with the Pakistan Digital Authority, is launching the Pakistan FinTech Summit, the first international expansion of the Dubai FinTech… pic.twitter.com/egG7jCEiDM
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 23, 2026
Global Confidence and Summit Expectations
According to a statement made by the Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, Arif Amiri, the expansion of the Dubai FinTech Summit Pakistan is also expected to build cross-border innovation networks between the UAE and South Asia and finally make Pakistan a member of the global financial technology ecosystem. The event organizers anticipate that the summit will attract over 10,000 people and up to 150 sponsors and exhibitors and be one of the biggest financial innovation conferences in the county ever. The Minister of IT and Telecommunication of Pakistan, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, warmly welcomed the move, and mentioned that the fact that DIFC chose to hold its flagship platform under the Pakistan brand is a good indication that the world has confidence in the newly developed digital financial ecosystem of Pakistan. The summit is also being supported by the Pakistan Digital Authority, which was created in accordance with the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025 to be the coordinating body in the country regarding digital policy, data, AI regulation, and digital infrastructure.
When will the Dubai FinTech Summit be held in Pakistan?
The first overseas edition of the summit is scheduled to take place in Pakistan on August 18–19, 2026.
How many participants are expected at the event?
Organizers anticipate a massive turnout, expecting the event to draw over 10,000 participants alongside up to 150 sponsors and ex
What is the role of the Pakistan Digital Authority?
Established under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025, the Pakistan Digital Authority acts as the country’s central regulatory body for digital policy, data and AI governance, and the coordination of national digital infrastructure.
