The World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to hold the 2029 Annual Meetings in Abu Dhabi.
The President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga and the Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, initialled the agreement on behalf of their respective Institutions, while Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, UAE and Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank, UAE, signed for the UAE.
Speaking at the signing Programme in Bangkok, Thailand, on the Sidelines of the Annual IMF/World Bank meetings, Ajay Banga expressed his excitement about the UAE hosting the 2029 Annual Meetings.
He stated that “we are very delighted that the UAE, Abu Dhabi is the destination of the next Annual Meetings”.
Mr. Banga also highlighted how significant UAE is hosting this Annual Meetings in 2029 is to the group that also happens to host the World Bank’s Knowledge Hub on Gender.
“The World Group is really delighted, because I have had an opportunity of attending two meetings outside Washington, DC, USA, and that has been excellent”, the World Bank President stated.
On her Part,Kristalina Georgieva said, “We are all coming to Abu Dhabi, so prepare for the world. Indeed, the UAE is changing rapidly, a country that is transforming every day”.
“These Annual Meetings outside Washington, DC are the most memorable ones for participants and even the IMF/ World Bank”, the Managing Director of the IMF stated.
Madam Georgieva reminded officials of the UAE that “ We spent a week here in Bangkok, and you saw the preparation, the food and culture, so I can say that Thailand has set a very high standard”.
“But I am optimistic that the UAE is always able to meet this challenge”, she added.
The Minister of State for Financial Affairs, UAE, said the UAE appreciates the opportunity and would build on the partnership that exit with the IMF/ World Bank.
He said, “we look forward to welcoming members of the IMF/ World Bank back to the UAE after 26 years”.
“I will like to thank the World Bank and the IMF for the trust in our country”, the Minister of State for Financial Affairs, UAE, added.
The Governor of the Central Bank, UAE, for his part said the hosting of the Annual Meetings in 2029 is a vote of confidence in the economy of UAE as well as “our business model and hope to see all the members of IMF/ World Bank in our country soon.
UAE Hosting the Annual Meetings in 2029
The Board of Governors of the IMF/ World Bank in April 2026 voted to select Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as the host country for the October 2029 meetings.
According to the Finance Ministry of the UAE, hosting the meeting is in line with the UAE’s strategic vision of strengthening international partnerships.
The last time the Annual Meetings were held in the UAE was in 2003 in Dubai.
The Annual Meetings are usually held for two consecutive years at the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, D.C. and every third year in one of the institutions’ member countries.
The 2026 Annual Meetings, which were hosted in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 12 to 18, have received a lot of praise from the Managing Director of the IMF.
The Meetings bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector leaders, and a wide range of stakeholders across civil society, media, and academia to discuss the most pressing issues facing the global economy. This includes global economic and financial stability, job creation, and poverty eradication.