About The Middle East And Africa Awards Programme
- Nomination for this programme is now closed.
- Call for submissions for the 2025 Programme will open in June 2025
- To apply for The Global Excellence in Retail Finance Awards 2025, please visit this site.
TAB Global Middle East and Africa cover six distinctive awards programmes:
- Excellence in Retail Financial Services
- Technology Innovation
- Risk Management
- Transaction Banking
- Green and Sustainable Finance
- The Strongest Banks in the Middle East and Africa
The TAB Global Middle East and Africa Awards are among the most rigorous, prestigious, and transparent annual awards programme recognising leadership in retail financial services, technology, risk, sustainability and transaction finance in the Middle East and Africa. It recognises financial institutions for their vision, execution, market leading retail finance service propositions, outstanding achievements, and best practices.
We assess banks, financial technology (fintech) companies, marketplaces, platforms and other alternative providers in the Middle East and Africa through a comprehensive evaluation process by taking an audit-based approach in the evaluation process. Please contact Mr. Chris Kapfer at ckapfer@tab.global if you are interested in participating in the Middle East and Africa Awards.
TAB Global ensures strict transparency and integrity in this programme, which is demonstrated from the various scorecards and rankings that we collate as well as through our trusted panel of advisors, who supervise and review the work of our analysts.
Excellence in Retail Finance Awards
Since its inception in 2001, this well-respected programme has recognised leading financial institutions that are dedicated to building a sustainable and profitable retail finance franchise and to meeting customer needs over and above its peers.
It is also the most rigorous and transparent awards programme for retail financial services. The programme evaluates banks and non-bank institutions at the business, product, and service levels through a comprehensive global evaluation process, covering more than 60 different award categories.
We employ an audit-based approach in the evaluation process, relying on our proprietary performance scorecards. We also consider consumer perception surveys such as BankQuality, which surveys customers about their experiences with retail finance service providers and incorporate customer-derived net promoter score-based ratings into the winner evaluation and selection process.
We continue to align our awards programme with the four major megatrends that will define the global retail finance industry for the next decade: personalisation at scale, new forms of customer engagement, embedded and inclusive finance, and the externalisation of financial services through open banking.
For further information to the scope of awards and the evaluation criteria go to https://awards.asianbankerforums.com/retailfinancial
Financial Technology Innovation Awards
The Programme is among the most prestigious technology innovation programmes, evaluating the successful implementation of technology projects between financial institutions and their technology partners. We assess financial institutions participating at both international and country levels through a comprehensive evaluation process.
The programme aims to recognise annual achievements and pinpoint emerging best practices in technology implementation within financial services operations. It encompasses over 100 entries across financial technology, risk technology, and platform awards.
Submissions to our awards programme are made jointly by financial institutions and their IT partners, as we believe a necessary part of a thorough evaluation is to understand the views of both partners.
The financial industry is experiencing rapid technology and digital transformation. There have been accelerated digital adoption and technology innovation by financial institutions while the industry landscape changed with the entry of new digital players, expansion of ecosystems and partnerships. At the same time, new forms of money, accelerated automation generative AI have started to reshape finance.
This is the only awards programme that measures both project implementation and sustainable business impact. It identifies the best examples of cooperation between financial institution and their strategic IT service providers, and how these cases exemplify industry-leading innovations.
For further information to the scope of awards and the evaluation criteria go to https://www.asianbankerawards.com/technology/
Transaction Finance Awards
The Transaction Finance Awards is one of the world’s most rigorous, prestigious, and transparent award programmes for transaction banking services.
Every year, TAB Global recognises achievements in key business and operational areas in transaction finance in the Middle East and Africa. The purpose of these awards is to recognise annual achievements and winners in the competition for market share, product, and operational excellence.
As transaction services increasingly integrate, blurring the lines between cash management, trade finance, and payments, we've updated the 'best transaction bank' category for a more accurate representation. The 'most sustainable transaction bank' category, introduced in 2022, continues to attract strong interest. Recognising tokenisation's transformative impact on transaction banking, we're launching the 'Best Tokenisation Initiative' in the frictionless transaction awards, highlighting impactful initiatives in transaction banking sub-verticals.
For further information to the scope of the awards and the evaluation criteria go to https://www.asianbankerawards.com/transactionfinanceawards/index.php
Green and Sustainable Finance
The Green and Sustainable Finance Awards aim to recognise financial institutions that are driving positive environmental and social impact through their investment strategies, financing solutions, and operational practices. By acknowledging leadership in green and sustainable finance, the awards recognises organisations committed to tackling climate change, promoting environmental stewardship, and advancing sustainability across sectors. Awardees are recognised not only for their innovative approaches to financing green projects but also for their ongoing efforts to integrate sustainability into their core business models.
For further information to the scope of this programme and the evaluation criteria go to https://www.asianbankerawards.com/scgawards/
Risk Management Awards
This awards programme is an extensive recognition program that identifies the outstanding achievements in risk management of both traditional banks and non-bank financial institutions.
The programme is designed to recognise annual achievements, identify emerging best practice in risk management in financial services operations and encouraging financial institutions to continue to invest in and improve their practices in this area.
As the financial industry continues to evolve, the role of risk management has become increasingly vital in ensuring the stability and success of financial institutions. At this year's awards program, we will be highlighting the ground-breaking developments and innovative solutions in seven areas of financial risk management, including cybersecurity and climate risk.
For further information to the scope of the awards and the evaluation criteria go to https://www.asianbankerawards.com/riskmanagement/
Financial Market Awards
This awards programme is a landmark recognition programme to benchmark institutional leadership and performance in the both the regulated markets and exchanges landscape.
For further information to the scope of the awards and the evaluation criteria go to https://www.asianbankerawards.com/financialmarkets/
THE EXCELLENCE IN RETAIL FINANCIAL SERVICES AWARDS
RETAIL FINANCE INSTITUTION REGIONAL AWARDS
These awards are open to banks, non-bank financial institutions, financial technology companies, marketplace lenders and other alternative players from The Middle East and Africa and awards the institution that stood over and above its peers in the Middle East and Africa.
- Best Retail Bank in the Middle East and Africa
- Best Digital-Only Bank (for digital-only banks) in the Middle East and Africa
- Best Digital Banking Service (for commercial banks) in the Middle East and Africa
- Best Super App in the Middle East and Africa
- Best SME Bank in the Middle East and Africa
- Best Wealth Management Bank in The Middle East and Africa (Affluent Segment)
- Best Private Bank in The Middle East and Africa
- Best Islamic Retail Bank in the Middle East and Africa
- Most Improved Retail Bank in the Middle East and Africa
RETAIL FINANCE INSTITUTION COUNTRY/TERRITORY AWARDS
These awards are open to banks, non-bank financial institutions, financial technology companies, marketplace lenders and other alternative players and awards the institution that stood over and above its peers in a country or territory.
- Best Retail Bank by Country/Territory
- Best Digital-Only Bank by Country/Territory
- Best Digital Banking Service (for commercial banks) by Country/Territory
- Best Super App by Country/Territory
- Best SME Bank by Country/Territory
- Best Wealth Management Bank by Country/Territory
- Best Private Bank by Country/Territory
- Best Islamic Retail Bank by Country/Territory
- Most Improved Retail Bank by Country/Territory
RETAIL FINANCE PRODUCT AND SERVICE AWARDS
These awards are open to banks, non-bank financial institutions, financial technology companies, marketplace lenders and other alternative players and awards the institution that stood over and above its peers in the Middle East and Africa.
- Best Deposit and Savings Product
- Best Home/Mortgage Financing
- Best Automobile Lending
- Best Credit Card
- Best Asset/Fund Management Product
- Best Life Insurance Product
- Best Non-Life Insurance Product
- Best Pension Product
- Best Microfinance Product
- Best Payment/Funds Transfer Product
- Best Cross-border Remittance Service
- Best Foreign Exchange Service
- Best Home Loan/Mortgage Product
- Best Investment Advisory Service
- Best Merchant Service
- Best Financial Planning Service
- Best Investment Advisory Service
- Best SME Financing
RETAIL FINANCE DIGITAL AWARDS
These awards are open to banks, non-bank financial institutions, financial technology companies, marketplace lenders and other alternative players and awards the institution that stood over and above its peers in the Middle East and Africa.
- Best Mobile Banking
- Best Embedded Finance Initiative
- Best Digital Ecosystem Initiative
- Best API Initiative
- Best Big Data and Analytics Initiative
- Best Retail DeFi Initiative
- Best Chatbot/Voice Banking Service
- Best Digital Wallet
- Best Customer Loyalty/Rewards Initiative
- Best Digital Account Opening
- Best Digital Brand Campaign
- Best Digital Business Model
- Best Digital Deposit Service
- Best Digital Consumer Lending Service
- Best Robo-Advisory Service
- Best Digital Self-Service Initiative
- Best Financial Inclusion Initiative
- Best Social Media Engagement Initiative
- Best Digital Employee Engagement Initiative
- Best Digital Credit Evaluation Initiative
RETAIL FINANCE PERSON OF THE YEAR
‘Retail Finance Person of the Year’ Award is the only individual award recognised under this programme and the only award of its kind in the Middle East and Africa. Very few candidates will ever qualify for this prestigious career-recognising award. It honours the achievements of an outstanding leader in the retail financial services industry who has contributed significantly to the transformation of his or her financial institution as well as making a strong impact on the country and on the industry. It also recognises significant achievements over the person’s whole career, his/her inspirational thought leadership towards the bank and the entire industry.
- Retail Finance Person of the Year, Middle East
- Retail Finance Person of the Year, Africa
RETAIL FINANCE FRICTIONLESS AWARDS
These awards are open to banks, non-bank financial institutions, financial technology companies, marketplace lenders and other alternative players and awards the institution that stood over and above its peers in the Middle East and Africa.
- Best Frictionless Customer Experience Initiative
- Best Frictionless Customer Relationship Management Initiative
- Best Frictionless Omni Channel Integration Initiative
- Best Frictionless Sales Management Initiative
- Best Productivity, Efficiency and Automation Initiative
FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARDS
All financial services players (financial institutions, non-bank financial institutions, insurance companies, brokerages, credit companies, finance companies and alternate financial services players) along with their technology partner can jointly apply for these awards
- Best Cloud Based Implementation
- Best Digital Infrastructure and Architecture Implementation
- Best Core Banking Technology Implementation
- Best API and Open Banking Implementation
- Best Banking as a Service Implementation
- Best AI Technology Implementation
- Best Analytics Implementation
- Best Big Data Implementation
- Best Blockchain Implementation
- Best Conversational AI Implementation
- Best Branch Digitisation Implementation
- Best Corporate Payment Implementation
- Best CRM Implementation
- Best Data Management Initiative
- Best Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance Implementation
- Best Edge Computing Implementation
- Best Financial Supply Chain Implementation
- Best Internet of Things Implementation
- Best Lending Implementation
- Best Mobile Banking Technology Implementation
- Best Omnichannel Technology Implementation
- Best Process Automation Implementation
- Best Retail Payment Implementation
- Best Self-Service Implementation
- Best Treasury Management Implementation
RISK TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION AWARDS
- Best Compliance Risk Technology Implementation
- Best Cyber Security and IT Risk Management Technology Implementation
- Best Fraud Prevention Technology Implementation
- Best Business Continuity Technology Implementation
- Best KYC & Customer Onboarding Technology Implementation
- Best Risk Data and Analytics Technology Implementation
- Best Anti-Money Laundering Technology Implementation
- Best Enterprise Risk Technology Implementation
- Best Identity Verification Technology Implementation
- Best Operational Risk Technology Implementation
- Best Credit Risk Technology Implementation
- Best Regulatory Technology Implementation
- Best Market Risk Technology Implementation
FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY AND PLATFORM AWARDS
This awards programme is open only for fintech companies, marketplace lenders and alternative players.
- Best Banking as a Service Technology
- Best Blockchain or DeFi Technology
- Best Business Lending Technology
- Best Consumer Lending Technology
- Best Consumer and Mobile Payment Technology
- Best Cross-Border Payment Technology
- Best Data Analytics Technology
- Best Investment Technology
- Best Insurance Technology
- Best Market Comparison Technology
- Best Payment Processing Technology
- Best Regulatory and Security Technology
- Best Wealth and Asset Management Technology
- Best Markets Infrastructure Technology or Platform in Asia Pacific/Country
- Best Investment Technology or Platform in Asia Pacific/Country
- Best Crypto, Blockchain or Distributed Ledger Technology or Platform in Asia Pacific/Country
LEADERSHIP IN FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
- Financial Services Technology Leadership Achievement Award
- Innovation Leadership Achievement Awards
The Risk Management Awards
The Achievement in Risk Management Awards recognise improvements in culture, structures and processes that have positively impacted the underlying practices of risk management. The awards categories are as follows:
- Achievement in Climate Risk Management
- Achievement in Credit Risk Management
- Achievement in Enterprise Risk Management
- Achievement in Liquidity Risk Management
- Achievement in Market Risk Management
- Achievement in Operational Risk Management
- Achievement in Cybersecurity Risk Management
- Risk Manager of the Year Award*
Submissions may be made for specific or multiple awards. The evaluation team reserves the right to reclassify the application to more suitable categories where appropriate.
Please note that awards may not necessarily be issued for all categories. Our choice of awards to be issued in any one year depends on the quality of submissions received based on the benchmarks used for assessment. Detailed evaluation scorecards can be accessed at: https://www.asianbankerawards.com/riskmanagement/criteria
*The Risk Manager of the Year award is a personal award and takes into consideration the candidate’s entire career and accumulated achievements that have contributed to the overall prestige of the risk management profession. No application for this award is necessary as the assessment is made by The Asian Banker based on industry feedback.
THE TRANSACTION FINANCE AWARDS ASIA PACIFIC AND MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
The following are the current awards categories. These categories are adjusted periodically to reflect the changes taking place in the transaction services industry.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION AWARDS
- Best International Transaction Bank or Platform in the Middle East and Africa
- Best Asian International Transaction Bank or Platform in the Middle East and Africa
- Best Cash Management Bank or Platform in the Middle East and Africa
- Best Trade Finance and or/Supply Chain Finance Bank or Platform in the Middle East and Africa
- Best FX Bank or Platform in the Middle East and Africa
- Most Sustainable International Transaction Bank in the Middle East and Africa –The scorecard and questionnaire can be accessed from the International Transaction submission kits.
DOMESTIC TRANSACTION AWARDS (BY COUNTRY)
- Best Cash Management Bank or Platform
- Best Trade Finance/and or Supply Chain Finance Bank or Platform
- Best Payments Bank or Platform
- Best FX Bank or Platform
FRICTIONLESS TRANSACTION AWARDS, MEA
- Best Corporate Mobile/Business Digital Banking Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Business Ecosystem/Platform Initiative, Application or Programme
- Most Sustainable Trade and Supply Chain Finance Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Productivity, Efficiency and Automation Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Blockchain in Trade and Supply Chain Finance Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Treasury Management Solution, Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Digital KYC/Onboarding Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best API Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Payments Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Financial Supply Chain Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Virtual Account Management Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Digital Trade Finance Platform, Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best ERP Integration/H2H Solution, Initiative, Application or Programme
- Best Collection Solution, Initiative, Application or Programme
LEADERSHIP IN TRANSACTION FINANCE AWARDS
- Leadership in Transaction Award, Middle East & Africa