Money20/20 Middle East: dates, who attends, and how founders get in
“Money20/20 Middle East is a global fintech event held annually in Riyadh, bringing together the international financial services and technology ecosystem.”
- Next edition
- Sep 14–16, 2027 · Money20/20 Middle East 2027 source
- Where
- Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center, Malham, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia source
- Format
- in-person · 3 days
- Tickets
- FREE–$3,250 (2026 completed edition; 2027 ticket prices not published on the reviewed official pages). source
- Startup pass
- The 2026 Startup & Scaleup Program used an application for a Startup Pod or Scaleup Kiosk; its application page now says applications are closed. Separately, the paid Founder Pass required an application review and approval before the organiser sent next steps. For 2027, the organiser offers programme pre-registration and describes Startup Pods and Scaleup Kiosks, but the reviewed pages do not publish a 2027 price or full application deadline. source
- MoneySurge Pitch Competition
- $400,000 total equity-free prize pool (2026): $200,000 Best in Show; $100,000 Fintech For Good; $100,000 Fintech To Watch. source
- Cadence
- Annual, in September: the 2025 edition was 15–17 September and the 2026 edition was 14–16 September; the announced 2027 edition is also 14–16 September.
FintechAIGrowthFoundersInvestorsCorporatesPolicy & governmentPartnersPress
Next edition
| Dates | Sep 14–16, 2027 source |
|---|---|
| Edition | Money20/20 Middle East 2027 |
| Venue | Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center (RECC), Malham, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia source |
| Timezone | Asia/Riyadh |
| Tickets | register.visitcloud.com source |
Ticket tiers as published
| Tier | Price | Includes | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expo Pass source | FREE; $50 also published (2026) | Exhibition floor, selected stage content including The Bridge and The Capital, networking app and complimentary shuttle (2026). | 2026 |
| Silver Plus source | $750, $900 or $1,200 (phased prices, 2026) | All stages and sessions, early networking-app access with AI matchmaking, early entry, on-site support, Opening Ceremony access (limited availability), curated 1:1 meeting concierge, Money Lounges, Money Mixer invitation, shuttle and up to 20 CPD credits (2026). | 2026 |
| Gold Plus source | $3,250 (2026) | All stages, early app access and support, early entry, Opening Ceremony access, up to 3 curated 1:1 meetings, Money Lounges, Money Mixer, priority access to roundtables and workshops (limited availability), Money Dinner invitation and post-show report (2026). | 2026 |
| Qualifying Country Pass source | $450, $630 or $895 (phased prices, 2026) | All stages, early networking-app access, early entry, on-site support, Opening Ceremony access, curated 1:1 meeting concierge, Money Lounges, Money Mixer invitation, shuttle and up to 20 CPD credits (2026). Company must be headquartered in an eligible country listed by the organiser. | 2026 |
| Retailer Pass source | $895 (2026) | All stages and sessions, early app access with AI matchmaking, early entry, on-site support, curated meeting concierge, Money Lounges, Money Mixer invitation, shuttle and up to 20 CPD credits (2026). Eligibility is for qualifying non-financial consumer-facing retailers. | 2026 |
| Founder Pass source | $900, $1,260 or $1,800 (phased prices, 2026) | All stages and sessions, MoneySurge, networking-app AI matchmaking, on-site support, Money Lounges, Money Mixer invitation, shuttle, Investor–Founder Matchmaking Zone and priority Venturescape access (limited availability) (2026). Application reviewed by the organiser. | 2026 |
| Investor Pass source | By application; no numerical price published (2026) | All stages and sessions, MoneySurge, networking-app AI matchmaking, Investor–Founder Matchmaking Zone, priority Venturescape access (limited availability), investor-focused side events, investor-relations support, Investors Lounge and guided investor tour (limited availability) (2026). | 2026 |
| Student Pass source | FREE (2026) | Exhibition floor, selected stage content, networking app and complimentary shuttle (2026); limited availability and student-email verification required. | 2026 |
| Press Pass source | FREE (2026) | Exhibition floor, all stages and sessions including MoneySurge, and networking-app access (2026). Limited availability; qualified-media applications subject to approval. | 2026 |
How founders get in
For founders, the organiser presents the Startup & Scaleup Program as a way to exhibit in a Startup Pod or Scaleup Kiosk, gain visibility, connect with investors through curated matchmaking, and access founder clinics or bootcamps. Selected participants can pitch in MoneySurge. The organiser describes the programme as putting fintech founders in front of people who fund, partner and build.
- For the completed 2026 edition, apply to the Startup & Scaleup Program through the organiser’s programme form. The 2026 attendee brochure gave general criteria of a company less than 8 years old and under $40 million raised in equity, with licences for regulated activities or an application in progress. A separate official startup page also published distinct early- and growth-stage criteria; see startup_pass. The programme application page now says applications are closed.
- To enter MoneySurge, apply through the Startup & Scaleup Program: the organiser’s programme page says the competition is for Startup Pod and Scaleup Kiosk participants. The 2026 brochure listed an eligibility cutoff but did not print a year beside it, so no YYYY-MM-DD deadline is supplied.
- Separately apply for a Founder Pass if you want that attendee pass. The 2026 ticket page says applications are reviewed and next steps are sent after approval. Its listed price was $1,800 (2026); the attendee brochure also published lower phased prices.
- For the next announced edition, pre-register for Money20/20 Middle East, scheduled for 2027-09-14 to 2027-09-16 in Riyadh at RECC, Malham. The reviewed official pages do not publish a 2027 ticket price or a full application deadline. The organiser’s pages show the completed 2026 edition in Riyadh and its return there in 2027; they announce no cancellation or postponement.
| Startup programme | The 2026 Startup & Scaleup Program used an application for a Startup Pod or Scaleup Kiosk; its application page now says applications are closed. Separately, the paid Founder Pass required an application review and approval before the organiser sent next steps. For 2027, the organiser offers programme pre-registration and describes Startup Pods and Scaleup Kiosks, but the reviewed pages do not publish a 2027 price or full application deadline. source |
|---|---|
| Includes | The 2026 Founder Pass included exhibition-floor and all-stage access, the MoneySurge Pitch Competition, the Investor–Founder Matchmaking Zone, priority access to Venturescape (limited availability), networking-app access with AI matchmaking, on-site support, a Money Mixer invitation, shuttle and parking. The separate Startup & Scaleup Program offered a Startup Pod or Scaleup Kiosk, visibility and investor matchmaking. The 2027 programme page also describes founder bootcamps and clinics. |
| Students | Student Pass was free and limited in availability (2026). Registration required verification using a .edu or .ac email address. It included exhibition-floor access, selected stage content, the networking app and a complimentary shuttle. |
| Investor pass | Apply for Investor Access; the pass was application-based. Published benefits included all-stage access, the Investor–Founder Matchmaking Zone, priority Venturescape access (limited availability), investor-focused side events, dedicated investor-relations support, the Investors Lounge and a guided investor tour (limited availability). source |
| Press | Press Pass was free and limited in availability (2026). Qualified media professionals had to apply; applications were subject to approval, after which the organiser sent confirmation and access instructions. |
| Application required | No, tickets are purchased |
MoneySurge Pitch Competition
| Prize | $400,000 total equity-free prize pool (2026): $200,000 Best in Show; $100,000 Fintech For Good; $100,000 Fintech To Watch. source |
|---|---|
| Format | MoneySurge (2026) ran semi-final rounds and a grand finale. Selected founders gave 3-minute pitches and took 3 minutes of Q&A; the organiser’s 2026 winner announcement reported 25 semi-finalists and eight finalists. |
| Eligibility | The 2027 programme page says MoneySurge is exclusively open to Startup Pod and Scaleup Kiosk participants, with 25 founders selected. The 2026 brochure lists an eligibility cutoff but does not print a year beside it, so no YYYY-MM-DD deadline is provided. |
Winners
- Planto (2026) — Fintech to Watch — $100,000 (2026) source
- Nearpays (2026) — Fintech for Good — $100,000 (2026) source
- Tanami Capital (2026) — Best in Show — $200,000 (2026) source
Judges
- Victor Pascucci III at Lightbank source
- JD Weinstein at Oracle source
- Cayla Weisberg at InvestHER Ventures source
- Kirby Atwell at Bunker Labs source
Meeting investors there
Founders can meet investors through the dedicated matchmaking zone, curated introductions and app-based meeting requests. The Startup & Scaleup Program says accepted participants can request and receive investor matches through the event app; the 2027 page describes concierge-facilitated 1:1 investor meetings as exclusive to the programme. Investor Pass benefits include the Investors Lounge, investor-focused side events and investor-relations support. source
| Investors attending | 600+ investors (2026; official event-app listing) source |
|---|---|
| Matchmaking | Money20/20 Middle East networking app (also called the event app by the organiser); AI matchmaking is listed for relevant passes. source |
| Formats | Investor–Founder Matchmaking Zone and curated 1:1 meetings. · Networking-app AI matchmaking; accepted startup-program participants can browse attendees, request meetings and be matched by shared interests and funding focus. · Investor-focused on-site side events, Investors Lounge, guided investor tour (limited availability) and dedicated investor-relations support for Investor Pass holders. · Venturescape and Power Hours; the 2027 startup programme page describes these as invite-only access to banks, regulators, government entities, investors and operators. · Capital Stage sessions, including investor-led market analysis, founder deep dives and live startup spotlights. |
Investor firms the organiser lists (Most recent completed edition: 2026; next announced edition: 2027 (2027-09-14 to 2027-09-16, Riyadh).)
CitiBNP ParibasPartners for GrowthArgonautic Ventures500 GlobalFinTech AdvisorDubai Future FundShorooqQNB76Columbus Family InvestmentDeutsche BankVanquour Wealth Management
Before you go: the hub's cold email to VCs playbook covers the pre-event outreach that fills a meeting calendar, and Causo matches your stage and thesis to the funds in its database so you know who to ask for a meeting.
Who speaks (Most recent completed edition: 2026; next announced edition: 2027 (2027-09-14 to 2027-09-16, Riyadh).)
- H.E. Mohammed A. Aljadaan, Finance Minister, Chairman of the FSDP Committee · Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- H.E. Ayman M. Al-Sayari, Governor · Saudi Central Bank
- Eng. Naji Al Faisal Al Tamimi, CEO · Insurance Authority
- Abdulaziz S. Abanmi, Deputy Governor for Payments · Saudi Central Bank
- Nora M. Albakr, Deputy Governor for Financial Innovation · Saudi Central Bank
- Mostapha Tahiri, EVP & COO · State Street Corporation
- Hani Kablawi, Executive Vice Chair, Head of Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific · BNY
- William Mason, Director General · Guernsey Financial Services Commission
- Yuri Misnik, Chief Technology Officer · InDrive
- Melike Kara Tanrikulu, CEO · e& Money
- Mario Nobile, Director General · Agency of Digital Italy, Government of Italy (AGID)
- Hosam Arab, Co-Founder & CEO · Tabby
- Neo Mooki, Chairperson · Botswana Stock Exchange
- Murat Cagri Suzer, Group CEO · Network International
- Josh Bell, General Partner · Dawn Capital
Full lineup: official speakers page.
Sponsors and partners
Strategic 6
anbBarqELM CompanyemkanMasterCardtamam
Platinum 5
Al Rajhi TakafulFoodicsGiBHakbahSafqah
Sustainability Partner 1
Riyadh Municipality
Gold 9
Alinma BankbsfCNTXTD360SAB BankSAIBsimahtcctameed
Conversational AI Partner 1
sarj.ai
Bronze 5
Lanyard 1
Checkout.com
Bridge Stage 1
American Express
Nextgen Stage 1
PAYMENTOLOGY
Plaza 1
EAC
Education Partner 1
Community Partner 6
Hydration Partner 1
ival
Bag 1
MasterCard
Co-organiser 2
Fintech SaudiTahaluf
Media partners: WSJ, Barron's, CNBC Arabia, Fast Company Middle East, FF News, The Fintech Times, Entrepreneur ME, Argaam, Economy Middle East, TahawulTech, Fintech Magazine, Eye of Riyadh, Business Today ME, Finance World, Financial IT, MEA Finance, ZTO, Fintech News Network, Bluetrain, Fintech TV, entARABI, Albayan, CNN Arabic, Sky News Arabia, Alweaam, Cointelegraph, Mubasher Info, Jawlah, Cybercast, Women Lead, Fintech Marketing Community, Fintech Futures, Arab Times News, Inc Arabia, Augustus Media, Lovin Riyadh, Smashi, Paypr.work
Government partners: Financial Sector Development Program (FSDP), Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), Capital Market Authority (CMA), Insurance Authority (IA)
Full list: official partners page.
Startups there
150+ startups (2026; event-wide startup count; no separate exhibitor-only startup subtotal published) · official startup directory
Alumni the organiser highlights
- Orbii (2025) — Money20/20 Middle East (2025) overall FinTech award winner; the organiser says the win opened doors to meaningful partnerships and leads that turned into deals. source
- RABEH (2025) — Money20/20 Middle East (2025) Seed Award winner; the organiser says the award connected the startup with investors and strategic partners. source
Programme
| Tracks | Executive Summit (2026) · The Boardroom (2026) · Next-Gen Money (2026) · Off The Record Stage (2026) · The Bridge Stage (2026) · Capital Stage (2026) · Banking Journey (2026) · Capital Journey (2026) · Cyber and Trust Journey (2026) · Financial Inclusion Journey (2026) · Payments and Commerce Journey (2026) source |
|---|---|
| Side events | The 2026 attendee brochure described Money Mixer as an evening of networking and hospitality across Riyadh, and the Gala Dinner as an evening for relationship-building. The official agenda also listed Venturescape: The Gateway. The 2026 ticket page included Money Mixer invitations in selected pass benefits; access to other events depended on pass type. |
| Awards | MoneySurge (2026) offered $400,000 in equity-free awards: Best in Show, $200,000 (Tanami Capital); Fintech To Watch, $100,000 (Planto); and Fintech For Good, $100,000 (Nearpays). |
| Volunteering | No Money20/20 Middle East volunteer programme, volunteer application, or volunteer-for-pass offer was published on the official 2026 ticket and startup-program pages or the announced 2027 programme page reviewed. |
| Official app | Money20/20 Middle East |
| Hashtag | #Money2020MiddleEast |
Past editions, as published
| Edition | Dates | Attendees | Investors | Startups | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 source | Sep 14–16, 2026 | — | — | — | |
| 2025 · First edition under the Money20/20 Middle East name; evolved from 24 Fintech, launched in Riyadh in 2024. source | Sep 15–17, 2025 | 38,500+ attendees (2025) | 1,050+ investors (2025) | 150+ startups (2025) | |
| 2024 — 24 Fintech predecessor · Predecessor event name: 24 Fintech; the Money20/20 Middle East-branded series began in 2025. source | — | — | — | — |
Cities: Riyadh (2025–2026)
Formerly: 24 Fintech (predecessor; the organiser says Money20/20 Middle East evolved from it)
Who attends
| Breakdown | 2 in 3 attendees are decision-makers (2026 attendee brochure; not identified there as a post-event survey result). source |
|---|---|
| Geography | 144 countries (2026; organiser’s attendee brochure). source |
| Roles | Founders, Investors, Corporates, Policy & government, Partners, Press |
| Stages | Growth |
Official links and socials
Travel & apps
In the press
- Money20/20 Middle East returns to Riyadh as global fintech leaders gather to shape the future of finance — Economy Middle East (2026)
- Money20/20 Middle East Returns to Riyadh in September 2026 — Entrepreneur Middle East (2026)
- Money20/20 Middle East Returns to Riyadh as Global Fintech Leaders Gather to Shape the Future of Finance — FF News (2026)
- Money20/20 Middle East 2026: Women Shaping the Future of Trust in Finance — Women Lead (2026)
- Money20/20 Middle East returns to Riyadh, uniting the global fintech ecosystem to shape the future of payments, banking, AI and financial innovation — FinTech Magazine (2026)
- Money20/20 Middle East: Saudi stock market value surges to $2.67trn, CMA chief says — Arabian Business (2025)
- StanChart’s SC Ventures to Court $250 Million for Digital Assets — Bloomberg (2025)
- Saudi Fintech Startup Tamara Secures $2.4B Facility From Global Banks Including Goldman, Citi — Forbes Middle East (2025)
- Day One Highlights: Money20/20 Middle East Unveils FinTech Innovations — Fintech TV (2025)
- Money20/20 Middle East 2025: Regulation, New Platforms, and a $100M Investment Vehicle on Day Two — The Fintech Times (2025)
Prepare for it
- How to cold email VCs — book the meetings before you land.
- The 12-slide seed deck — what to have ready when a partner says "send me the deck".
- Pitch Deck Roaster — a slide-by-slide pass before you submit to MoneySurge Pitch Competition.
- Accelerator deadlines — the application windows that open around the event.
Sources
Every fact above was read from one of these official pages on Oct 7, 2026:
- app.money2020middleeast.com/event/money20-20-middle-east-2026
- apps.apple.com/sa/app/money20-20-middle-east/id6746144914
- money2020middleeast.com
- money2020middleeast.com/2025-speakers
- money2020middleeast.com/2026-agenda
- money2020middleeast.com/2026-speakers
- money2020middleeast.com/about-us/key-information
- money2020middleeast.com/ar/node/3048
- money2020middleeast.com/attendee
- money2020middleeast.com/investor/investor-program
- money2020middleeast.com/media/press-releases
- money2020middleeast.com/media/press-releases?page=1
- money2020middleeast.com/sponsors-partners
- money2020middleeast.com/startup-scaleup-program
- money2020middleeast.com/support/faq
- money2020middleeast.com/tickets-2026
- money2020middleeast.com/whats-on/money-2020-middle-east
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swapcard.apps.android.money2020
- register.visitcloud.com/survey/1xsdq5xm9np33
- facebook.com/money2020me
- facebook.com/money2020me/posts/another-round-of-intense-competition-just-wrapped-on-the-capital-stage-brilliant/1016914018042183
- instagram.com/money2020_me
- linkedin.com/company/money2020me
- money2020.com/code-of-conduct
- youtube.com/@money2020_me
- x.com/money2020_me
- x.com/money2020_me/status/2100316661588926973/photo/1
Money20/20 Middle East: frequently asked
When is Money20/20 Middle East 2027?
Money20/20 Middle East 2027 runs Sep 14–16, 2027 at Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center, Malham, Riyadh, according to the organiser's published dates.
How much does Money20/20 Middle East cost?
Published ticket prices run FREE–$3,250 (2026 completed edition; 2027 ticket prices not published on the reviewed official pages).. Startups: The 2026 Startup & Scaleup Program used an application for a Startup Pod or Scaleup Kiosk; its application page now says applications are closed. Separately, the paid Founder Pass required an application review and approval before the organiser sent next steps. For 2027, the organiser offers programme pre-registration and describes Startup Pods and Scaleup Kiosks, but the reviewed pages do not publish a 2027 price or full application deadline..
How do startups get into Money20/20 Middle East?
The 2026 Startup & Scaleup Program used an application for a Startup Pod or Scaleup Kiosk; its application page now says applications are closed. Separately, the paid Founder Pass required an application review and approval before the organiser sent next steps. For 2027, the organiser offers programme pre-registration and describes Startup Pods and Scaleup Kiosks, but the reviewed pages do not publish a 2027 price or full application deadline.
How many investors attend Money20/20 Middle East?
The organiser reports 600+ investors (2026; official event-app listing) investors. Founders can meet investors through the dedicated matchmaking zone, curated introductions and app-based meeting requests. The Startup & Scaleup Program says accepted participants can request and receive investor matches through the event app; the 2027 page describes concierge-facilitated 1:1 investor meetings as exclusive to the programme. Investor Pass benefits include the Investors Lounge, investor-focused side events and investor-relations support.
What is MoneySurge Pitch Competition?
Money20/20 Middle East's pitch competition. Prize as published: $400,000 total equity-free prize pool (2026): $200,000 Best in Show; $100,000 Fintech For Good; $100,000 Fintech To Watch.. Eligibility: The 2027 programme page says MoneySurge is exclusively open to Startup Pod and Scaleup Kiosk participants, with 25 founders selected. The 2026 brochure lists an eligibility cutoff but does not print a year beside it, so no YYYY-MM-DD deadline is provided.
How big is Money20/20 Middle East?
38,000+ attendees (2026; organiser’s attendee brochure; published as promotional material, not confirmed there as a post-event total) attendees, 150 startups (2026; official event-app listing) startups, from 144 countries (2026; organiser’s attendee brochure) countries, per the organiser.