A message from the Chief Executive Officer,
Gaby Fadel

I am honoured and delighted to have been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Arab Bankers Association, with effect from 1 April 2025. I know the Association well, not only from my many years residing in London, which have included 23 years heading the London branch of Byblos Bank Europe, but also from the time spent as the Association’s Deputy CEO over the previous year.

I would like to pay tribute to George Kanaan, who served as CEO since 2009. George revived the Association after it had passed through some difficult times, and he has been responsible for turning it into the vibrant and sustainable organisation that it is today. The Arab banking community in London and in the Middle East owes George a huge debt of gratitude for the many decades he spent fostering good relationships between the financial communities of London and the Middle East. 

I am also particularly delighted to be working with our new Chairman, Yasser Ibrahim, from Arab National Bank in London who brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to the role.

Membership of the ABA continues to grow and to diversify. We welcome not only Arab and international banks, but also professional service firms, such as auditors, lawyers and others, and boutique firms providing specialist financial services.

We will be holding an exciting series of events over the next few months, including an event looking at regional geopolitics and our annual real estate seminar.  

I urge you to log on to our website regularly so that you can keep in touch with what the Association is doing and also stay abreast of current news and commentary related to Arab and international banking. We also publish a regular newsletter, which will appears three times per year and which complements our annual publication, Arab Banker magazine.

I will always be eager to hear your news, and to discuss how we can involve you in the work of our Association.

Best wishes

Gaby Fadel

Chief Executive Officer