How I built every guest list: mini-ABM
Every invitation flowed from the accounts, never from a generic list. We selected the organisations first - members, partners and sponsors, weighed by revenue potential, sector and strategic fit - then mapped the audience to the event.
A product launch got product, payments and commercial leaders. An executive dinner got C-level. A boardroom got the specialists who could move the conversation. RSVPs and follow-ups were tracked against the account, not the inbox.
Accounts first → audience mapped per event type → tracked to follow-upChapter 1: The flagships
Where I learned to run big rooms.
UAE
Awards | ADGM & ADFW collaboration | 2022-2024
I built an awards night from the inside.
MENA Fintech Awards
My role: Co-organiser
I co-ran the MENA Fintech Awards with ADGM and ADFW, 2022 to 2024. I polled the judges, produced the show end to end, scripted the opening videos, worked the award partners, and drove the PR and content after.
Photos span the 2022 ceremony and the 2023 Pluto award; my three own ceremony shots are from 2022-2024, edition not pinned.
UAE
Bahrain
Morocco
Jordan
Saudi Arabia
Networking series | Confirmed organizing work: 2022-2024
I made networking feel effortless.
After Hours - series
My role: Organiser
I helped organise After Hours, 2022 to 2024. I picked venues, ran the events, lined up partners and sponsors, and owned invites and guest lists.
Photos: Bahrain 2024, plus DFS 2025 video stills shown for context only. I organised 2022-2024.
UAE
Luxembourg
Reception series | MFTA x LHoFT
I took the reception to Luxembourg.
MENA Fintech Reception x LHoFT
My role: Co-organiser
On the organiser side of MFTA x LHoFT, I handled guest invites, RSVPs and liaison, then lined up the venue, vendors and photo and video crews.
Reception imagery is illustrative; it does not pin the edition I worked on.
Chapter 2: Boardrooms and roundtables
Where I turned conversations into content.
UAE
Payments committee & boardrooms | 2022-2024
I ran the room where payments leaders talk.
SHIFT Payments Boardrooms
My role: Organiser
I owned content, partners and the guest list for the May 2024 DIFC boardroom. I coordinated the SHIFT committee under the co-chairs' direction.
Photos: May 2024 DIFC boardroom stills, plus my SHIFT committee group photo (session not pinned).
UAE
Report + roundtable | Sustainable fintech
I turned a report into a room.
Sustainable fintech
My role: Contributor: report and event
I worked on both the sustainable fintech report and the Mastercard roundtable: the content on one side, the event on the other.
Photos show the Mastercard roundtable. I contributed to the report and the event; I do not claim sole authorship.
Bahrain
MFTA presence | Fintech Forward Bahrain
I put MFTA on the map in Bahrain.
Fintech Forward Bahrain
My role: Organiser
I helped organise MFTA's presence at Fintech Forward: roundtables, plus report work with CBB, NBB and others.
Photos are from the October 2024 summit.
Qatar
Payments & regulation | Doha | 23 October 2024
I took the boardroom to Doha.
MFTA Qatar Payments Boardroom
My role: Organiser, MFTA
I helped organise the Qatar Payments Boardroom while I was still at MFTA.
Date from the official artwork; room matches the public recap photo.
Chapter 3: Dinners, stages and partnerships
Where I got people in the right place.
Saudi Arabia
Executive dinner | Il Baretto, KAFD | September 2024
I seated the right people at one table.
MFTA x PwC x Citi executive dinner
My role: Organiser
I helped organise the MFTA x PwC x Citi executive dinner. I worked with the restaurant and managed the invite list.
Dinner confirmed by public recaps (MFTA, PwC, Citi). The image shows 24 Fintech week, not the dinner room.
UAE
iFX EXPO Dubai | Idea Hub | January 2025
I brought MFTA to iFX.
Setting Up in UAE - MFTA workshop
My role: Co-organiser
I helped organise the Setting Up in UAE workshop and MFTA's presence at iFX Expo.
Workshop listed in the 15 January 2025 Idea Hub agenda (Finance Magnates).
UAE
Expand North Star / GITEX | 2022-2024, per my recollection
I put stablecoins on the GITEX stage.
Fintech Surge - stablecoins & Future of Money
My role: Co-organiser
I helped organise both the stablecoins roundtable and the Future of Money unplugged stage.
Photos show the roundtable room and Future of Money stage, 2022-2024.
UAE
DIFC coworking spaces | 2022-2024, per my recollection
I opened DIFC's coworking doors to our members.
MFTA x DIFC - coworking-space showcase
My role: Organiser
I organised an MFTA x DIFC partner showcase of DIFC's coworking space.
Photo shows DIFC Coworking Spaces, 2022-2024.
Chapter 4: On my own
Where I worked independently.
Saudi Arabia
Independent work with CFTE | Riyadh | 4 September 2024
I did this one on my own.
24 Fintech - CFTE workforce roundtable
My role: Independent, with CFTE
Working independently with CFTE, I helped organise the roundtable and co-created its report. This was not an MFTA event.
CFTE's recap photos. Independent work, not an MFTA event. Public sources confirm the session and report.