Commercial Bank of Dubai’s (CBD) recognition in the “Business Model – Middle East” category at the Global Private Banking Innovation Awards 2026 reflects a partnership-first strategy driven by Jamal Al Matari, General Manager of Business Development. Built on three decades of industry experience, Jamal leads CBD’s efforts to expand strategic collaborations within the UAE’s evolving digital financial ecosystem.
Since joining CBD in 2009, Jamal has held senior leadership roles spanning private banking, wealth management and business development. His previous leadership in Private Banking and Wealth Management was instrumental in strengthening CBD’s client relationships and driving high-value client engagement. Today, he works at the intersection of banking, fintech and regulation, to expand CBD’s market reach.
A key milestone was leading CBD’s live activation of Open Finance, making it the first UAE bank to move the Central Bank’s AlTareq framework from pilot to operation. This initiative directly supports the UAE’s wider digital transformation agenda. Through strategic partnerships with fintechs including Pay10 and Lean Technologies, CBD is advancing from traditional product offerings to a collaborative financial ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Jamal is focused on onboarding third-party providers and scaling Open Finance beyond data sharing into payment initiation. Commenting on the bank’s vision, Jamal notes: “True innovation cannot happen in isolation. Our strategy relies on building trusted partnerships rooted in shared success, bringing together banks, fintechs, and regulators to create simpler and better-connected banking experiences across the UAE.”
