Bank ABC’s ABC Labs recognised among ‘World’s Best Financial Innovation Labs’ in 2026 by Global Finance

Bank ABC, a leading international bank rooted in MENA, has received the ‘World’s Best Financial Innovation Labs’ award by Global Finance 2026 Innovators Awards for its innovation and digitisation centre, ABC Labs. This marks the fifth time ABC Labs has been recognised by this prestigious awards programme, highlighting its role in spearheading the Bank’s enterprise-wide innovation and value creation programme.

Established in 2019, ABC Labs continues to accelerate the delivery of customer-centric solutions and experiences, while fostering a culture of innovation, enhancing operational agility, and strengthening the Bank’s digital capabilities. The Lab’s continued recognition underscores Bank ABC’s strategic focus on identifying, scaling and embedding innovative solutions that deliver tangible value for clients and employees among other stakeholders across its international network. 

Commenting on this achievement, Dr. Yousif Almas, Group Chief Digitisation Officer, Bank ABC, noted: “We are honoured to win this prestigious award for the fifth time, marking a significant milestone in our strategic transformation and innovation journey. At Bank ABC, innovation is embedded across the organisation and informs how we serve clients, improve operations and create long-term value. This accolade reinforces our commitment to solving problems in new ways and responding swiftly to evolving market needs as we advance our vision of becoming MENA’s international bank of the future.”

Commenting on this year’s awards, Joseph Giarraputo, Founder and Editorial Director of Global Finance, said: “Financial Innovation Labs play a critical role in enabling banks and financial institutions to experiment with emerging technologies, test new business models, and accelerate the development of customer-focused solutions in a controlled environment. These labs help organisations adapt more quickly to market changes and drive sustainable innovation across the financial ecosystem. Global Finance’s Best Financial Innovation Labs 2026 are the leaders shaping the next generation of financial services.”

Recent Innovation Highlights from by ABC Labs

•    Delivered more than 40 AI and automation use cases across the Group, generating over 100,000 annual productivity hours while enhancing efficiency and supporting improved customer and employee experiences.
•    Extended GenAI tools to employees Group-wide, with significant adoption to date, supported by training programmes, co-creation sessions, and hackathons across six global units so far. 
•    Deployed AI agents to automate and enhance workflows across multiple business areas.
•    Advanced digital asset-based initiatives, with several use cases currently underway. 
•    Rolled out ABC Innovation Weeks across the Group to unlock new opportunities and address business challenges.

Now in its ninth year, Global Finance’s Best Financial Innovation Labs report is widely regarded as a benchmark for excellence in fintech innovation. The awards recognise leading internal and external innovation labs by financial institutions, venture capital firms, and independent organisations worldwide that are shaping the future of financial services.