Samer Soliman is CEO of Arab Financial Services (AFS) and is responsible for driving the company’s digital payments and fintech growth strategy across the Middle East and Africa markets. In his role, Soliman is leading the company into a new era of payments digitalisation, spearheading the application of new technologies for more seamless and intuitive payments experiences. Alongside the company’s executive team, Soliman is continuing the AFS tradition of pioneering new, smart payment solutions and services to the region, including advancing the company’s financial inclusion efforts.
With a passion for superior company-customer relationships and forward-thinking innovation in the payments space, Soliman provides direction that continues to strengthen AFS’ position as the MEA region’s leading digital payments and fintech solutions provider and enabler.
Under Soliman’s leadership, AFS recently partnered with stc Bahrain, a world-class digital enabler, to launch a series of next-generation fintech payment solutions that will support both retail SMEs and customers across Bahrain.
Soliman is a creative, people-focused and strategic leader with more than 20 years of international experience across the banking and payments sector. He brings a unique blend of payments, technical and regional expertise to the role. Before joining AFS, he held a number of senior leadership roles at Network International. Most recently, in the post of managing director for the Network International Group’s Middle East business, Soliman was responsible for their regional acquiring and issuing activities, and for implementing a comprehensive growth strategy across the Middle East.
As part of his ongoing commitment to fintech and developing future leaders, Soliman is a board advisor to online investment advisory Sarwa Digital Wealth Limited and a board member of SP Jain Global School of Management, a leading, multi-city Australian business school known for its disruptive innovation in business education in Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney. He is also a member of the advisory council of UAE-based e-commerce enabler Zbooni, and Dubai-based fintech start-up Jingle Pay.
Throughout his career he has held various roles including Chairman of Network International Jordan, Board member of Diners/Discover ME, Managing Director of Network International Egypt, and Product Advisory Board member of UnionPay International.
Soliman holds a master’s degree in Leading Innovation and Change from Robert Kennedy College in Switzerland, in partnership with York St John University; a Certificate in Management from the University of Wollongong; and a degree in Management from the Ministry of Higher Education Sinai.
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