The Digital Banking Playbook: Lessons from Launching Digital Banks in the UK, UAE & Saudi Arabia

How do you build a digital bank from scratch across three countries, three regulators, and three very different ecosystems?

In this episode of The Digital Banking Playbook, we sit down with an expert who’s spent the past 8.5 years building three digital banks in the UK, UAE, and Saudi Arabia and holding C-Suite roles such as Chief Operating Officer, Chief of Staff, and Chief Product Officer.

Our guest has built both retail and SME banks, navigated some of the toughest regulatory landscapes, and learned what truly separates successful digital banks from those that never launch.

Topics Covered:

• The biggest challenges of building a digital bank
• Regulatory differences between the UK, UAE, and KSA
• Why Agile development doesn’t always work for regulated products
• How to balance innovation with compliance
• Building the right team and skill sets for digital banking
• AI in banking — practical applications and implementation hurdles
• The future of banking: Super Apps vs. Embedded Banking

Featured Story: The Blank Cheque Dilemma

When ambition meets unlimited funding what happens next?

Hear how one digital bank’s blank cheque became its downfall, and why disciplined funding gates are critical to any successful fintech build.

Future of Digital Banking:

• The Super App vs. Embedded Banking arms race
• How Open Banking and AI will redefine the customer experience
• Why the “MVP” in banking keeps getting bigger and what that means for founders
• The next category-defining digital bank could emerge within 2–3 years

Key Takeaways:

• Building a bank costs more and takes longer than you think
• Not every fintech needs to become a bank and partnerships can winThere are two phases: the “rails” and the “differentiation”
• Fraud, compliance, and AI governance are the next big frontiers
• Choosing the right jurisdiction is as crucial as the product strategy

Who Should Watch:

• Founders & entrepreneurs exploring fintech and neobank opportunities
• VCs & investors interested in regulated fintech ventures
• Product, tech, and operations leaders building digital financial products
• Anyone passionate about the future of banking and AI

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