MUSCAT, April 22
The College of Banking and Financial Studies (CBFS) is hosting the third International Conference on Banking, Finance and Business (ICBFB 2025) from April 22–24 under the auspices of Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
Held in strategic partnership with the Central Bank of Oman, Financial Services Authority, and Oman Banks Association, the conference also enjoyed academic collaboration with renowned institutions like the University of Portsmouth (UK) and ISACA Muscat Chapter.
Themed "Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Banking and Finance: Opportunities and Challenges", ICBFB 2025 brings together academic researchers, industry practitioners, and technology innovators to talk about the future of AI in financial services. Topics range from evolving business models and AI-powered innovation to data-driven research and real-world implementation.
In opening remarks, Dr Zahran al Salti, Dean, College of Banking and Financial Studies, stated "The third edition of the conference will be devoted to applications of artificial intelligence in banking and finance, and both opportunities and challenges will be addressed."
Dr Al Salti added: "This event is part of the broader initiative of the university to foster scientific research and knowledge transfer. It is designed to provide a forum for the exploration of key issues in AI, finance, and banking. The conference is expected to develop a deep understanding of the challenges as well as opportunities in these fields, offering innovative solutions and best practices based on expert counsel."
"There will be a range of scientific papers and discussion sessions providing great insights. The conference is being staged as Oman remains on its digital transformation in accordance with the Oman Vision 2040, which exploits developments in information and communication technology," he stated.
A key highlight of the event was the CBFS AI Expo, inaugurated by Ahmed al Musallami, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman. The expo featured over 14 AI companies with next-generation business intelligence and financial technology solutions, and it attracted strong interest from the corporate and entrepreneurial communities.
Dr Ali al Shidhani, Under-Secretary of Communication and Information Technology at the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology, remarked on the matter, "I believe AI can solve a host of pressing challenges facing the banking and finance sector. From fraud detection and credit scoring to algorithmic trading and personalised financial services, AI is already proving transformative."
He added, "Generative AI and large language models are particularly promising in customer experience, with more intuitive and responsive communication tools. This conference will yield a wealth of ideas and possibilities, showcasing the broad spectrum of uses of AI across the financial ecosystem."
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