Swift, a Belgium-based member-owned cooperative and provider of secure financial messaging services, has announced the host cities for its flagship Sibos conference through to the end of the decade, naming Dubai as the 2029 host, marking the first time the event will be held outside the traditional rotation of Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.

The announcement signals a strategic shift in Swift’s approach to the global event, with an expanded focus on financial inclusivity across emerging markets.

Starting in 2029, Sibos will rotate every fourth year to regions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Swift stated that this broader rotation aims to reflect the diversity of its network, which includes over 11,500 institutions across more than 200 countries and territories.

“Swift is a convener of and for the global financial industry and as the breadth of our network continues to grow, we’re delighted to be able to expand Sibos to more locations around the world,”

said Rosemary Stone, Chief Corporate Officer at Swift.

“No other event brings the industry together on the same scale as Sibos, and the addition of even more perspectives to the event’s debates and discussions will be increasingly valuable as the industry navigates rapid technological change and the growing risk of fragmentation.”

Dubai’s selection highlights the Middle East’s rising significance in global finance.

Often referred to as the “Gateway to Africa,” the city’s Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has grown into a key financial hub since its establishment in 2004, now hosting nearly 7,000 companies and a major portion of the Gulf’s fintech ecosystem.

The Sibos 2029 edition will follow events in Frankfurt (2025), Miami (2026), Singapore (2027), and Paris (2028), the latter of which will mark the 50th anniversary of the event.

Sibos, which began in 1978, brings together stakeholders from across the financial services sector to discuss topics in payments, securities, cash management, and trade.

It regularly draws over 10,000 delegates and is awarded to host cities through a competitive bidding process that considers financial significance, logistical and technological infrastructure, and venue capacity.

The conference shifted online in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has maintained a virtual attendance option since resuming in-person events in 2022.

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