The World Bank issued a statement on April 10, 2026 confirming Abu Dhabi’s selection as host for the 2029 annual meetings jointly held with the International Monetary Fund. A formal signing of the hosting agreement is scheduled to occur at the 2026 edition of the meetings in Bangkok, according to the multilateral institution. The choice of venue reflects the UAE’s elevated standing in global economic discussions, the World Bank added in its announcement.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, welcomed the development in a post on X. He stated that the UAE’s hosting “reflects international confidence, affirms the UAE’s entrenched financial status and embodies the efficiency and capabilities of its people”. Sheikh Mohammed added, “These global meetings … represent a key platform for shaping global financial stability policies and crafting the future of the international economy.”
The annual meetings normally convene at the headquarters of the World Bank and IMF in Washington but are hosted by a member country every third year. More than 10,000 participants including government ministers, central bank leaders, private sector representatives, academics, civil society members and journalists typically attend either in person or virtually, World Bank figures show. The agenda centres on global economic and financial stability, job creation and poverty eradication, according to the institution.
This marks only the second time the meetings have been held in the Middle East, following Dubai’s turn as host in 2003. The UAE and Turkey stand as the sole countries from the region to have staged the event, with London having served as the first host outside the United States in 1947, institutional records indicate. Attendance has continued to expand in recent cycles, the World Bank reported.
A World Bank assessment found that the UAE economy expanded an estimated 5.6 percent in 2025, backed by 6.1 percent growth in the non-oil sector. Wholesale and retail trade along with manufacturing and financial services powered the non-oil performance that year, the assessment detailed. Inflation held at a modest 1.3 percent, World Bank data shows.
Governors use the annual meetings to address major global economic challenges and reach decisions on policy matters that shape the future actions of the two institutions’ executive boards, the World Bank said. Side events encompass country group sessions, civil society forums and press briefings featuring the World Bank president and IMF managing director. The 2026 Spring Meetings were set to open the week after the April 10 announcement, per the World Bank’s published schedule.
