WafeqNEXT Dubai 2025: A Bold Look Into the Future of Finance in MENA

On April 17th, 2025, Wafeq brought together accountants, fintech leaders, tax experts, and business owners under one roof at The Edition Hotel, Downtown Dubai — and the result was a full day of conversations that matter.

WafeqNEXT Dubai 2025 was more than a conference — it was a community milestone. From the opening coffee to the closing conversations over lunch, the event focused on what’s next for regional finance: digital transformation, regulatory evolution, and the power of automation.

🎬 Watch the Recap Video

Catch the best moments from the day in this short highlight reel:

Event Highlights & Agenda Recap

The day started with the hum of fresh coffee, enthusiastic handshakes, and a shared sense of momentum. Over 120 professionals from across the MENA region gathered to explore how regulation, automation, and collaboration reshape the financial landscape for small and mid-sized businesses.

Opening & Welcome

Speaker: Nadim Alameddine – Founder and CEO at Wafeq

Nadim opened the day with a message that resonated deeply: accounting is changing — fast — and the tools we use must evolve even faster. He emphasized Wafeq’s mission to build modern accounting infrastructure that isn’t just compliant with regulatory changes like ZATCA and corporate tax, but also built for speed, simplicity, and scale.

He welcomed the audience not just as attendees, but as collaborators — a community of accountants, advisors, and finance leaders ready to shape the future together.

Global Digital Accounting Trends: From AI to E-invoicing

Speaker: Ayman Kaouri – Scope Solutions

Ayman delivered a high-impact talk that connected global shifts in finance tech with the specific needs of UAE accounting firms and SMEs. He spoke about:

• The rise of AI-powered bookkeeping and forecasting, and how automation is eliminating manual workflows.
• How digital platforms like Wafeq are bridging the gap between compliance and strategic insights.
• Why e-invoicing isn’t just a ZATCA requirement, but a stepping stone to better decision-making through real-time data.

His talk was both visionary and practical — a wake-up call for firms still stuck in spreadsheets, and a roadmap for those ready to lead the shift.

Panel Discussion: Navigating Corporate Tax in the UAE

This was one of the most interactive sessions of the day — and for good reason. Corporate tax is top of mind for every finance leader in the UAE. The panel covered:

1. How companies should prepare financial systems for compliance — beyond just filling out forms.
2. The importance of audit trails and proper documentation.
3. Real-world challenges like retroactive data alignment, accounting for group structures, and managing fixed assets under the new tax regime.
4. The role software like Wafeq plays in simplifying tax workflows while maintaining regulatory accuracy.

The Q&A session saw strong engagement from attendees, with many asking about late filings, system limitations, and what auditors are likely to scrutinize.

Reimagining Wafeq for Next-Gen Accounting

Speaker: Amine Alameddine – Product Manager, Wafeq

Amine gave attendees a sneak peek into the future of Wafeq’s platform — including upcoming features that respond directly to user feedback.

Key highlights included:

• Enhancements in multi-entity management, enabling firms to manage branches and subsidiaries with better visibility and less manual work.
• Upcoming automation in journal entries and improved reconciliation tools.
• Deepening ZATCA Phase 2 integration, including seamless XML generation and real-time validation.

He emphasized that Wafeq is being built hand-in-hand with its users — and that every feature launched reflects a real business need faced by accountants and business owners on the ground.

☕ Coffee Break

Between sessions, attendees networked over coffee and discussed how their firms are adapting to the rapid changes in regulation and technology. This wasn’t just a pause — it was a platform for exchanging ideas and forming new partnerships.

E-Invoicing from Zero to One

Speaker: Ankur Jain – MMJS Consulting

Ankur’s talk focused on what it takes for businesses in Saudi Arabia to become ZATCA Phase 2–compliant — moving beyond the basics and into operational realities.

He outlined:

• The difference between basic e-invoicing (Phase 1) and real-time API integration (Phase 2).
• How delays in implementation can expose businesses to fines and inefficiencies.
• The key features to look for in an e-invoicing solution — such as automated archiving, XML generation, and secure encryption.

This session was especially valuable for attendees managing cross-border invoicing and navigating the dual challenge of compliance and cash flow visibility.

Fireside Chat: Real Compliance Talk

Host: Maher Aoun

Guest: John Casey – Managing Director, taxready.ae (Virtuzone Company)

In an honest, unscripted conversation, John shared what it's like helping clients navigate compliance on a daily basis — and how the most effective firms are those that treat compliance as a strategic function, not just an obligation.

Key takeaways:

1. The difference between being compliant and being audit-ready.
2. Why education and system design go hand-in-hand when preparing teams for tax changes.
3. Practical advice on structuring reporting systems that are resilient, adaptable, and easy to audit.

Transforming Vendor Payments with Wio Integration

Speaker: Ankit Agrawal – Head of Business Banking, Wio

Ankit demonstrated how modern finance teams are moving from manual bank uploads to fully automated vendor payments. His session showed:

• How Wio’s smart business banking integrates with accounting systems like Wafeq.
• The ability to initiate and approve bulk payments in just a few clicks.
• The growing importance of connecting accounting data directly with banking platforms to reduce fraud, reconciliation delays, and approval bottlenecks.

Attendees saw a live workflow of how Wafeq + Wio can streamline AP processes — from invoice to payment — without leaving the accounting dashboard.

Closing Remarks, Networking, and What Comes Next

As the final session wrapped up, Wafeq’s CEO Nadim Alameddine returned to the stage to close the day with a message of clarity and momentum.

He thanked the speakers, partners, and attendees for making the first-ever WafeqNEXT Dubai a space for meaningful dialogue and shared progress. His message was simple but resonant:

The future of finance in MENA won’t be shaped by regulation alone — it will be built by those who embrace clarity, collaboration, and the right tools.

After a full morning of insight-packed sessions, attendees moved into the networking lunch — a lively mix of accountants, founders, consultants, and partners exchanging stories, contacts, and ideas. Over delicious bites, the conversations extended far beyond compliance, diving into real business problems and the tools needed to solve them.