What happened?
 Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan is leading the Kingdom’s delegation to the 2026 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, being held in the Thai capital, Bangkok, from October 12 to 17.
The delegation includes Saudi Central Bank Governor Ayman Al-Sayari, as well as officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Saudi Fund for Development, the National Debt Management Center, and other government entities.

First, what are the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank?
 The idea for the two institutions emerged at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference in the United States. Today, almost every country in the world is a member of both, but each has a different role.
The International Monetary Fund monitors the health of the global economy and individual countries’ economies, offers advice, and helps countries facing financial crises with emergency loans.
The World Bank focuses on development. It finances projects in developing countries, such as roads, schools, and electricity, with the primary goal of fighting poverty.
The Annual Meetings are the two institutions’ largest gathering of the year. They are usually held in Washington, but move to another member country roughly every three years. This year, it is Thailand’s turn. At these meetings, the IMF typically releases its “World Economic Outlook” report, which governments and investors around the world follow.

Why is the Kingdom’s participation especially significant?
 Because Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan is more than just a participant: he chairs the “International Monetary and Financial Committee,” the main advisory committee to the IMF Board of Governors—that is, the committee that discusses the most important issues facing the Fund. Its members include finance ministers and central bank governors, and it meets twice a year: at the Spring Meetings and at the Annual Meetings in the fall.
Al-Jadaan was selected to chair the committee for a three-year term that began in January 2024. Before that, he chaired the G20 Finance Track during Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency in 2020.
In addition, Saudi Arabia is the only Arab member of the G20, which brings together the world’s largest economies. The health of the global economy also affects us directly: any slowdown has an impact on oil demand, investment, and trade.

What will the delegation do there?
The Saudi delegation, led by the Minister of Finance, will chair a meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, which discusses developments in the global economy, growth prospects, and the risks facing it.
It will also attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, which is being held this year under the United States’ G20 presidency.
The delegation will also take part in a meeting of the Development Committee, a joint committee of the World Bank and the IMF. This time, its focus is job creation and private-sector investment.
At the regional level, it will participate in a high-level seminar bringing together the IMF and Gulf countries, and in a meeting between the IMF Managing Director and countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, alongside a meeting of Arab governors with the President of the World Bank Group.
Each member of the delegation has a distinct role. The central bank is responsible for monetary policy and financial-sector stability; the Saudi Fund for Development finances development projects in many countries; and the National Debt Management Center manages government borrowing and the issuance of bonds and sukuk. Bringing these entities together shows that the meetings are not merely theoretical discussions: they also cover development, finance, and investment.

In summary
The IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings are a forum for discussing the future of the global economy. The Kingdom’s participation this year is no ordinary presence: its finance minister chairs the IMF’s main advisory committee, and its delegation is involved in discussions on the G20, development, and the region. This reflects the Kingdom’s active role in discussions shaping the global economy.

Disclaimer: This is an informational article intended to explain and simplify the news in clear, accessible language. The information it contains is drawn from published news sources and has been adapted and simplified; it does not represent the official position or statement of any entity. The information may be updated after publication, so readers are advised to consult official sources for full details.