IMF Regional Office in Riyadh

How it started: Following a visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2022, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva announced a significant milestone in the IMF’s partnership with the region: the establishment of an IMF Regional Office in Riyadh. The office officially launched its operations in April 2024, marked by a two-day conference co-organized with the Ministry of Finance of Saudi Arabia on Industrial Policy for Diversification.

Objectives: The overarching objective of the IMF Regional Office in Riyadh is to support economic policymaking and reforms in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and, more broadly, in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAP) region. This support includes fostering capacity development (CD) and facilitating dialogue with policymakers while engaging with academics, experts, and other stakeholders.

Our staff

- Abdoul Aziz Wane, Director, IMF Regional Office in Riyadh

Before assuming the role of Director of the IMF Regional Office in Riyadh, Abdoul Aziz served as Assistant Director in the Asia and Pacific Department (APD) of the IMF. In that capacity, he led the division responsible for Australia, New Zealand, and Timor Leste, and held cumulative responsibilities as Mission Chief for Australia and Senior Reviewer for several Pacific Island Countries. In June 2023, Abdoul rejoined the IMF following a one-year sabbatical at the University of Oxford, where he collaborated with Professor Paul Collier on a research project focused on economic fragility and the establishment of a public policy school in Africa. Abdoul’s career with the IMF encompasses a range of roles (Resident Representative, Director of the Training Center, Director of the Technical Assistance Center, Mission Chief, and Division Chief) in different departments (AFR, APD, ICD, FAD, MCD, and SPR). His IMF research focused on growth and convergence, public-private partnerships (PPPs), green investment, governance, and monetary policy. In 2022, he co-edited an IMF book titled "Good Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities and Lessons." Prior to joining the IMF, he was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Dakar, Senegal. Abdoul Aziz holds a Master’s degree in Econometrics from the Toulouse School of Economics and a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Dakar.

- Balazs Csonto, Deputy Director, IMF Regional Office in Riyadh

Balazs Csonto is Deputy Director of the International Monetary Fund Regional Office in Riyadh. Previously, he worked in the African, Strategy, Policy, and Review, and Western Hemisphere departments. He has covered several countries, such as Dominica, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Somalia, Uganda and Yemen, as well as worked on several policy issues related to monetary policy, IMF surveillance, and the design of post-GFC IMF programs. His research includes work on monetary policy, capital flows and the international monetary system. Prior to joining the IMF, he was an economist at the European Investment Bank and ING Bank.

- Ismail Meghfour, Protocol Officer, IMF Regional Office in Riyadh

Ismail Meghfour joined the IMF Regional Office in Riyadh as Protocol Officer in October 2024. Before joining the IMF, Ismail spearheaded the establishment of the first United Nations Tourism Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh. In this role, his responsibilities included protocol, procurement, finance, office management, and operational excellence. Additionally, he served as a Program Officer in the UN Tourism’s Innovation, Education, and Investments Department. Previously, he was Digital Products Manager at Piensa Diferente, a product and software development company within Neolabels Group in Madrid. He holds an MSc in Communications and Digital Entrepreneurship from the European University of Madrid and a BSc in International Business Administration with a concentration in Economics from Saint Louis University, Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business. Ismail is multilingual, fluent in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.

- Abdulaziz Alhomaidi, Office Manager, IMF Regional Office in Riyadh

Abdulaziz Alhomaidi joined the IMF Regional Office in Riyadh as Office Manager in September 2024. He has over 15 years of diverse experience in international affairs, finance, banking, project management, and strategic planning. His career has included seven years at Saudi Aramco as an Assistant Contract Advisor, six years in retail banking, and leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. As Director of the International Technical Cooperation Department at the Saudi Ministry of Finance, Abdulaziz spearheaded collaborations between global organizations and local entities. He holds a Master’s degree in Finance specializing in Investment and Islamic Finance, and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations.

- Ghadah Alsufyani, Administrative Assistant, IMF Regional Office in Riyadh

Ghadah Alsufyani joined the IMF Regional Office in Riyadh as an Administrative Assistant in December 2024. Previously, she served as an Administrator at Diverum AB, a leading global provider of dialysis care, and as a Helpdesk Operator and Client Care Representative at MADAR Co. Ghadah holds a Bachelor's degree in English from Princess Nourah University, with second-class honors. She has also earned a Certificate in Leadership Skills and an Executive Mini MBA from Leoron Institute, along with an International Certificate in IT Skills Foundation under Cambridge International Examination.

Address

• Workshop on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

  The Regional Office in Riyadh (ROR) and the IMF’s Legal Department, in partnership with the GCC Secretariat, will conduct a workshop and outreach event for regulators and supervisors in the GCC region. This event will focus on virtual assets (VAs) and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) within the context of anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) standards. The workshop will cover several key areas, including discussions on the legal frameworks that govern VAs and VASPs. It will explore various policy options available to regulators, such as the pros and cons of regulating VAs and VASPs through licensing or registration, the possibility of banning certain activities, and implementing an absolute ban on specific practices. Participants will engage in discussions about the diverse regulatory approaches among GCC countries, providing a foundation for exploring strategies to mitigate risks associated with virtual assets. Additionally, the workshop will emphasize best practices in supervising VAs and VASPs, highlighting the importance of risk-based supervisory methods and international cooperation.

  February 25, 2025

• Virtual Workshop on Direct Investment: Measurement and Compilation Issues

  The Regional Office in Riyadh (ROR) and the IMF’s Statistics Department, in partnership with GCC-Stat, will be hosting a webinar. This event will underscore the importance of collection frameworks, methodology, coordination, and data dissemination. It will also include information on participating in the IMF’s Coordinated Direct Investment Survey. The target audience for this webinar includes staff from statistical offices, central banks, and other agencies involved in compiling Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) data.

  February 23, 2025

• AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (AlUla, Saudi Arabia)

  The AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies is an annual economic policy conference held in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, organized by the Ministry of Finance of Saudi Arabia and the IMF Regional Office in Riyadh. The conference will convene a select group of emerging markets’ ministers of finance, central bank governors, and policymakers, including public and private sector leaders, representatives from international institutions, and members of academia. It will offer a unique platform to exchange views on domestic, regional, and global economic developments and discuss policies and reforms to spur inclusive prosperity and build resilience supported by strong international cooperation.

  February 16, 2025

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