"Events like this remind us that collaboration across markets is not just possible, but essential" - Maha Al-Saadi

In a world where regulation and innovation must move in lockstep, Maha Al-Saadi brings a rare perspective that bridges both. As Head of Regulatory Affairs at the QFC Authority, she navigates the evolving landscape of fintech, blockchain, and AI with both rigor and vision.

In this interview, conducted ahead of her participation in Nexus Luxembourg 2025, Maha shares her thoughts on the role of global collaboration and forward-thinking regulation.

Maha Al-Saadi

1. What inspired you to join Nexus Luxembourg for its second edition?

I’ve always admired how Luxembourg punches above its weight as a global financial and innovation hub. The Nexus platform brings together some of the brightest minds in tech, policy, and finance, and I believe there are valuable lessons we can take back to Doha as we continue building bridges between regulators, innovators, and investors. Events like this remind us that collaboration across markets is not just possible, but essential, if we want to unlock real impact back home.

2. What’s one tech prediction for the future that sounds crazy, but you believe in?

I’m convinced that fully autonomous AI agents negotiating, transacting, and managing tasks on our behalf will be part of our daily lives much sooner than we expect. It might sound like sci-fi, but let’s be honest… we’re already halfway there , these agents could be handling onboarding, compliance, and even regulatory reporting in real time. The real challenge won’t be the tech in my opinion it’ll be ensuring that regulation and governance evolve just as quickly to keep pace.

3. What’s one thing tech still hasn’t fixed that it should have by now?

One of the biggest gaps is the lack of practical, scalable solutions for helping traditional financial institutions transition from legacy systems to Web3 and tokenized finance infrastructures. We talk a lot about disruption, but the real value comes when we empower incumbents to evolve—seamlessly and securely without risking operational resilience or regulatory compliance. That bridge is still missing in many markets.

4. If AI could help with one everyday task, what should it be?

Professionally, I’d love for AI to help distill dense regulatory updates into practical insights tailored for different stakeholders. On the personal front, if AI could settle the daily lunch debate at home (and ideally place the order too), I think my family and I would be eternally grateful.

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From Doha to Luxembourg, Maha Al-Saadi reminds us that shaping the future of finance and innovation requires more than cutting-edge tech, it demands inclusive regulation, global dialogue, and practical solutions that work across borders. She will speak during the fireside chat "Regulatory Developments in Web3" on June 17.