Singapore FinTech Festival 2026: planning guide for UAE residents

The Singapore FinTech Festival 2026 will take place on 18–20 November at Singapore EXPO. This is the main meeting place for regulators, banks, payment companies and investors from around the world. If you are flying from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, plan your trip in advance. A Delegate pass costs S$1,500, the direct flight from Dubai takes approximately 7 hours 35 minutes, and UAE nationals enter Singapore without a visa.

Key facts

Singapore FinTech Festival 2026 at a glance

Singapore FinTech Festival 2026 is organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) together with Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN). The forum occupies Halls 1–6 of the Singapore EXPO exhibition centre, with sessions running on several stages simultaneously — from the main stage to thematic venues on payments, AI and tokenisation of assets. The scale of the event is measured in tens of thousands of participants from more than 100 countries, although the organiser publishes the exact figure closer to the date.

The organiser clarifies the opening hours of the stages and exhibition closer to the date. The procedure for issuing badges will be announced separately — as a rule, on the eve of the opening.

Singapore FinTech Festival passes and prices

You can check all the information on the official website.

Complimentary passes: trade visitor, policy and academic

The complimentary Trade Visitor pass gives access to the exhibition area and some stages. The Policy pass is intended for employees of regulators and central banks, and the Academic pass for teachers and students of relevant specialities. The right to each of these passes is checked by the organiser; the existence of a complimentary category does not mean that just anyone will receive it.

Getting to Singapore from Dubai and Abu Dhabi

A direct flight from Dubai to Singapore takes approximately 7 hours 35 minutes. There are fewer direct flights from Abu Dhabi, and a connection may be required. It is worth arriving on 17 November 2026 in order to be in place by the opening. From Changi Airport to Expo station is one stop on the metro, about 10 minutes.

Where to stay and how to reach Singapore EXPO

The closest areas to the venue are Changi and Tanah Merah: from hotels here you can walk to Singapore EXPO or reach it in one stop. Marina Bay and the business district suit those who want to combine the festival with a city programme: the metro journey takes 35–40 minutes. Bugis is convenient for the direct Downtown line to Expo station.

Getting to Singapore EXPO on festival days

Expo metro station is within walking distance of Halls 1–6. The badge collection desk, as a rule, operates at the entrance; the organiser will announce the exact location on the eve. Large bags are not recommended on the territory — leave them at the hotel.

What else to see in Singapore

If the trip takes more than three days, it is worth setting aside a window for the city. Gardens by the Bay — the gardens at Marina Bay — are open until late in the evening. Hawker centres give an idea of local cuisine at low cost. Marina Bay is especially good in the evening, when the lighting comes on. If you are planning an autumn fintech tour, see our guide to Hong Kong FinTech Week (2–6 November).

What to know before you go

In November in Singapore it is around 31 °C during the day and 24 °C at night, and it rains frequently. The halls at Singapore EXPO have air conditioning, so a business suit may feel cool — bring something for your shoulders. Dress code: business or smart casual. Entry to the festival is permitted from age 16. The SG Arrival Card is submitted three days before arrival; it is not a visa but a mandatory formality. Singapore is 4 hours ahead of the UAE.

• Bring a wrap — the halls are cool
• Plan for afternoon downpours
• Submit the SG Arrival Card 3 days before arrival
• Allow for the time difference: +4 hours to the UAE
• Entry from age 16, dress code business or smart casual

Visa and entry: different passports, different rules

Visa requirements depend on the passport, not on the place of residence. This is the first thing to check when planning a trip to SFF 2026 if you live in the UAE but hold a passport of another country.

Visa-free (no advance application required)

Citizens of European Union countries, as well as the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the PRC, enter Singapore without a visa for short-term business trips.

Visa required (applied for in advance)

The following categories require a visa, and it cannot be obtained on arrival: Russia, India, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan and a number of others.

96-hour visa-free transit

Citizens of CIS countries (including Russia and Kazakhstan), Georgia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine can use 96-hour visa-free transit if they are travelling to or from a third country via Singapore and hold an onward air ticket departing within 96 hours. Indian nationals also need a valid visa or long-term pass for Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK or the USA. Extensions are not allowed. A Dubai–Singapore–Dubai round trip does not usually qualify, so SFF delegates should apply for a visa. 

SG Arrival Card

The SG Arrival Card is submitted within three days before arrival, including the day of arrival. The form is completed by everyone arriving — with and without a visa. It is a free electronic form, not a visa.

Why apply for a Singapore visa from Dubai through The Visa Services?

Arranging a Singapore visa from the UAE is a standard procedure, but nevertheless it requires very careful preparation. We know the UAE well. We know how Singapore visa applications from the UAE are lodged — through authorised visa agents appointed by Singapore’s missions — and what officers usually check.  Our visa experts know how to prepare a convincing application, even if family members hold passports of different countries, you need a visa urgently, or you have recently received a refusal.

This material is informational and is not legal or immigration advice. Event dates, schedules and pass prices are set by the organiser and change — verify them on official sources before booking. Any visa decision rests with the authorities of the country concerned; we do not guarantee approval.