ARABIAN TIMES NEWS NETWORK
As the UAE strengthens its position as a global hub for finance and international trade, banking leaders with multi-regional experience are playing an increasingly influential role. One such figure is Rusana Joseph Waryoba, a Tanzanian banker whose career spans trade finance, investment banking, and institutional leadership across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
Born in Tanzania in 1984, Waryoba entered the banking industry in 2009, a period marked by heightened regulation and renewed focus on financial stability following the global financial crisis. Rather than pursuing high-risk growth strategies, he developed his expertise in trade finance, compliance, and risk management, areas that continue to define his professional approach. Waryoba’s career trajectory reflects a strong emphasis on international exposure and continuous learning.
He holds a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance from Swiss UMEF University in Geneva and has completed extensive professional training through global institutions, including the World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, and the New York Institute of Finance. His professional specialisations extend across investment banking, wealth management, insurance, Islamic finance, fintech, and infrastructure finance, equipping him to operate in complex, cross-border regulatory environments.
Today, Waryoba serves as Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Exim Credit Bank (ECB). In this role, he is responsible for the bank’s overall strategy, governance, and international operations. Under his leadership, ECB has focused on: Facilitating international trade through structured trade finance solutions / Expanding correspondent banking relationships / strengthening corporate governance and regulatory compliance / Supporting digital banking initiatives and financial inclusion.
Industry peers describe his leadership style as disciplined and systems-driven, with an emphasis on long-term institutional credibility rather than short-term expansion. Now resident in the United Arab Emirates, Waryoba operates from a country that serves as a strategic bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe. Dubai’s role as a centre for finance, logistics, and investment aligns closely with his work in cross-border banking and trade-related finance.
Beyond banking, he is involved in a diversified portfolio of business interests spanning financial services, insurance, fund management, shipping, energy, aviation, media, construction, and real estate-related services. The breadth of these ventures reflects an understanding of how financial institutions interact with real-economy sectors. Waryoba has consistently highlighted the importance of financial inclusion, SME support, and responsible banking practices, particularly in developing and emerging markets.
His work underscores the role of banks not only as financial intermediaries, but as institutions that support economic development and trade connectivity. As the UAE continues to attract global capital and financial talent, leaders with cross-regional expertise are expected to play a growing role in shaping the future of banking in the region. For Rusana Joseph Waryoba, the journey from East Africa to the Gulf reflects both a personal career evolution and the broader transformation of global finance, one increasingly defined by connectivity, compliance, and long-term value creation.
