A delegation led by David Burt, the Premier, has travelled to the United Arab Emirates to take part in a private fintech roundtable and the World Governments Summit.

A government spokeswoman said Bermuda was invited to the Satoshi Roundtable, a private invitation-only event from which the media is banned, in recognition of the island’s leadership in digital finance.

The spokeswoman added that after the roundtable, Mr Burt will join hundreds of heads of government, ministers and leaders at the summit to “discuss future-forward approaches to governance”.

She said: “The Premier’s participation reflects Bermuda’s growing profile as a jurisdiction that contributes meaningfully to global conversations on financial innovation and public-sector modernisation.

“The Premier will be speaking at the Government Services Forum and will lead a fireside chat with CNN’s Eleni Giokos.”

Mr Burt has also been invited as a special guest and speaker at the Arab Fiscal Forum, which brings together a dozen finance ministers and central bank governors from the region, along with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund to discuss fiscal policies.

The spokeswoman added: “While in the region, the Premier will also travel to the Kingdom of Bahrain to advance bilateral engagement and strengthen ties between Bermuda and Bahrain.”

All airfare and accommodations for the delegation are being covered by the Government of the UAE.

Mr Burt said: “Returning to the Satoshi Roundtable and participating in the World Government Summit reflects Bermuda’s continued leadership in digital finance and our commitment to engaging at the highest levels internationally.

“This visit also provides an important opportunity to continue strengthening relations with partner countries in the Gulf Co-operation Council, including the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and to advance co-operation that supports economic opportunity for Bermudians.”

The delegation also includes Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, and Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, along with Alexia Hefti, Bermuda’s special representative for the Middle East and Africa.

In 2024, it was reported that ministers had spent a total of $61,000 in trips to the United Arab Emirates, with Mr Burt’s attendance at the Satoshi Roundtable responsible for $7,796 of that sum.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, also travelled to the UAE that year to attend the World Governments Summit in February, but the cost of that trip was covered by event organisers at no expense to the Bermudian taxpayer.

The Government’s travel calendar website did not attribute any trips to either the Satoshi Roundtable or the World Governments Summit in 2025.