Where Generations Build Tomorrow: Abu Dhabi hosts the inaugural Forbes Middle East Family Business Summit

Over three thousand business leaders, policymakers and investors gathered at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi to explore the future of family enterprises, from succession planning to artificial intelligence and women's leadership.

The opening day of the inaugural Forbes Middle East Family Business Summit brought together some of the region’s most influential family business leaders, senior government officials and investment experts beneath the refined ambience of Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas on Saadiyat Island. Presented by First Abu Dhabi Bank and held under the theme “Where Generations Build Tomorrow,” the two-day gathering attracted approximately 3,000 participants and featured more than 60 speakers drawn from across the business and policy landscape.

The summit, convened under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, placed family enterprises at the centre of economic discourse. Senior government representatives including Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism; Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development; and Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, joined family business leaders and institutional figures to examine the role of family enterprises in sustaining economic growth and private sector competitiveness.

The first day programme included an awards ceremony honouring companies recognised on Forbes Middle East’s Top Arab Family Businesses 2026 list, celebrating their economic contributions and their stewardship of business continuity across generations. The discussions that followed ranged across governance and leadership succession planning, the strategic application of artificial intelligence and data analytics in business management, and the expanding influence of women in family enterprise leadership.

Participants examined the mechanics of institutional family offices, portfolio management and business diversification, alongside the complexities of acquisitions, partnerships and international expansion. The summit also addressed emerging investment opportunities in water security and climate resilience, exploring how innovative solutions might generate both financial returns and sustainable social impact.

A recurring theme centred on the readiness of the next generation to assume leadership and ownership responsibilities. The Successors Forum, running throughout both days, brought together emerging leaders to address the particular challenges of managing family relationships, protecting reputation and navigating technological transformation. Futoon Hamdan Al Mazrouei, Group Head of Personal, Business, Wealth and Privileged Client Banking Group at First Abu Dhabi Bank, observed that the enduring success of family businesses depends on a long-term strategic vision that balances the preservation of family heritage with the pursuit of innovation and the ability to navigate a dynamic economy.

The second day of the summit was scheduled to feature the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Forbes Middle East and the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council, aimed at strengthening Abu Dhabi’s family business ecosystem and supporting its international presence through joint media initiatives and collaborative activities. Khuloud Al Omian, Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, emphasised the significance of Abu Dhabi as host city, noting the emirate’s attractive economic and investment environment and the influential presence of family businesses within its borders.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The summit reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a global destination for family capital and long-term investment, elevating the emirate’s profile as a centre where intergenerational wealth management and business continuity are understood and nurtured with institutional rigour. As we reported in our coverage of Nasdaq Dubai’s historic milestone with the Republic of Congo’s inaugural African sovereign listing, Abu Dhabi continues to establish itself as a financial hub of regional and continental significance.

The establishment of this annual gathering signals Abu Dhabi’s commitment to fostering dialogue between established business families, policymakers and emerging leaders, creating the conditions for new partnerships and strengthening the institutional frameworks upon which sustainable family enterprises depend. The participation of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi Family Business Council and Abu Dhabi Global Market underscores the coordinated support that government and regulatory bodies extend to the family business sector, positioning the emirate as a place where generational succession and business innovation are actively supported and celebrated.

Source: WAM (Emirates News Agency)

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