Hanwha Finance deepens cooperation with Abu Dhabi on digital assets and payments
Hanwha Finance has signed new partnerships with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and ADGM, advancing plans for tokenisation, stablecoins and cross‑border payment links between the Republic of Korea and Abu Dhabi.
Expanded ties at ADIF Seoul
Hanwha Finance — comprising Hanwha Life, Hanwha General Insurance, Hanwha Investment & Securities and Hanwha Asset Management — has announced an expansion of its cooperation with Abu Dhabi’s financial ecosystem following agreements signed at the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum Seoul (ADIF Seoul).
The accord was reached alongside the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The forum brought together senior representatives from Abu Dhabi, including Shamis Ali Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Department of Community Development and Second Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber; Badr Al‑Olama, Director‑General of ADIO; and Fatima Al Hammadi, Head of the Fintech, Insurance, Digital and Alternative Investments (FIDA) Cluster at ADIO.
Areas of cooperation
Hanwha Life signed a partnership with ADIO to deepen collaboration in digital finance across three principal areas: building a digital asset ecosystem, strengthening links between the capital markets of the Republic of Korea and Abu Dhabi, and advancing digital banking and financial innovation. The two parties will explore business opportunities including the tokenisation of real‑world assets (RWA), such as real estate, into tradable digital assets.
Separately, Hanwha Asset Management, ADGM and Hana Financial Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding to investigate work on stablecoins and cross‑border financial infrastructure. The collaboration will consider digital asset and payment infrastructure, including cross‑border payment and remittance solutions between the Republic of Korea and Abu Dhabi, with an emphasis on a sustainable and interoperable digital asset ecosystem.
Hanwha Finance has also agreed to partner with ADGM for Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2026 in Abu Dhabi in December, building on relationships begun during ADFW 2025.
Officials underline mutual opportunity
Fatima Al Hammadi of ADIO said: “The Republic of Korea is an important partner for Abu Dhabi, with strong capabilities across financial services, technology, and innovation… Through our partnership with Hanwha we look forward to exploring opportunities across digital finance, digital assets, and financial innovation, while strengthening connections between Abu Dhabi’s financial ecosystem and key international markets.”
Rashed Al Blooshi, CEO of the Registration Authority at ADGM, emphasised ADGM’s role as a platform for companies and investors seeking to establish and scale in Abu Dhabi, noting the growing economic relationship between the UAE and the Republic of Korea.
From Hanwha, Hyek Woong Kwon, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hanwha Life, said the agreement would translate cooperation into “tangible business opportunities” and support the group’s global growth. Dongjun Im, CEO of Hanwha Asset Management, said the group would “contribute to building a stable and interoperable digital asset ecosystem” while enhancing its competitiveness in digital finance.
Source: WAM