Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2026 set to convene over 300 global leaders across expanded eight-stage programme
The fifth edition of the prestigious annual gathering, hosted by ADGM, will feature 75 events across eight dedicated stages from 7–10 December 2026, welcoming financial executives representing more than USD 61 trillion in assets and introducing ten new platforms spanning real estate, hedge funds, AI and cross-border investment.
Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2026 is poised to consolidate the emirate’s position as a premier global financial centre, with an expansive programme reflecting the evolving priorities and interconnectedness of international capital markets. Hosted by ADGM, the emirate’s international financial centre, the fifth edition of this influential gathering will convene over 300 senior financial leaders representing more than USD 61 trillion in assets—a trajectory that positions the event to surpass last year’s record of USD 62 trillion in attendance.
Running from 7 to 10 December 2026 under the overarching theme The Capital Community, Powered by Partnerships, ADFW 2026 marks a substantial expansion from its 2025 iteration. The programme will grow from 60 events across six stages to 75 events distributed across eight dedicated stages, introducing ten new platforms and forums designed to address emerging opportunities and challenges reshaping the global investment landscape.
New Platforms and Specialised Forums
The expanded agenda introduces several significant additions to the ADFW calendar. The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Summit will bring together leading property and infrastructure investors, whilst the AIMA Global Hedge Fund Leadership Platform will provide a premier space for asset managers. The Health Finance & Innovation Forum, developed in collaboration with the Atlantic Council, represents a distinctive addition focusing on investment opportunities within the healthcare sector.
Further new offerings include the CNBC AI Capital Stack Summit, the Next Three Billion Summit in partnership with Semafor, the Treasury Leadership Forum, and the US-UAE Trade Corridor Forum. An expanded Hub71 Growth Stage will showcase emerging technology enterprises, whilst the New Energy Finance platform, curated with XRG, will examine investment dynamics within the energy transition.
International Collaboration and Cross-Border Focus
Reflecting the theme of deepened partnerships, ADFW 2026 will establish dedicated forums and dialogues targeting China, South Korea, the European Union and the United States, explicitly designed to facilitate cross-border investment and international business collaboration. These platforms underscore Abu Dhabi’s role in connecting disparate financial markets and fostering multilateral economic relationships.
The Global Financial Regulators Summit will be significantly expanded, convening regulators from more than 50 countries to discuss tokenisation, regulatory innovation and the evolution of global financial frameworks. Complementing this initiative, the Arab Monetary Fund will convene its Regional FinTech Working Group at ADFW, bringing together senior regional regulators and stakeholders to advance digitalisation across Arab financial markets.
Institutional Partnerships and Thought Leadership
The event’s expanding collaborative framework encompasses partnerships with leading international institutions including UBS, Standard Chartered, Hanwha Finance, Binance and ADIO, spanning investment, wealth management, artificial intelligence and international markets.
The speaker line-up reflects the calibre of participants and breadth of themes. Confirmed speakers include David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group; the founders of multi-billion-dollar technology companies Crusoe, Higgsfield AI and XPANCEO; and senior executives from JPMorgan, Santander, Morgan Stanley, State Street and UBS. Additional confirmed participants include leadership from Standard Chartered, Revolut, Stonepeak, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Christie’s, Systematica Investments and GCM Grosvenor.
Thematic Programme Structure
The four-day programme is structured around distinct thematic priorities. Day One will examine Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy, global markets and macroeconomic megatrends; Day Two will focus on asset management, private markets and wealth; Day Three will explore artificial intelligence, fintech, digital assets and financial innovation; and Day Four will address sustainable finance and long-term economic and societal resilience.
Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, stated: “Abu Dhabi’s rise as a global centre for capital is being reinforced by the growing scale and ambition of Abu Dhabi Finance Week. This year, we are bringing together a broader community of global investors, financial institutions, policymakers, innovators and entrepreneurs, with an expanded agenda that reflects where capital is moving and where new opportunities are emerging. But scale alone is not the measure of ADFW’s success. Its strength lies in the partnerships it creates.”
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office