Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Forum Returns for Landmark 10th Edition
The prestigious biennial gathering convenes regional leaders to explore how nature-positive economies and valuing natural and social capitals can reshape sustainable development across the Gulf and beyond.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Forum is set to return for its landmark 10th annual edition on 30 September and 1 October 2026, marking a decade of influence on the region’s sustainability agenda. Hosted at Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Hotel and organised by the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group, part of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the milestone gathering brings together senior leaders, policymakers and innovators under the theme Redefining Prosperity: How a Nature-Positive Economy and Valuing Natural and Social Capitals Shape Sustainable Development.
The forum’s central proposition reflects a sophisticated understanding of contemporary economics: that genuine prosperity cannot be pursued in isolation from the natural and social systems upon which all economic activity ultimately depends. Rather than treating environmental protection and social wellbeing as constraints on business, the forum positions these elements as mutually reinforcing with economic outcomes, inviting participants to embed nature-positive strategies into operational and strategic decision-making.
A Bridge Between Policy and Practice
The 2026 edition seeks to narrow the distance between global sustainability frameworks, EAD’s evolving policy environment, and the practical realities of implementation within Abu Dhabi’s distinctive context. By facilitating this convergence, the forum aims to support the development of an economic model characterised by resilience, inclusivity and regenerative capacity.
Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, underscored the forum’s significance: “For 10 years, the forum has demonstrated that when science, policy and business leadership converge, transformation follows. Embedding natural and social capital into economic decision-making is now both an imperative and an opportunity, one that Abu Dhabi is uniquely positioned to lead. This edition calls on leaders across the region to translate that shared responsibility into a model of prosperity grounded in the health of our ecosystems and the strength of our communities.”
Evolution of a Regional Platform
Eng Abdulla Mohammed Al Remeithi, Executive Director – Integrated Environment Policy & Planning Sector at EAD, observed that the forum has matured into a trusted space where organisations discover practical methodologies for weaving sustainability into strategy and governance structures. “The 2026 programme brings together voices from across the GCC and beyond to consider how nature-positive approaches can unlock long-term value for businesses, communities and ecosystems alike,” he noted.
Dolphin Energy Limited and TAQA serve as lead sponsors for the milestone edition. Obaid Abdulla Al Dhaheri, CEO of Dolphin Energy Limited, affirmed that protecting natural and social capital remains fundamental to sustaining operations and earning stakeholder trust. “We have a duty to manage the natural environment and communities around us,” he said, reflecting on the company’s decade-long association with the forum.
Noel Aoun, Chief Strategy Officer at TAQA Group, emphasised the integrated utilities company’s responsibility to ensure that infrastructure development—whether in power or water—delivers lasting value to communities whilst making responsible use of natural resources. “We are proud to support the 10th edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Forum and the important role it plays in bringing government and business leaders together to turn ambition into action and deliver progress,” he stated.
Source: Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi Media Office