Inside Abu Dhabi’s Capital: ADGM Convenes Global Media to Explore Opportunity
The Abu Dhabi Global Market's third annual forum brought together 33 journalists from eight countries to examine the emirate's emergence as a gateway for international capital and cross-border partnership.
In mid-October, the Abu Dhabi Global Market convened its third and most expansive Global Media Forum, gathering 33 journalists including representatives from the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, India, South Africa, South Korea and China. Over three days, the forum orchestrated a carefully curated journey through Abu Dhabi’s financial and business landscape, revealing the deliberate architecture underpinning the emirate’s transformation into what organisers characterised as the ‘Capital of Capital’.
Held under the theme ‘Inside Abu Dhabi: Capital, Partnerships, Opportunity’, the forum ran from 20th to 22nd October and positioned itself as more than a marketing exercise. Rather, it functioned as a substantive dialogue between international media gatekeepers and the leaders, policymakers and innovators shaping Abu Dhabi’s economic future. The programme wove together discussions of regulatory frameworks, financial infrastructure and the intricate ecosystem of partnerships that distinguish the emirate as an investment destination.
The opening day offered participants granular insight into ADGM’s integrated operations: the Registration Authority explained its role in facilitating business establishment; the Financial Services Regulatory Authority outlined its approach to oversight; and the ADGM Courts detailed their specialised jurisdictional remit. Academy representatives shared perspectives on talent cultivation within the financial services sector. A dedicated briefing examined Abu Dhabi Finance Week, scheduled for December 2026 for its fifth edition, underscoring its growing weight as a convening platform for international financial dialogue.
A panel discussion brought together senior figures from Hashed Global Management, iCapital and Bitcoin Suisse, each offering candid reflections on their decision to establish operations at ADGM and the factors that draw global capital to the jurisdiction. As we reported, global private equity investor Advent has established its Middle Eastern office in ADGM, exemplifying the calibre of institutions now anchoring operations here.
The second day expanded the aperture, moving beyond ADGM itself to examine Abu Dhabi’s economic horizon more broadly. A panel on economic outlook featured representatives from Aldar, Lunate and BlackRock Investment Institute discussing diversification, investment landscape evolution and emerging opportunities. A parallel discussion on the digital economy brought together Presight and VentureOne executives to explore innovation and entrepreneurship’s role in shaping economic futures. A third panel, ‘The Abu Dhabi Advantage’, highlighted the collaborative infrastructure: the Abu Dhabi Chamber, Abu Dhabi Investment Office and Hub71 each illuminated how the emirate’s integrated business ecosystem attracts and retains international enterprises, entrepreneurs and talent. Fourteen major global financial institutions managing over US$5 trillion in assets have announced plans to establish operations in Abu Dhabi Global Market, a trajectory the forum underscored through these direct testimonies.
Visiting journalists toured the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, observing first-hand the capital markets infrastructure and financial scaffolding that support Abu Dhabi’s ambitions. The forum concluded with a celebration marking ADGM’s 11th anniversary on Al Reem Island, gathering the financial and business community to reflect on a decade-long trajectory of institutional growth and collaborative momentum.
Mohammed Al Mheiri, Chief Communications Officer at ADGM, positioned the forum within a broader strategic narrative. He spoke of meaningful global connectivity as transcending the mere attraction of capital, instead emphasising trust building and enduring stakeholder relationships as foundational to Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a leading financial hub. The forum, he suggested, advanced this dialogue by fostering deeper international understanding of capital flows, cross-border partnerships and investment dynamics shaping regional and global economies.
What it means for Abu Dhabi
The forum reflected Abu Dhabi’s deliberate strategy to shape its global economic narrative through direct engagement with international media. By inviting journalists from eight countries representing major global markets and financial centres to experience the emirate’s institutions and ecosystem first-hand, the event positioned Abu Dhabi not as a passive recipient of investment but as an active architect of its economic story. The participation of international media gatekeepers amplifies Abu Dhabi’s message of stability, regulatory sophistication and opportunity to audiences worldwide.
For the emirate’s business community, the forum validated and accelerated momentum. The convergence of policymakers, financial services leaders and international investors creates reinforcing momentum around Abu Dhabi’s positioning. The increasing scale of the forum, from its earlier editions to this third iteration, and the calibre of both participating media and featured institutional representatives, suggests that ADGM and Abu Dhabi are successfully embedding themselves within global financial networks as indispensable hubs rather than emergent centres seeking recognition.
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