RISE Summit 2026 Convenes Global Investment Leadership in Dubai
Dubai hosts an inaugural gathering of 250 senior delegates from governments, sovereign wealth funds and major developers to examine capital flows and investment opportunities across infrastructure, real estate and the experience economy.
Dubai welcomes an extraordinary assembly of global investment leaders and government officials to the inaugural RISE Summit 2026, an occasion of profound significance for those seeking to understand where capital flows in an era of evolving geopolitical considerations and shifting trade dynamics. The one-day gathering on 14 October at Dubai World Trade Centre will bring together more than 250 senior delegates from governments, institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and major developers to explore how long-term capital can revitalise momentum across global economies and urban centres.
The timing of this prestigious convocation reflects Dubai’s remarkable economic resilience and continued magnetism for international capital. The emirate’s non-oil private sector Purchasing Managers’ Index reached 54.5 in September, representing its strongest reading throughout 2026, whilst real estate transactions totalled AED 379 billion across the first nine months of the year, the second highest figure for this period on record. The Dubai International Financial Centre has surpassed 10,000 active registered companies for the first time, whilst Gulf sovereign wealth funds deployed a record US$53.9 billion during the first half of 2026.
The summit’s Global Leaders Series will illuminate two pivotal international conversations. José Manuel Barroso, Chairman of International Advisors at Goldman Sachs and former President of the European Commission, will lead ‘The Great Capital Shift’, examining how the United States, Europe, Asia and the Gulf compete for long-term investment and whether current patterns represent temporary adjustment or fundamental recalibration. Ludovic Subran, Group Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist at Allianz, will explore ‘Long-Term Capital in a Higher-Rate World’, addressing how changing interest rates, inflation dynamics and risk profiles influence allocations across fixed income, real estate, infrastructure and private markets.
Distinguished leaders from the UAE and Dubai will offer essential regional perspective. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, will examine how economic resilience translates into investment partnerships and sustainable growth, whilst Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, will illuminate the foundations of Dubai’s economic model and the D33 agenda. The development sector will be represented by Mohamed Alabbar, Founder and Managing Director of Emaar Properties, and Khalid Al Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Real Estate, both exploring long-term investment and urban expansion strategies.
The programme encompasses comprehensive examination of mobility, market regulation, infrastructure and emerging technologies. Muna Al Osaimi, Chief Executive Officer of the Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at the Roads and Transport Authority, will lead sessions on transport infrastructure and growth corridors, whilst Abdulla Ahmed Mohammed Saleh Al Shehhi, Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Regulatory Agency, will address market regulation and investor protection. Sessions on data centres, artificial intelligence infrastructure and infrastructure funding will feature prominent international capital partners and financial institutions.
The summit benefits from distinguished government, industry and knowledge partnerships, including the Dubai Land Department and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism as Strategic Government Partners, alongside supporting partners comprising the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, FIABCI Emirates, ValuStrat, AIA Middle East and Emirates Green Building Council.
Source: WAM