ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

LIVEX 2026 has concluded after three days of agreements, investment announcements and international debate that placed quality of life at the heart of discussions around Abu Dhabi’s continued growth and investment.

Closing LIVEX 2026, His Excellency Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, said, “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved with the inaugural LIVEX. We have brought together ideas and expertise from around the world with the investment, partnerships and long-term commitment needed to translate them into better outcomes for people.

“The conversation does not end here. Our ambition is for LIVEX to become an ongoing global platform where cities, investors, businesses, and experts can share what works, test new ideas and help shape how liveability is understood and delivered around the world.”

The inaugural LIVEX brought an international line-up of business leaders, urban thinkers, investors, policymakers and cultural figures to Abu Dhabi.

Participants included actor and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds; broadcaster and Tucker Carlson Network founder Tucker Carlson; actor, environmental advocate and investor Adrian Grenier; former Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo; Blue Zones founder and longevity expert Dan Buettner; YouTube co-founder Steve Chen; and AI and robotics pioneer Sebastian Thrun.

Government entities, investors, developers, technology companies and other partners announced more than 50 agreements and initiatives worth over Dh150 billion.

The announcements reflected three closely connected areas at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s approach to liveability: investment and infrastructure, the everyday quality of life of communities, and the use of technology to make cities work better.

On investment and infrastructure, DMT launched the Musaffah Innovation District as a new destination for industrial investment, business and innovation, while Mid-Island Parkway Phase 2 set out plans for a 14.5km expressway connecting Abu Dhabi’s central islands with the E-10 and Khalifa City.

DMT’s Government Assets Investment Opportunities Portal also created a centralised route for investors to identify and evaluate opportunities across government-owned land and built assets.

These opportunities sit within a wider pipeline that includes Dh450 billion in committed infrastructure investment being advanced across Abu Dhabi.

DMT also officially launched Al Ain’s Future to 2040, the long-term planning direction that guides future growth while preserving Al Ain’s cultural and natural identity.

On liveability, Early Childhood Authority (ECA), in collaboration with DMT and the Department of Community Development - Abu Dhabi (DCD), launched the Cities for Families Framework, the first of its kind globally, providing a roadmap for communities that better support families, children, caregivers, seniors, and People of Determination.

Alongside this, DCD launched the Jiran Volunteer Programme to help new residents settle into their communities, build connections with neighbours, and discover local services and amenities.

Technology formed the third major strand of announcements. Abu Dhabi Mobility’s DUNE platform brought AI-powered analysis into transport planning and decision-making, while Smart Wadi, a DMT and e& trial in Al Ain Region, will use sensors and AI to monitor flood risk and provide early warnings.

On the final day, DMT and e& also launched DMT’s first Drone as a Service agreement, deploying AI-enabled drones to provide real-time data and insights across traffic, urban inspection and construction monitoring.

Agreements across the event extended into smart parking at Etihad Rail passenger stations, autonomous mobility, real estate development, professional training, digital integration, community initiatives and wellness, bringing public- and private-sector expertise together around practical delivery.

Through the Investor Stage and dedicated Investor Lounge, more than 1,500 investors engaged with government, sovereign capital, developers and businesses around market entry, partnerships and investment opportunities.

The wider event brought together perspectives from government, investment, business, academia, technology, urban planning, and culture, showcasing Abu Dhabi’s approach to connecting quality of life with long-term economic competitiveness.

The agreements signed during LIVEX will now move towards implementation, alongside newly launched planning, mobility, and investment tools and conversations initiated between investors, government and businesses.

LIVEX 2026 took place from September 29 to October 1 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi and will return in October 2027.