BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
As 2025 comes to a close, the UAE is wrapping up a year in which the nation helped shape global agendas through hosting major, high-impact events. Across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other emirates, a series of major international gatherings brought decision-makers, innovators, investors and creatives together, reinforcing the country's role as a convening power for ideas that matter.
From geopolitics and governance to energy, technology, finance, and the future of media, these gatherings reinforced the UAE's role as a place where global stakeholders do not simply meet but also align.
World Governments Summit: Setting the Global Agenda
The World Governments Summit in Abu Dhabi, held from February 3 to 5, once again brought heads of state, ministers, international organisations, and private-sector leaders together to discuss the future of governance, public policy and economic resilience.
In 2025, the summit focused on how governments can adapt to rapid technological change, demographic shifts, and geopolitical uncertainty. The summit reinforced the UAE's position as a trusted space for dialogue between governments and the private sector.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week: Economy Meets Climate Action
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), held from January 12 to 18, continued to serve as one of the world's most important platforms linking climate ambition with economic and industrial strategy.
Bringing together policymakers, energy leaders, financiers, and innovators, ADSW highlighted how sustainability has become a core economic driver rather than a standalone environmental issue.
The event showcased the UAE's approach to balancing growth, energy security, and climate responsibility, while positioning Abu Dhabi as a global centre for clean energy finance, climate technology, and long-term sustainability planning.
GITEX Global: Technology at System Level
GITEX Global remained one of the largest and most influential technology gatherings worldwide, attracting governments, multinational companies, startups, and investors from across continents.
What distinguished GITEX in 2025, held in Dubai from October 13 to 17, was its system-level focus, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and government tech were discussed not as trends, but as foundational elements of modern economies.
The event underscored the UAE's ambition to be a global testbed for emerging technologies, while facilitating real partnerships between public and private sectors.
ADIPEC: Redefining Global Energy Dialogue
At ADIPEC 2025, Abu Dhabi once again hosted one of the world's most significant energy platforms. The event, held from November 3 to 6, convened energy ministers, CEOs, investors, and technology providers to address the future of energy markets, decarbonisation, and energy security.
ADIPEC's importance lies in its ability to host a realistic, balanced energy conversation, one that includes hydrocarbons, renewables, hydrogen, and climate technologies. By doing so, the UAE positioned itself as a bridge between today's energy realities and tomorrow's transition pathways.
Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week: Shaping the Future of Smart Mobility
Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025 marked a significant milestone in the UAE's innovation and smart mobility agenda. Held in November, the week brought together global leaders, policymakers, and tech innovators to explore the future of autonomous systems across land, air, and sea.
The event, held from November 10 to 15, featured high-level forums, live demonstrations of autonomous vehicles and drones, and interactive showcases of AI-powered solutions in transport, logistics, and infrastructure.
By convening cutting-edge expertise and pioneering use cases, Abu Dhabi reinforced its role as a global hub for autonomous technology and future mobility ecosystems.
BRIDGE Summit: Power, Media, and Influence
The inaugural BRIDGE Summit, held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, emerged as one of the year's most distinctive platforms, gathering leaders from media, technology, policy, and business to discuss influence in the digital age.
Rather than focusing on traditional media alone, BRIDGE examined how narratives, platforms, creators and trust intersect with economics and governance.
Its significance lies in recognising media as a form of soft power and positioning the UAE as a space where the future of communication is actively debated.
A Home Ground for Sports
As cultural, energy, and innovation milestones shaped the UAE's landscape in 2025, the country also made bold moves on the global sports front, defining its status as a premier destination for international sporting events.
The ACC Men's Twenty20 Asia Cup took place across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from September 9 to 28, featuring eight teams, bringing the excitement of cricket's fastest format to passionate audiences in the region.
For the first time, the NBA brought regular-season games to the UAE in Abu Dhabi, marking a historic moment for basketball fans. The event featured marquee matchups, community clinics, and fan engagement activities, strengthening the UAE's position as a key stop on the global sports calendar and broadening local enthusiasm for international team sports.
In water sports, Abu Dhabi hosted the first Kite World Cup on Fahid Island, from October 25 to November 3, attracting over 150 elite athletes from around the world and spotlighting the UAE's growing role in global high-performance water sports.
As the year draws to a close, motorsport fans gathered for the title decider at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from December 4 to 7, the season's climactic race that continues to combine high-speed competition with entertainment and global fanfare, drawing international spectators and reinforcing the UAE's global sports destination status.