Today's Edition
SARA AL ZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) has rapidly become one of the world’s most influential financial gatherings — an achievement it reached in just three editions and a testament to the UAE capital’s growing global stature, said ADFW Editor-in-Chief Chris Hughes.
The event’s upcoming fourth iteration will be its biggest yet, zooming in on the future of modern finance and the transformative impact of emerging technologies.
“ADFW has grown incredibly fast, faster than I think we expected it to, but that is largely down to the interest international markets have in Abu Dhabi,” Hughes told Aletihad in an interview.
This year’s event, taking place from December 8 to 11, comes as Abu Dhabi shifts from being primarily a capital exporter to operating a two-way system of capital flows, powered by leading institutions and a world-class regulatory ecosystem at ADGM, the emirate’s international financial centre.
Hughes pointed out that ADGM’s growth signals that “something very fundamental and profound is happening to the economy here in real time”.
“Our sovereign funds are globally recognised examples of smart investment companies that deliver strong returns year after year. International markets recognise this, which is why firms like J.P. Morgan and BNP Paribas are setting up meaningful offices in Abu Dhabi,” he said.
ADFW has increasingly become a launchpad for major international and local announcements and partnerships, reflecting the pace at which Abu Dhabi is evolving within the global financial system, he added.
Its fourth edition —hosted by ADGM and headlined by ADQ — will explore how emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, can be leveraged to re-architect modern finance.
The agenda is organised across four thematic days.
-The first, the Abu Dhabi Economic Forum, will present the emirate’s long-term vision, focusing on diversification, capital flows, and investment opportunities.
-The second day, centred on “assets and investment management”, will bring together sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and asset managers to explore strategies in a shifting global environment.
-Day three, “technology and innovation”, will spotlight the role of AI, digital assets, and fintech.
-Day four will focus on climate finance, green investment, ESG frameworks, and gender equality under a broader “sustainability” theme.
“We continuously try to figure out what the market wants to hear, how they want to interact, and how to design things that help people achieve their goals,” Hughes said. “If you are a young person interested in financial literacy, you will come on day four. If you are a hedge fund looking at fundraising, you will come on day two. If you are focused on government policy and economic plans, you will come on day one with the Abu Dhabi Economic Forum.”
Hughes expects technology to dominate discussions, particularly given Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a global AI hub.
“Many people are calling Abu Dhabi one of the top three or four centres in the world for AI development, and AI is going to be the greatest single accelerator of enterprise growth in history — probably greater than the internet or electricity,” Hughes said. “It is really important to come and talk about AI, because we all have to figure out how it’s going to affect our lives, our organisations, and our future.”
Alongside AI, he highlighted digital assets as another disruptive force and stressed the need to “figure out how to develop them responsibly and for the greater good of society.”
Leades of organisations that manage over $62 trillion in assets worldwide, equivalent to over half of global GDP, are expected to attend ADFW 2025. With its 60-plus events, over 300 thematic sessions, and approximately 750 world-class speakers, this year’s edition is expected to spark the dialogues, partnerships, and innovations that will influence the next chapter of global finance.
