Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
New York University Abu Dhabi has announced the creation of the Institute for Global Financial Competitiveness, a research centre developed in partnership with its Stern School of Business and backed by American billionaire investor Ray Dalio.
The initiative, unveiled this week, positions Abu Dhabi as a growing force in global financial thought and policy as it seeks to strengthen its credentials as an international finance hub.
The institute will study and rank the world’s major financial centres through a new Financial Centres Competitiveness Index (FCCI), which is expected to debut during Abu Dhabi Finance Week in December. It will use data-driven analysis to assess how leading cities perform in areas such as innovation, digital infrastructure, sustainability, and governance.
While the university’s statement framed the launch as an academic milestone, Dalio’s involvement gives the project international weight.
The founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds with more than $100 billion under management, Dalio is widely regarded for his insights into global macroeconomics and financial cycles.
His support for the institute is part of a broader deepening of ties with Abu Dhabi, where he has established a family office and has praised the emirate’s efforts to foster long-term stability and economic diversification.
Dalio’s connection reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing appeal among global investors and financiers. In recent years, several major hedge funds and wealth managers have set up operations in the emirate, encouraged by the capital’s favourable regulatory environment and its strong network of sovereign funds.
Officials say the new institute will help the emirate take a more prominent role in shaping how competitiveness in finance is understood globally.
Ahmed Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, described the project as a step toward using data science to better measure and understand the performance of global financial centres.
Rob Salomon, dean of the Stern School of Business, said Dalio’s involvement underlines a shared commitment to studying the evolution of financial systems in an interconnected world.
The FCCI will add to a field already populated by benchmarks such as the London-based Global Financial Centres Index and the Xinhua–IFZ index in Shanghai.
However, NYU Abu Dhabi’s initiative is expected to include regional dimensions often overlooked by existing global measures, such as Islamic finance and sustainability transitions in emerging markets.
Analysts say its credibility will depend on transparent methodology and academic independence if it is to gain recognition beyond the region.
The project aligns closely with Abu Dhabi’s long-term economic agenda to build a diversified, knowledge-based economy. By hosting a research institute that studies global financial competitiveness, the emirate is not only attracting expertise but also signalling its intention to be a thought leader in global finance.
Dalio’s endorsement provides both credibility and visibility to that effort, reinforcing the view of Abu Dhabi as a stable, well-capitalised hub capable of convening global dialogue on economic transformation.
The institute’s first findings are expected to be released before the end of the year, setting the stage for Abu Dhabi to play a more visible role in defining what makes financial centres resilient and competitive in a shifting global economy.
