SKN | Abu Dhabi Finance Week Kicks Off: Global Leaders Gather to Shape 2026 Financial Outlook

Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) opens on December 8, marking the start of a four-day gathering that has quickly become one of the Middle East’s most influential events for global finance, technology, and policy. With CEOs of UBS, Allianz, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, and Franklin Templeton — and even Bill Gates — in attendance, the conference signals the UAE’s growing importance as a global financial powerhouse. For investors and industry professionals, ADFW offers early insights into how markets, digital assets, and regulation may evolve into 2026.

A Global Platform for Financial Strategy and Innovation

ADFW, organized by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), aims to address what it calls “dynamic change in the global financial landscape.” The program brings together senior government officials, global bank chiefs, venture capital leaders, fintech founders, and experts in AI, blockchain, and sustainable finance.
Topics span from market volatility and geopolitical shifts to digital banking, tokenization, and the future of cross-border capital flows.

Sergio Ermotti (UBS), Jenny Johnson (Franklin Templeton), Oliver Bäte (Allianz SE), Philipp Hildebrand (BlackRock), and Clare Woodman (Morgan Stanley) are among this year’s headline speakers — highlighting Abu Dhabi’s rising influence in global financial dialogue.

A Comprehensive Week of Forums and Summits

The conference consists of several specialized summits, designed to give both institutions and investors deeper insight into niche but high-impact sectors of finance:

• Asset Management Forum – exploring how interest rate changes, liquidity cycles, and global credit conditions will shape portfolio strategies.

• Fintech & Innovation Summit – focusing on digital banking, payments, AI-enabled services, and the tech shaping the next generation of checking accounts and loans.

• Crypto & Blockchain Day – examining the regulatory future of digital assets, tokenization, and blockchain infrastructure.

• Regulatory Forum – a key venue for discussing prudential rules, bank supervision, and emerging cross-border standards.

• Sustainable Finance Track – highlighting climate finance, ESG disclosure evolution, and green-investment frameworks.

Each summit is designed to support decision-makers navigating new regulatory pressures, competition from fintechs, and shifts in investor expectations.

ADGM’s Rapid Expansion Strengthens Abu Dhabi’s Financial Hub Ambitions

ADFW is not merely a conference — it reflects a deeper structural shift. ADGM continues to experience significant growth, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as the region’s most regulated and globally integrated financial center.

Key figures from ADGM’s latest reports:

• 48% AUM growth from Q3 2024 to Q3 2025

• 161 asset and fund managers now operating within the free zone

• 11,920 total active licenses, including 2,801 new ones this year

• 3,227 operating companies, up 43% year over year

• 39,870 professionals working across ADGM’s expanded jurisdiction

Such rapid expansion highlights increasing foreign investment, strengthened digital-asset regulation, and Abu Dhabi’s strategic role as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

A Magnet for Global Decision-Makers

ADFW attracts thousands annually — from institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds to fintech startups shaping the future of digital banking, deposits, and payments. With markets entering 2026 amid uncertainty around interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and technology-driven disruption, the discussions in Abu Dhabi are likely to influence both regional and global financial strategies.

ADFW 2025 runs from December 8–11, with the industry watching closely as new partnerships, policy updates, and innovation trends emerge.

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