• A major highlight was the announcement by The Stern School of Business at NYU Abu Dhabi (Stern at NYUAD) that released its inaugural Financial Centre Competitiveness Index (FCCI) report, ranking Abu Dhabi No. 1 in MENA and 12th globally.

Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), the flagship event hosted by ADGM, continued for a second day with Asset Abu Dhabi, which brought together some of the world’s biggest capital allocators and asset managers to explore emerging investment opportunities and shape the future of asset allocation in an evolving financial landscape.

Opening the event, Emmanuel Givanakis, CEO of ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, highlighted how Abu Dhabi continues to redefine the global asset management sector by combining robust regulation, strategic innovation, and its unique position as a nexus for global capital. His remarks set the tone for the day’s discussions around how financial centres can lead the transition towards sustainable and opportunity-driven growth.

Givanakis said: “Asset Abu Dhabi reflects the growing convergence of global capital and innovation, convening the world’s most sophisticated asset managers at a time of profound change in finance. It stands as a symbol of Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a trusted hub in the reengineering of global capital networks and the future of asset management.”

Throughout the day, Asset Abu Dhabi went on to explore the future of asset management, hedge funds, and private markets, as well as the evolving dynamics of liquidity, leverage, and institutional allocation, and the growing interplay between innovation, technology, and sustainability in driving economic transformation. Sessions explored private equity, sovereign capital flows, real assets, and the rise of digital and alternative investments, and also examined new frontiers in wealth transfer, art and collectables.

During the expansive program, some of the world’s foremost investment minds explored the forces shaping tomorrow’s financial landscape. Todd Boehly, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries; Robert Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners; and Sir Christopher Hohn, Founder and Managing Director of TCI Fund Management Limited and DAMAC founder Hussain Sajwani discussed how shifting macroeconomic cycles, emerging technologies, and geopolitical realignments will define the next phase of opportunity and risk.

With a focus on the Evolving Art of Hedge Funds, Aron Landy, CEO of Brevan Howard; Shiv Srinivasan, CIO of Hedge Funds at the Abu Dhabi Investment Council; and Robyn Grew, CEO of Man Group, then examined how data, artificial intelligence, and precision analytics are transforming risk management and redefining performance in a world where volatility represents opportunities.

Meanwhile, a session covering The Physics of the Great Wealth Transfer brought together Stefan Bollinger, CEO of Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., and Chi Man Kwan, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Raffles Family Office, for a discussion about how an estimated $84 trillion in intergenerational wealth will reshape economies and values worldwide.

Inaugural FCCI Report

In a separate session, Bruno Lanvin, President of the Descartes Institute for the Future and Robert Salomon, Dean of Stern at NYU Abu Dhabi, unveiled the inaugural NYU Global Financial Centre Competitiveness Index (FCCI), which evaluates international financial centres worldwide.

The index ranks New York, London, and Singapore as the top three, and highlighting the GCC’s growing influence, it placed Abu Dhabi No. 1 in MENA and 12th globally, ahead of Dubai, Riyadh and Doha. Lanvin highlighted that Abu Dhabi’s position is the result of sustained institutional strength, regulatory innovation and deliberate economic strategy. The Index ranked Abu Dhabi 1st globally for Regulatory Innovation, 5th for Institutional Environment and 3rd for Business Support Incentives, noting that the emirate is demonstrating exceptional progress and an increasing role in global finance.

International Family Office Congress

This event brought together global family office leaders to discuss wealth preservation and the future of private capital. It also explored the shifting dynamics of global investment, the great wealth transfer, impact investing, and Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a leading hub for family offices and generational wealth creation.

The event featured an exceptional lineup of speakers, including Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates; Bhanu Baweja, Chief Strategist at UBS Investment Bank; Daniel Pinto, Co-Founder and CEO of Stanhope Capital Group; Arjun Raghavan, CEO of Partners Capital; Henry Lawson-Johnston, Managing Partner at Guggenheim Brothers Media; Benjamin Cavalli, Head of Strategic Clients at UBS Global Wealth Management; Adrian Cheng, CEO of New World Development and Founder of K11 Group; and Jim Mellon, Executive Chairman of Agronomics.

AIMA Private Credit Summit

The inaugural edition of this Summit brought together the world’s leading asset managers, investors and policymakers to explore the expanding private credit market.

Speakers discussed themes such as private credit’s role in economic resilience and allocation priorities for 2026, infrastructure finance, asset-based lending and the evolving boundary between syndicated and direct lending.

Infrastructure Summit 2025

Another new addition, this event brought together global infrastructure investors, policymakers, and asset owners to explore how long-term capital, sustainability imperatives, and emerging technologies are redefining the future of infrastructure.

Speakers discussed Abu Dhabi’s evolving urban masterplan, investment strategies across energy, transport, and digital infrastructure, and the role of infrastructure finance in driving innovation and long-term value creation.

Newcomers and Major Collaborations

In a landmark announcement at ADFW, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, approved the launch of the FinTech, Insurance, Digital and Alternative Assets (FIDA) cluster in Abu Dhabi. The cluster, an initiative spearheaded by Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), aims to advance the next generation of innovative financial and investment solutions.

The second day of ADFW also saw announcements from a number of firms opening offices in ADGM. Circle Internet Group, Inc., one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, strengthened its strategic presence in the region by securing a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM to operate as a Money Services Provider. BBVA has received an In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the FSRA, which will help them expand their range of corporate and investment banking service activities and strengthen their position as a strategic partner for corporate and institutional clients in the region.

A total of 23 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were announced during the second day of ADFW. Partnerships were signed between local and international entities such as Finstreet, Franklin Templeton, Mubadala, Mastercard and MBank.

ADFW continues for two more days with key events taking place under the umbrella of Fintech Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum (ADSFF).

About ADGM

ADGM is the leading international financial centre (IFC) based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is one of the world’s largest financial districts by size and is the largest IFC in the Middle East and Africa by the number of active licences.

ADGM is also one of a handful of jurisdictions globally and the only one regionally to directly apply the trusted legal system of English Common Law.

Governing both Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands, which are collectively designated as Abu Dhabi’s financial free zone, ADGM connects the economies of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region with global markets. Its progressive and inclusive ecosystem empowers financial and non-financial institutions to thrive, supporting innovation, sustainable growth, and long-term economic resilience.

Through its continued growth and cross-border partnerships, ADGM is strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as the ‘Capital of Capital’ and a leading global hub for finance, investment, and enterprise.

For more details on ADGM, please visit www.adgm.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram: @ADGM X: @adglobalmarket

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