Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2024 kicks off with top financial leaders

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council, one of MENA’s most anticipated four-day event series, Abu Dhabi Finance Week(ADFW), kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at the ADQ Arena at ADGM, setting the stage for over 60 events and side events throughout the week.

In an exclusive setting, with ADQ as the Title Partner, ADFW 2024 was officially launched in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Abu Dhabi Economic Leadership , with an exclusive guest list of top financial leaders from over 100 countries. The theme of Abu Dhabi ’s Falcon Economy was at the core of the first day of the event, which hosted high-level strategic discussions and highlighted the city’s growing status as the “Capital of Capital”.

The event began with a special address by His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of ADGM and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), highlighting the growth of Abu Dhabi and the promise of a prosperous future for the UAE capital.

Commenting on the grand opening ceremony of ADFW, HE Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi  said: “In a world seeking stability and growth, Abu Dhabi ’s Falcon Economy stands as an unwavering partner to businesses, investors, innovators and visionaries alike, welcoming them to the ‘Capital of Capital’. Here, every investment and every relationship is underpinned by our commitment to building a future defined by trust, resilience and limitless opportunity. As our jurisdiction expands and reaches new milestones, our community grows simultaneously. Through international platforms like ADFW, we invite the world to join us in shaping the conversations that will outline the legacy of progress that transcends borders and generations.”

The opening ceremony was followed by the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Economic Forum (“ADEF”), held in partnership with ADQ and ADDED. The exclusive high-level event featured in-depth discussions on the current state and future prospects of the Falcon economy, and brought together senior leaders from the Abu Dhabi government as well as prominent figures from the private sector, representing key industries. Keynote speakers included CEOs and executives from Blackrock, UBS, PGIM, Bridgewater Associates, HSBC, ADQ, Mubadala, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, BNY, Lunate, 2PointZero, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Pure Health, GQG Partners and Aldar.

The forum’s high-level agenda focused on Abu Dhabi ’s economic growth and its emerging role as a global business and investment hub. One of the most popular sessions – “The ADFW Boardroom: Abu Dhabi In the Global Economy” – involved leaders from some of the world’s largest financial institutions, including Sergio Ermotti, CEO of UBS Group, Ray Dalio , Founder and CIO of Bridgewater, Hana Al Rostamani , Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They discussed global economies and highlighted strategies to support Abu Dhabi ’s growth ambitions in the changing global landscape.

Other key sessions explored topics such as “Building the Falcon Economy,” “A New Era of Capital Flows in a Polycentric World,” “The Factors Influencing Global Markets,” “The Titan’s Vision: Abu Dhabi ’s New Place in the World,” “Slowbalization: A New Kind of World Order,” and “SheLeadsBusiness: Abu Dhabi ’s Mission for Women in Business.”

The first day of ADFW also featured the inaugural Abu Dhabi Capital Markets Forum , held in association with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), which showcased some of Abu Dhabi ’s most dynamic listed companies .

Meanwhile, the UBS Investor Forum brought together more than 30 CIOs and founders from leading global hedge funds. Other side events during the day included iConnections Private Markets House, Greenwich Economic Forum – Chatham House VIP Roundtable chaired by Ray Dalio and ADFW Startup Campus and Venture Park.

On the same day, ADQ, in collaboration with ADFW and ADGM, with Stern at NYU Abu Dhabi as academic advisor, published an insightful paper titled “A New Era of Capital Flows in a Polycentric World.” The paper explores how global capital flows now originate from a broader range of contributors and arrive at even more diverse destinations, which is reshaping the investment landscape.

Over the next three days, events such as Asset Abu Dhabi, RESOLVE, Fintech Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum are scheduled to boost Abu Dhabi ’s reputation as the “Capital of Capital” with discussions of global significance.

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