The Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) wrapped up its 2023 edition after having successfully hosted more than 18,000 attendees from the financial sector.
The event was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, and presented by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) as the headline partner.
This year’s ADFW focused on the theme “Investing in the Transition Era,” exploring the economic, technological, and energy transitions that will shape the global finance landscape in the coming decade.
The event featured five main forums, encompassing 46 sub-events, with over 180 sessions and 300 speakers from diverse backgrounds.
ADFW drew an international audience, with 39% of attendees representing global participants. Business leaders, financial experts, policymakers, regulators, investors, and bankers from over 100 countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, India, Mainland China, Singapore, Switzerland, France, Canada, and the GCC region, converged to engage in discussions.
The event brought together leaders from various sectors, including private equity, capital markets, hedge funds, asset managers, venture capitalists, institutional investors, investment banks, and fintech companies, collectively managing assets exceeding US$ 30 trillion.
Distinguished speakers at ADFW included Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase, and Ray Dalio, Founder, CIO Mentor, and Member of the Bridgewater Board at Bridgewater Associates, LP.
Over 3,500 senior financial leaders and CEOs from renowned organisations such as Franklin Templeton, State Street, Goldman Sachs, BNY Mellon, Lazard, and Brevan Howard participated in strategic dialogues.
ADGM marked a significant milestone during the event, with 14 major financial institutions announcing their presence within ADGM, representing a total of US$ 452 billion in assets under management. Prominent names like NinetyOne, Rothschild & Co, GQG Partners, TCI, and eToro made these announcements during the four-day event.
ADFW also witnessed the signing of 25 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between international and regional players, setting the stage for the growth of the financial sector and its contribution to Abu Dhabi’s burgeoning economy in 2024.
These MoUs included collaborations with Al Maryah Community Bank (MBank), RAKBANK, Commercial Bank International (CBI), CredibleX, Khalifa Fund, Mastercard, CPX, Du, Ajman Bank, and Cision, among others.
In its commitment to advancing the UAE’s financial and sustainable economic landscape, ADFW hosted five key theme events, starting with the Abu Dhabi Economic Forum and followed by Asset Abu Dhabi, the Global Financial Regulators Summit, the 7th edition of Fintech Abu Dhabi, and the R.A.C.E. (Regulation, Awareness, Collaboration, Ecosystem) Sustainability Summit.
The forum also included breakout events such as Asset Abu Dhabi Private, the Asset Abu Dhabi GP-LP Programme, and The International Family Office Forum. Blockchain Abu Dhabi, AI Abu Dhabi, and Risk 4.0 were additional highlights.
This year’s ADFW edition received heightened attention, coinciding with COP28, as world leaders and representatives convened in the UAE for climate-related discussions.
His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of ADDED and ADGM said,
“In the past two years, ADFW has served as a platform to host global influential thought leaders in the finance and investments sector to discuss critical topics outlining the changing industry dynamics and opportunities and in further reinforcing ADGM’s position as one of the leading financial centres in the MEASA region.
With several strategic outcomes emerging from Abu Dhabi Finance Week, including the announcement of establishment of over a dozen major institutions, our reputation as a Capital of Capital continues to thrive. Our ambitions are accelerated, and we look forward to an even bigger ADFW in 2024.”
