Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) 2025 opened on 8 December under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, bringing together global financial and business leaders to discuss the capital’s evolving economic landscape.
Hosted by ADGM with ADQ as a headline partner, this edition marked the largest gathering in the region’s flagship financial event.
A key moment of the opening was the pledging session convened by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, where Bill Gates and other international leaders committed a collective US$1.9 billion towards polio eradication.
Gates highlighted the importance of global collaboration, stating,
“The fight to end polio shows what is possible when the world invests together in a shared goal. We’re 99.9% of the way there, but the last stretch demands the same determination that got us this far.”
In his opening remarks, Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and ADGM, reflected on the city’s economic resilience and global standing, noting,
“For twenty-five years, Abu Dhabi held a double-A credit rating, without a single downgrade, and achieved seventeen consecutive quarters of GDP growth, with 6.6 per cent in the last quarter alone. We are the world’s richest city in sovereign wealth, and the region’s leading and largest international financial centre.”
The third edition of the Abu Dhabi Economic Forum explored economic diversification, industrial strategy, infrastructure, and trade partnerships, highlighting the Falcon Economy’s Q2 2025 GDP of AED 306.3 billion and non-oil growth of 6.6% year-on-year.
The day also featured regulatory approvals for Binance.com in ADGM, new expansions by Mubadala and Aldar, and 12 MoUs between local and international entities.
A range of forums addressed global markets, energy, private wealth, and investment opportunities, concluding with an invite-only networking gala.
Featured image credit: ADFW
