Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), the flagship event hosted by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), continued its momentum on day two with Asset Abu Dhabi, bringing together the world’s leading capital allocators and asset managers. The event focused on emerging investment opportunities and how financial centres like Abu Dhabi are shaping the future of asset allocation.

Abu Dhabi: A Hub for Global Capital

Opening the day, Emmanuel Givanakis, CEO of ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, highlighted Abu Dhabi’s strategic positioning in global finance. He framed the emirate as a nexus of regulation, innovation, and capital flows.

“Asset Abu Dhabi reflects the growing convergence of global capital and innovation,” Givanakis said. “It stands as a symbol of Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a trusted hub in reengineering global capital networks and the future of asset management.”

Macro Trends and Hedge Fund Innovation

The event featured panels exploring hedge funds, private markets, liquidity, leverage, and institutional allocation. Speakers included Todd Boehly (Eldridge Industries), Robert Smith (Vista Equity Partners), Sir Christopher Hohn (TCI Fund), and Hussain Sajwani (DAMAC). They discussed how macroeconomic cycles, technological advances, and geopolitical shifts will shape risk and opportunity in the years ahead.

A highlight was the Evolving Art of Hedge Funds session, with insights from Aron Landy (Brevan Howard), Shiv Srinivasan (Abu Dhabi Investment Council), and Robyn Grew (Man Group). AI, data analytics, and precision risk management are now central to performance, turning volatility into actionable investment opportunities.

The Great Wealth Transfer

Another high-profile session, The Physics of the Great Wealth Transfer, explored the impending $84 trillion intergenerational wealth shift. Stefan Bollinger (Bank Julius Baer) and Chi Man Kwan (Raffles Family Office) examined its implications for private capital, family offices, and wealth preservation strategies worldwide.

Inaugural NYU FCCI Report

ADFW also unveiled the first NYU Global Financial Centre Competitiveness Index (FCCI). Rankings placed New York, London, and Singapore at the top globally, while Abu Dhabi emerged as the MENA leader and 12th globally, ahead of Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha. Abu Dhabi ranked 1st for Regulatory Innovation, 5th for Institutional Environment, and 3rd for Business Support Incentives, highlighting its growing role in international finance.

Family Office Leadership

The International Family Office Congress drew global wealth managers and private capital leaders. Key speakers included Ray Dalio (Bridgewater), Bhanu Baweja (UBS), Daniel Pinto (Stanhope Capital), Adrian Cheng (New World Development), and Jim Mellon (Agronomics). Discussions focused on impact investing, intergenerational wealth, and Abu Dhabi’s rise as a hub for family offices.

New Entrants and Strategic Partnerships

ADFW 2025 also showcased Abu Dhabi’s growing attractiveness to global fintech and banking players. Circle Internet Group secured an FSRA license to operate as a Money Services Provider, strengthening its regional presence. BBVA received In-Principle Approval from the FSRA, enabling it to expand corporate and investment banking activities across the region. These moves signal Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a central node for both innovation-driven and institutional finance.

With AI, hedge fund innovation, wealth transfer, and global investment strategy all in play, ADFW continues to position Abu Dhabi as a rising powerhouse in global finance, particularly in MENA, blending regulation, strategic vision, and market opportunity.