Abu Dhabi Finance Week Takes Stock of Future Asset Management Trends

Abu Dhabi Finance Week: A Pivotal Moment in Asset Management

The Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), a flagship event organized by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has commenced its second day with the Asset Abu Dhabi segment. This event has brought together some of the world's largest capital allocators and asset managers to explore new investment opportunities and redefine asset allocation methods in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

At the opening of this prominent gathering, Emmanuel Givanakis, CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, emphasized how Abu Dhabi is redefining the global asset management sector. By combining solid regulation, strategic innovation, and its unique position as a hub for global capital, Abu Dhabi is leading the charge in transforming financial markets. Mr. Givanakis set the stage for the day's discussions, which centered on how financial centers can drive a shift towards sustainable and opportunity-driven growth.

He remarked, "Asset Abu Dhabi reflects the growing convergence of global capital and innovation, gathering the world’s most sophisticated asset managers during a time of profound change in finance. It symbolizes Abu Dhabi’s evolution into a trusted hub reshaping global capital networks and the future of asset management."

Throughout the event, various sessions delved into the future of asset management, hedge funds, and private markets while examining the evolving dynamics of liquidity, leverage, and institutional allocation. Furthermore, the intersection of innovation, technology, and sustainability was highlighted as crucial drivers of economic transformation.

Among the distinguished speakers were Todd Boehly, Co-Founder and CEO of Eldridge Industries, Robert Smith, Founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, and Sir Christopher Hohn, Founder and CEO of TCI Fund Management Limited. They engaged in discussions about how shifting macroeconomic cycles, emerging technologies, and geopolitical realignments will influence the next phase of opportunities and risks in global finance.

A key focus of the event was dedicated to the evolving art of hedge funds, where experts such as Aron Landy, CEO of Brevan Howard, and Shiv Srinivasan, CIO of Hedge Funds at the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, explored how data, AI, and precision analytics are transforming risk management and redefining performance in a world where volatility presents new opportunities.

In a compelling session titled "The Physics of the Great Wealth Transfer", Stefan Bollinger, CEO of Julius Baer Group, and Chi Man Kwan, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Raffles Family Office, discussed how an estimated $84 trillion in intergenerational wealth will reshape the global economy and values.

FCCI Report Launch

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

Leading the index are New York, London, and Singapore, with Abu Dhabi positioned as the top player in the MENA region and ranked 12th globally, ahead of cities like Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha. Lanvin noted that Abu Dhabi’s standing results from consistent institutional strength, regulatory innovations, and a focused economic strategy. The index ranks Abu Dhabi first for regulatory innovation, fifth for institutional environment, and third for incentives for corporate promotion, highlighting the emirate’s exceptional progress and growing role in global finance.

International Family Office Congress

The event also featured discussions among leading representatives of family offices globally, focusing on wealth preservation and the future of private capital amidst the changing dynamics of global investment, the significant wealth transfer, impact investing, and Abu Dhabi's rise as a leading center for family offices and generational wealth creation.

Notable attendees included Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates; Bhanu Baweja, Chief Strategist at UBS Investment Bank; and Jim Mellon, Executive Chairman of Agronomics, among others.

New Participants and Crucial Collaborations

The second day of the ADFW also witnessed several companies announcing their intentions to open offices in ADGM. Circle Internet Group, Inc., a leading internet financial platform, bolstered its strategic presence in the region by obtaining a Financial Services Permission from FSRA to operate as a financial provider. Additionally, BBVA received In-Principle Approval from FSRA, enabling it to expand its corporate and investment banking services and strengthen its position as a strategic partner for corporate and institutional clients in the area.

The ADFW is set to continue for two more days, featuring significant events under the auspices of Fintech Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum (ADSFF).