Abu Dhabi Finance Week: A New Era in Asset Management Unfolds

Abu Dhabi Finance Week: A New Era in Asset Management

Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) has emerged as a pivotal event, marking the second day of its flagship initiative, Asset Abu Dhabi. This prestigious gathering has brought together some of the world’s foremost capital allocators and asset managers to delve into emerging investment opportunities and shape the future of asset allocation in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

The opening remarks by Emmanuel Givanakis, CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM, underscored Abu Dhabi’s commitment to redefining the global asset management industry. He emphasized the importance of robust regulation, strategic innovation, and the emirate's unique position as a nexus for global capital. Givanakis set the tone for discussions centered on how financial hubs can lead the way in transitioning towards sustainable growth driven by opportunity.

"Asset Abu Dhabi symbolizes the increasing convergence of global capital and innovation, uniting the most sophisticated asset managers of our time amid profound changes in finance," Givanakis stated, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s rise as a trusted center for reengineering global capital networks and the future of asset management.

Throughout the event, various sessions addressed the future of asset management, hedge funds, and private markets. Experts explored the shifting dynamics of liquidity, leverage, and institutional allocation, alongside the increasing interplay between innovation, technology, and sustainability in driving economic transformation.

Notable figures in the investment community, including Todd Boehly, co-founder and CEO of Eldridge Industries; Robert Smith, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners; and Sir Christopher Hohn, founder of TCI Fund Management Limited, engaged in discussions about how changing macroeconomic cycles, emerging technologies, and geopolitical realignments will define the next phase of opportunities and risks.

The evolution of hedge funds was another area of focus, with Aron Landy, CEO of Brevan Howard; Shiv Srinivasan, investment director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office; and Robyn Grew, CEO of Man Group, examining how data, artificial intelligence, and precision analytics are transforming risk management and redefining performance in a world where volatility presents new opportunities.

Additionally, a session titled "The Physics of Great Wealth Transfer" featured discussions between Stefan Bollinger, CEO of Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., and Chi Man Kwan, CEO and co-founder of Raffles Family Office. They explored how approximately $84 trillion in intergenerational wealth will reshape economies and values worldwide.

In a separate session, Bruno Lanvin, president of the Descartes Institute for the Future, and Robert Salomon, dean of NYU Abu Dhabi, unveiled the first Global Financial Centers Index (FCCI), evaluating international financial centers. This index ranked New York, London, and Singapore as the top three, highlighting the growing influence of the GCC and placing Abu Dhabi first in the MENA region and twelfth globally, ahead of other major cities like Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha. Lanvin noted that Abu Dhabi's strong institutional stability, regulatory innovation, and deliberate economic strategy underpin its remarkable advancement and increasingly crucial role in global finance.

The International Family Offices Congress also took place during the ADFW, gathering global family office leaders to discuss wealth preservation and the future of private capital. The dynamic landscape of global investment, the massive transfer of wealth, and Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a leading center for family offices and generational wealth creation were all key topics. Esteemed participants included Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates; Bhanu Baweja, chief strategist at UBS Investment Bank; and Daniel Pinto, co-founder and CEO of Stanhope Capital Group.

On the second day of ADFW, several companies announced their expansion into the ADGM, reinforcing the region's strategic presence. Circle Internet Group, Inc., a leading online financial platform listed on the New York Stock Exchange, was granted a Financial Services Permit (FSP) by the FSRA to operate as a Money Services Provider. BBVA also received an In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the FSRA, positioning itself to enhance its range of corporate and investment banking services in the region.

The Abu Dhabi Finance Week continues over the next two days, featuring key events as part of Fintech Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum (ADSFF). This influential week not only highlights the emirate's pivotal role in redefining finance but also points towards an exciting future of innovation and collaboration in global asset management.