Every year, ADFW shines with opportunities to gain first-hand insights into the latest trends in finance and investment. The 2024 edition will be just as enlightening, with a variety of talks taking place over four days. Speakers are among the most prominent names in finance, and the topics are important subject matters that will be talked about for months to come. In this special feature, we highlight ten sessions you don’t want to miss.
Abu Dhabi Economic Forum – Abu Dhabi: A Rising Global Presence
Senior leadership from Mubadala Investment Company, one of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds, will take center stage at ADFW 2024 to discuss how the UAE capital is expanding its influence on the global economic arena. In this session, attendees will learn more about Abu Dhabi’s evolving investment strategies, its role in fostering international partnerships, and how it continues to position itself as a key player in the financial ecosystem in the region and beyond.
Asset Abu Dhabi: The Market View of Trillion Dollar Asset Managers
Multi-trillion-dollar asset managers now control approximately 61 percent of the industry’s total assets. Last year, assets under management (AUM) reached nearly $120 trillion, rebounding from a decline in 2022. This huge piece of the pie underscores significant market power. In this session, participants can learn how top managers view the current market environment. It will also deep dive into their investment strategies and future trends that will reshape the global asset management industry.
RESOLVE: Class Actions for Societal Harm – The Silicon Valley Backlash
Class action frameworks are gaining traction globally. Today, countries like Australia, Canada, the U.K., and parts of the European Union have become more open to embracing collective litigation. Meanwhile, the United States continues to lead in these lawsuits. Social media platforms, gaming companies, and app developers are also facing mounting legal pressure from class action litigants alleging harm. This session at ADFW 2024 is for conference-goers who want to explore recent cases and know more about the tension between profit-driven innovation and consumer protection.
Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum: How Impactful is Impact Investing?
Impact investing is considered one of the most meaningful types of investment. After all, it helps channel private investment capital into projects and enterprises that generate environmental and social benefits. However, what does the current ecosystem truly look like? This discussion at ADFW 2024 will explore the effectiveness of impact investing and examine its outcomes, challenges, and future potential across industries. At the end of the talk, attendees will be able to answer a crucial question—just how impactful is impact investing?
Fintech Abu Dhabi: Investing in AI, What Does the Next World Look Like?
Since early 2023, the Nasdaq Global Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Index has outperformed both the S&P 500 and MSCI World by more than 30 percent. While comparisons to the Dot Com boom have been noted, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) outstrips any concerns. Key industries such as finance, health, and logistics are now poised for a significant transformation through AI. And this development presents significant opportunities for both enablers and adopters alike. In this ADFW 2024 session, a visionary investor in the field of AI will explore the promise and potential of one of the most talked-about asset classes in recent memory.
International Family Office Congress: An Education in Partnerships & Progress
Family offices have long been a pivotal force in the world of finance. But how can family businesses further maximize value by collaborating with global asset managers and leveraging M&A opportunities? This panel at ADFW 2024 will examine the next chapter in the success story of GEMS Education, which is one of the oldest and largest Kindergarten to Grade 12 private education providers in the globe. It will offer an in-depth exploration of the education company’s optimizing strategies—and how it plans to enter new markets, refine its portfolios, and drive long-term growth. Attendees will gain valuable perspectives into how family-run enterprises can scale their impact and capitalize on global opportunities.
Future of Talent Summit: Building a Career In Abu Dhabi’s Financial Industry
This panel will provide practical insights into launching and advancing a career in Abu Dhabi’s rapidly evolving financial sector. Industry experts will discuss the most in-demand skills, emerging trends, and key opportunities. They will also address the various challenges professionals may encounter as they seek to make their mark in the region’s competitive financial landscape. Whether you are just starting out or looking to grow, this session will offer much-needed insights to help you thrive in Abu Dhabi’s dynamic finance industry.
Islamic Finance Summit: Advancing Regulatory Developments in Islamic Finance
Statistics show that the total value of all Islamic financial assets worldwide is already at $4.5 trillion. However, there is one major factor that hinders the growth of this sector: global regulatory acceptance of Shariah compliance. Despite efforts by standardization bodies to create international frameworks, there is scope to do more. This ADFW 2024 session will bring together regulators across geographies to talk about just that. They will share their thoughts on overcoming these challenges and focusing on unified growth.
Read: ADFW 2024 reaches new milestone
Risk 4.0: Emerging Threats in Financial Crimes
With the advancement of technology comes more sophisticated crime threats, including those related to finance. cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance (DeFi) are creating new avenues for money laundering, terrorism financing, and fraud, even outpacing regulatory frameworks. Additionally, cybercrimes, such as ransomware attacks and data breaches, expose vulnerabilities within financial systems. The growing use of digital wallets and peer-to-peer platforms also reduces transparency, raising risks of undetected financial crimes.
Blockchain Abu Dhabi: Building the Internet’s Financial System
Circle Internet Financial is recognized as one of the 100 most influential companies of 2023. The company is the issuer of USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization. This keynote at ADFW 2024 will feature its CEO Jeremy Allaire. Allaire will share Circle’s vision for building the financial infrastructure of the Internet, discussing their strategy for shaping the future of digital finance. This must-attend session is ideal for anyone interested in the evolving role of stablecoins and the broader digital economy.
