Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), hosted by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has confirmed more than 200 top international speakers for its fifth edition, scheduled for December 7 – 10, 2026. The announcement marks the first wave of confirmations for the event, which operates under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council.

The theme for ADFW 2026 is 'The Capital Community, Powered by Partnerships.' With just under five months until the event, the organizer highlighted the early commitment from global financial leaders as a signal of confidence in Abu Dhabi as a destination for long-term investment.

Key Speakers and Participants

The confirmed speaker list includes senior UAE and Abu Dhabi government officials alongside executives from major global financial institutions. Notable international attendees include:

• Oliver Bäte, CEO, Allianz SE
• Tan Su Shan, CEO, DBS Group
• Ron O’Hanley, Chairman & CEO, State Street
• Bill Winters, CEO, Standard Chartered
• Clare Woodman CBE, CEO Intl, Morgan Stanley
• Stefan Bollinger, CEO, Julius Baer
• Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, CEO, Temasek Holdings
• Andreas Berger, Group CEO, Swiss Re
• Charles R. Kaye, Chairman, Warburg Pincus
• Hendrik du Toit, Founder and CEO, Ninety One

Government representatives include H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, UAE; and H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport.

Expanded Programme Focus

ADFW 2026 will feature an expanded programme designed to deepen senior engagement. New additions for this edition include:

• Inaugural Abu Dhabi Real Estate Summit
• AIMA Global Hedge Fund Leaders Platform
• Hub71 Startups Campus
• Healthcare and BioTech Forum
• Multiple Global Strategy Roundtables

The week-long event is expected to stage more than 70 thematic events featuring over 800 speakers. The programme is structured around four main thematic days covering Abu Dhabi’s economic strategy, global markets, asset management, fintech, digital assets, sustainable finance, and Islamic finance.

What the Numbers Show

The confirmation of more than 200 speakers less than five months before the December dates indicates accelerated planning cycles compared to typical conference timelines. The inclusion of CEOs from asset managers (Franklin Templeton, TCW, Barings) alongside traditional banking leaders (DBS, Standard Chartered) suggests a strategic pivot toward broader capital allocation discussions rather than purely regulatory or banking-focused dialogue.