Dubai, UAE — December 2025 — The Abu Dhabi Global Market, in collaboration with the Global Climate Finance Centre, Hanwha, and the EU GCC Cooperation on green transition project, successfully convened the 8th Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum.
Hosted on the final day of Abu Dhabi Finance Week, the landmark event assembled climate-finance leaders, policymakers, institutional investors, and innovators, solidifying the emirate’s pivotal role in driving the global net-zero, nature-positive transition.
In his opening address, Salem Mohammed Al Darei, CEO of ADGM Authority, underscored Abu Dhabi’s rapid ascent as a center of gravity for sustainable finance. He detailed the emirate’s work in advancing ambitious policies, building climate-resilient ecosystems, and channeling capital toward high-impact global solutions.
“Our commitment is clear – Abu Dhabi will continue to serve as the destination where capital finds purpose and purpose finds progress,” he said, as reported by the Emirates News Agency. “As the Capital of Green Capital, we are building bridges between regions and mobilizing capital for renewable infrastructure, green technologies and sustainable innovation across emerging and developed markets. This forum reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing stature as a global platform for sustainable finance, where ambition meets execution, and partnerships drive systemic transformation.”
The forum’s agenda, built on the theme of aligning capital with climate ambition, featured a series of high-level discussions.
In a session titled ‘From Ambition to Action,’ Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of Frontier25, examined the necessary steps to accelerate the region’s transition to a green economy.
Key topics explored throughout the day included renewable-energy investment, biodiversity financing, AI-enabled ESG risk analysis, Islamic sustainable finance, and frontier climate innovations.
A headline session analyzed how Abu Dhabi’s future-proof urban planning and policy frameworks are reinforcing its status as a global platform for sustainable investment.
Subsequently, a CEO debate organized by the GCFC, featuring leaders from First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, and HSBC Bank Middle East, mapped practical pathways to establish the UAE as a global climate finance hub.
Parallel thought leadership included a session with Eugenia Unanyants-Jackson of PGIM and Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil of Burjeel Holdings on impact-driven investment reshaping global health and deeptech. Coinciding with the main forum, the Women in Finance Forum gathered influential female leaders to champion greater inclusion and innovation in the sector.
Several accompanying forums added depth, including the 2nd EU-GCC Finance & Investment for Green Transition Forum and the Islamic Finance Summit.
The event also marked significant progress for the UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group, which endorsed new “Principles for Climate Transition Planning.”
Furthermore, new signatories joined the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration, bringing the total to 180 institutions aligned with the UAE’s net-zero goals.
The day also witnessed substantial business announcements, with J.P. Morgan, ERM, DLA Piper, Arab Bank Middle East, and iCapital all revealed plans to establish or expand their presence in ADGM.
The final day of Abu Dhabi Finance Week concluded with the announcement of 23 new Memoranda of Understanding between local and international entities such as Tether, Crypto.com, and Warner Bros., Discovery, highlighting vigorous and expanding partnerships for sustainable growth.
