Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum (ADSFF), in partnership with Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC), Hanwha, and the EU GCC Cooperation on green transition project, convened its 8th edition at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
According to Emirates News Agency, the event was part of the final day of the Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), bringing together leaders from climate finance, innovation, policy, and investment sectors. This gathering reinforced Abu Dhabi's role as a pivotal player in the global movement towards a net-zero, nature-positive future. Salem Mohammed Al Darei, CEO of ADGM Authority, opened the forum by emphasizing Abu Dhabi's rapid emergence as a sustainable finance hub, focusing on ambitious policies and climate-resilient ecosystems to drive global solutions.
Al Darei stated, "Our commitment is clear - Abu Dhabi will continue to serve as the destination where capital finds purpose and purpose finds progress. As the Capital of Green Capital, we are building bridges between regions and mobilising capital for renewable infrastructure, green technologies and sustainable innovation across emerging and developed markets."
The forum featured a session titled 'From Ambition to Action: Financing the Transition to a Green Economy,' where Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of Frontier25, discussed the ongoing efforts and future needs to transition the region to a green economy and enhance climate action.
Throughout the day, ADSFF hosted keynotes, panel discussions, and dialogues on topics such as renewable-energy investment, biodiversity financing, AI-enabled ESG risk analysis, Islamic sustainable finance, and climate-resilient digital infrastructure. Participants explored how financial markets can boost investments in energy transition, green infrastructure, and nature-based solutions.
A notable session at the forum focused on how urban planning, policy frameworks, and climate-aligned projects are positioning Abu Dhabi as a global platform for sustainable investment. The session highlighted the role of long-term capital, climate resilience strategies, and cross-border collaboration in transforming the green finance landscape.
A high-level public boardroom debate, organized by the GCFC, featured CEOs from First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, and HSBC Bank Middle East, discussing pathways to establish the UAE as a global climate finance hub.
In another session, Eugenia Unanyants-Jackson, Global Head of ESG at PGIM, and Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, examined how impact-driven investment is reshaping global health, deeptech, and community development while delivering sustainable returns.
Coinciding with the main event, the Women in Finance Forum spotlighted female leaders in finance, investment, and sustainability, emphasizing their role in driving innovation and inclusion in the industry through sessions like 'Leaders in Motion: Women Driving Financial Innovation.'
Several parallel forums, including the 2nd EU-GCC Finance and Investment for Green Transition Forum and the Islamic Finance Summit, gathered sector leaders to discuss advancements in climate financing and green-economy collaboration.
The forum also showcased progress by the UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group, endorsing new 'Principles for Climate Transition Planning' to guide financial institutions toward credible transition practices aligned with the UAE's net-zero goals.
Significant announcements during ADFW included J.P. Morgan, ERM, DLA Piper, Arab Bank (Switzerland) Middle East, and iCapital setting up or expanding their operations in ADGM. A total of 23 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, marking collaborations between local and international entities such as Tether, Crypto.com, and Warner Bros. Discovery.