AFCM ANNUAL CONFERENCE
ABU DHABI 2026
CORPORATE ACCESS MICROSITE
CONRAD HOTEL, Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi
29th-30th of September, 2026
Abu Dhabi
About the Conference
The AFCM Annual Conference stands today as the premier gathering for the Arab capital markets community, uniting decision-makers, policymakers, and financial professionals from regional and international institutions.
Over the years, it has become a cornerstone event that promotes knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and cross-border cooperation.
The 2026 edition in Abu Dhabi, hosted by Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), and in collaboration with Arqaam Capital, the Exclusive Corporate Access Partner, will provide a vital platform to explore key themes shaping today’s financial landscape, from market modernization, digital transformation to cross-border connectivity and evolving market infrastructure.
Discussions will cover energy trading, market making, derivatives, ETFs, and the impact of AI valuations on markets, among other topics, to reflect the dynamic forces driving the next phase of capital market growth in the Arab region.
With Abu Dhabi’s dynamic financial landscape as its backdrop, the AFCM Annual Conference 2026 will reaffirm the Federation’s commitment to driving innovation, deepening regional ties, and positioning the Arab world’s capital markets as an integral force in the global financial arena.
For more information, please visit the Conference Main page.
Register
Abdulla Alnuaimi
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group
Message from Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is a vibrant global financial center with a future ready economy, progressive business and investment policies, world-class infrastructure, resilient economy and a secure society. The annual GDP statistical estimates confirm Abu Dhabi’s steady progress in economic transformation, with non-oil activities reaching a record 54.7 per cent contribution to GDP. The strong performance of Abu Dhabi’s economy underscores the success of economic policies that facilitate business expansion and global trade which resulted in around 300 per cent increase in the foreign investments in Abu Dhabi over a decade. At ADX, we understand our responsibility in facilitating and creating greater market liquidity.
We play a defining role in opening Abu Dhabi to global capital flows and serve as a credible global investment hub, supporting cross-border trading and collaborations. We constantly strive to enhance our capital markets through innovative investment products, digital market infrastructure to keep ahead and abreast of the market changes and developments. The AFCM 2026 creates an opportunity for exchange members to exchange perspectives, forge meaningful partnerships, and draw on the region’s diversity to foster innovation and growth.
“The 2026 Conference” will delve into topics such the evolving role of market makers, the integration of AI in liquidity provision, digital securities and next generation of investment vehicles, the dynamics of margin trading in a declining interest-rate environment and more. The sessions may present innovative insights and effective strategies as we collaborate to that could potential influence and define the future of capital markets. Thus, I welcome you to Abu Dhabi in 2026 and look forward to AFCM delivering another enriching experience for all participants and attendees.
Message from the Arab Federation of Capital Markets
It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the upcoming Annual Conference of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM), taking place in Abu Dhabi on September 2026. Each year, this flagship event serves as a vital platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation among financial market leaders from across the Arab world and beyond. The 2026 edition, hosted in partnership with Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), will once again bring together senior representatives from stock exchanges, regulators, clearing and settlement institutions, brokerage firms, and asset managers to explore the evolving landscape of Arab and global capital markets.
The choice of Abu Dhabi, a city that has become synonymous with progress, innovation, and financial excellence, reflects AFCM’s vision of positioning the Arab region at the forefront of global market transformation. The discussions and partnerships forged at this conference will no doubt play a key role in advancing market development, strengthening regional integration, and enhancing the competitiveness of Arab financial markets on the world stage. We invite all our esteemed members, partners, and industry stakeholders to save the date and join us in Abu Dhabi for what promises to be a dynamic and inspiring event shaping the future of Arab capital markets.
Rami El-Dokany
Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM)
Riad Meliti
Arqaam Capital
Message from Arqaam Capital
The Arab capital markets are entering a defining phase of their evolution. Over the past decade, the region has witnessed a remarkable transformation: exchanges have modernised their infrastructure, regulatory frameworks have strengthened, and a new generation of institutional investors has emerged. At the same time, the pipeline of listings across the GCC and broader Arab region continues to expand, creating unprecedented opportunities for global investors to access some of the world’s most dynamic growth economies.
At Arqaam Capital, we believe that the next stage of development will be driven not only by capital formation, but by deeper engagement between issuers, investors, exchanges, and market participants. Facilitating this dialogue is essential to improving liquidity, strengthening price discovery, and ensuring that the region’s investment story is clearly understood by global capital.
The 2026 Annual Conference of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets, hosted in partnership with Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, represents a powerful platform to advance these objectives. By bringing together leaders from exchanges, regulators, brokerage firms, and institutional investors, the conference will help shape the next chapter of Arab capital markets through meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas.
As Sole Corporate Access Partner, Arqaam Capital is proud to support this initiative and to contribute to strengthening connections between regional issuers and global investors. By fostering engagement and facilitating capital flows, we aim to help accelerate the moment when Arab markets claim their rightful place in every global institutional portfolio.
Corporate Access
The 2026 AFCM Annual Conference marks a significant milestone for the Federation, as it will host its first dedicated Corporate Access initiative alongside our annual gathering of exchanges and market leaders.
As Sole Corporate Access Partner, Arqaam Capital will design and deliver the conference’s institutional engagement framework, facilitating high-level connectivity between exchanges, issuers, and global investors.
The partnership reinforces Arqaam’s strategic focus on deepening liquidity, enhancing investor access, and strengthening capital formation across the region.
About AFCM
The Arab Federation of Capital Markets was established in June 1978 to be the guiding body for the Arab stock exchanges, under the recommendation of the Arab Central Banks Conference, held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The headquarters of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets is located in Beirut, Lebanon. The AFCM is the Arab industry group for 18 exchanges and 7 Clearing houses (CSD’s), and multiple of affiliate members (financial institutions, brokerage firms) from all around the Arab regions (GCC, Levant and Arab African countries).
The Federation was set up to contribute to the development of regulations and promoting harmonized and proactive legislations, and exchanging viewpoints and providing opportunities for cooperation among members.
Agenda
Contact
For information, please contact:
Paolo Casamassima, Executive Director, Investor Relations and Stakeholder Engagement
Mostafa Nagati, Equity Sales
Christopher Klink, Equity Sales
Danya Bashir, Head of Special Situations
