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Forbes Middle East inaugurates premier family business summit in Abu Dhabi
The inaugural Forbes Middle East Family Business Summit convenes this October, bringing together influential family enterprises, next generation leaders and policymakers to explore governance, succession and the future of family capital across the Arab world.
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Forbes Middle East has announced the inaugural Family Business Summit, a distinguished gathering of influential enterprises and visionary leaders converging in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism. Presented by First Abu Dhabi Bank, this significant two day convocation will take place on October 28 and 29 at the resplendent Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas on Saadiyat Island.
Held beneath the theme “Where Generations Build Tomorrow,” the summit represents a pivotal platform for exploring the multifaceted dimensions of family capital, enterprise governance, strategic succession planning and enduring leadership across successive generations. The gathering shall unite an impressive assembly of family office executives, prominent investors, policy architects, governance specialists and the most promising next generation leaders from across the region and beyond.
A Convergence of Strategic Leadership
The summit will feature more than sixty speakers of exceptional standing, including senior government officials and pioneering family business leaders. Among the distinguished participants are Her Excellency Juma Mohammed Al Kait, Acting Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism; Her Excellency Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development; Her Excellency Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; and Her Excellency Khaled Alfahim, Board Member of Abu Dhabi Chamber and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council.
Over the course of two days, the summit is anticipated to welcome approximately three thousand participants, creating an unparalleled forum for dialogue and knowledge exchange. The agenda shall examine the transformative forces reshaping family enterprises within an increasingly complex global economic landscape, encompassing governance frameworks, succession strategies, intelligent business transformation, international expansion horizons and sustainability imperatives. The summit will equally illuminate the evolving significance of family enterprises as discerning capital allocators navigating contemporary financial markets.
Honouring Excellence and Legacy
The proceedings shall culminate in a distinguished awards ceremony celebrating the most accomplished companies featured on Forbes Middle East’s 2026 list of leading Arab family businesses, thereby recognising the exceptional contributions these enterprises make to the region’s economic prosperity and vision.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has demonstrated unwavering commitment to supporting family business growth through comprehensive legislative frameworks, including Federal Decree Law No. 37 of 2022. Subsequent ministerial resolutions have established a unified registry for family businesses, regulated family business charters, and enabled share purchase mechanisms and multiple share classifications, thereby creating a sophisticated governance environment conducive to sustained prosperity and intergenerational continuity.
Imagery courtesy of Forbes Middle East.