Conference proceedings opened "Arqaam Capital".. Nahyan bin Mubarak: The UAE, under the leadership of Mohammed bin Zayed, is consolidating its position as a global center for investment and innovation

DUBAI, 3 JUNE / WAM / His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, confirmed that the United Arab Emirates, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” continues to consolidate its position as a global center for investment, innovation and international partnerships, and represents a global model that combines stability, progress and economic confidence, indicating that the Middle East and North Africa region is no longer satisfied with keeping pace with global economic transformations, but rather is contributing. Increasingly in shaping global capital flows, investment priorities and long-term economic growth opportunities.

This came during His Excellency’s opening today of the thirteenth annual Arqaam Capital Conference for investors in the Middle East and North Africa region, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in the Dubai International Financial Center for two days, with wide participation from regional and international investors, sovereign wealth funds, listed companies, policy makers, economic experts, and financial market leaders from various parts of the region and the world.

In his opening speech, His Excellency expressed his pleasure to participate once again in the annual Arqaam Capital conference for investors in the Middle East and North Africa region, which over the past years has formed an important platform for dialogue on the future of the economy and investment in the region. He said that the participants met last year under the slogan “From Vision to Creating Value,” where the importance of transforming ambitions into achievements and promoting openness, transparency, innovation, and responsible capital were emphasized as basic pillars of strong markets and prosperous economies.

His Excellency explained that the conference’s slogan for this year, “From Resilience to Market Leadership: Expanding the Scope of Capital in the Middle East and North Africa” reflects an important fact, which is that the region is no longer satisfied with responding to global economic changes, but is increasingly contributing to shaping global capital flows, investment priorities, and long-term economic growth opportunities.

He added that the events and challenges that the region witnessed during the recent period confirmed that peace, stability, progress and trust cannot be taken for granted, but at the same time they highlighted the ability of the UAE to maintain its approach based on openness, stability and trust even in times of challenges, as the state’s institutions remained strong and cohesive, markets continued to perform their vital role, and the national economy continued its path towards growth and progress with stability, flexibility and discipline.

His Excellency stressed that these achievements did not come out of nowhere, but rather came as a result of wise leadership, a long-term strategic vision, and a firm national commitment to development and progress. He said that the UAE, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” has proven that stability and progress go hand in hand, and that His Highness is leading an ambitious national process that has made the country a global model in development, stability, and economic competitiveness.

He added that His Highness the President of the State is a leader with an enlightened vision who is keen for the UAE to remain a major regional and global center for economy and investment, and thanks to His Highness’s leadership, the country has strengthened its position not only as a global center for finance, business, energy, technology, education, health and culture, but also as a global forum for dialogue, innovation and international partnerships, stressing that His Highness’s vision and wisdom form a solid foundation for the national development process.

His Excellency praised the achievements of the Emirate of Dubai under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” stressing that Dubai has become a global model of ambition, openness and disciplined implementation, and that it has succeeded in building an economic and investment environment that links markets, ideas, cultures and talents from various parts of the world.

He explained that the UAE and Dubai have gained the confidence of international investors thanks to the transparency, strong regulation, global interconnection, security, stability, human competencies and reliable institutions they provide, which has made the country a preferred destination for global capital and investments.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan pointed out that the transformation witnessed by the Middle East and North Africa region represents an important historical stage in the process of economic development, pointing out that the growth of regional stock exchanges, the development of listed companies, the strength of sovereign institutions, the increasing activity of initial public offerings, and the expansion of institutional investments, are all indicators that confirm the region’s rise as a more influential and innovative player in the global economy.

He stressed that true economic leadership is not based on capital alone, but also depends on investment in people, education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the development of national talent, noting that sustainable development requires building societies capable of empowering their members, encouraging creativity, and providing opportunities for future generations.

His Excellency said that financial markets must play a role that goes beyond achieving financial returns, to contribute to supporting productive projects, scientific research, innovation, infrastructure and human development, which will reflect positively on the prosperity and stability of societies and their ability to face future challenges.

He added that the values ​​of tolerance, coexistence, openness and dialogue adopted by the UAE represent basic pillars for achieving economic success in addition to their humanitarian and social importance, stressing that societies that attract competencies, build trust and enhance cooperation between different cultures are more capable of attracting investments, achieving sustainable growth and enhancing their global competitiveness.

His Excellency also stressed the importance of benefiting from the rapid developments in the fields of artificial intelligence and modern technology, noting that these technologies will play a pivotal role in reshaping the future of investment, financing and productivity in the coming years, calling for their use in a responsible manner that ensures enhancing transparency, raising the efficiency of institutions, expanding opportunities and achieving shared prosperity.

At the conclusion of his speech, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan expressed his confidence in the ability of the UAE and the Middle East and North Africa region to continue achieving successes during the next stage, stressing that the region possesses all the ingredients that qualify it to move from the stage of steadfastness to the stage of global economic leadership, through strong institutions, responsible investments, open markets, effective international partnerships, and a shared commitment to achieving sustainable development and long-term prosperity.

His Excellency also congratulated Arqaam Capital for organizing this important forum, welcoming all participants in Dubai and the UAE, and hoping that their discussions would contribute to strengthening partnerships, consolidating trust, and supporting the future of the region and the world.

The conference will be held this year under the slogan “From Resilience to Market Leadership: Expanding the Scope of Capital in the Middle East and North Africa,” at a time when the region’s markets are witnessing increasing interest from international investors, driven by economic diversification programs, the expansion of financial markets, the growing activity of initial public offerings, and increasing cross-border investment flows.

Over two days, participants will discuss the opportunities, challenges and trends that shape the next stage of economic growth in the region, including the readiness of companies for public offerings, the development of Gulf stock exchanges, sukuk and fixed income markets, strategies for employing sovereign capital, transformations of the banking sector, real estate, energy security, artificial intelligence, quantitative investment, and cross-border investment flows.

The conference witnessed the participation of a group of senior executives and decision makers from financial institutions, capital markets and listed companies, including the Dubai Financial Market, the Bahrain Bourse, the Kuwait Stock Exchange, the Muscat Stock Exchange, ADNOC Drilling, Addis Holding, First Abu Dhabi Bank, TECOM Group, Dubai Residential REIT Fund, Bingatti, and Shurooq Partners, in addition to a number of international investment institutions.

The list of speakers also included Hamed Ali, CEO of the Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai, Sheikh Khalifa bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, CEO of the Bahrain Stock Exchange, Mohammed Saud Al-Osaimi, CEO of the Kuwait Stock Exchange, Haitham Al-Salmi, CEO of the Muscat Stock Exchange, and Simon Ballard, CEO and chief economist at First Abu Dhabi Bank, in addition to a number of prominent economic and financial leaders.

The conference comes as an extension of the success achieved by the 2025 session, which witnessed more than 600 organized institutional meetings between investors and companies, with the participation of 90 listed companies representing more than one trillion US dollars in market value, along with 222 institutional investors representing 110 global investment institutions.

Riad Meliti, CEO of Arqaam Capital, said: For nearly two decades, this region has been asked to prove its ability to withstand, and today the answer to this question has become clear. The question before us now is the question of leadership, and it is a question answered by institutions and investors who determine where and how capital will be built, allocated and employed during the next decade.

He stressed that the Middle East and North Africa region is no longer just a destination for global capital, but has become a source of it. He said: From the position that Dubai occupies at the heart of global capital flows, to the momentum witnessed in the public offering and sukuk markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, all the way to the structural reforms that are reshaping the features of the region’s largest economies, the region is no longer just adapting to the global economic system, but is now contributing to shaping it.

He added that the opening of this dialogue with the participation of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan represents a source of pride and pride for us, and it also reflects a clear message that the current contract is the region’s decade par excellence, and that Arqaam Capital intends to contribute to building this stage from the region and for the region’s sake.

The conference reflects a joint commitment between governments, financial institutions and investors to support cooperation, long-term investment, innovation and sustainable economic development in the Middle East and North Africa region. It also embodies the growing role of the United Arab Emirates as a global platform that brings together regional ambitions and global capital and contributes to shaping the future of the economy and investment in the region and the world.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Related