Future of Investment Forum 2026

Event Highlight Articles

Future of Investments Forum

January 28 – 29
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Future of Investment Forum Event Recap

On January 28 and 29, Institutional Connect launched the inaugural Future of Investments Forum at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas in the UAE. The international event brought together speakers and attendees from the GCC region, Europe, and North America to discuss forward-looking topics shaping the dynamism of GCC economies. The forum welcomed participants from a diverse range of backgrounds, including family offices, sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and asset management firms.

Two key themes emerged consistently throughout the event: the energy transition and the rise of the digital economy, encompassing artificial intelligence and digital assets. The GCC region, while continuing to leverage its natural resource base, is actively seeking and investing in solutions beyond traditional energy sources, including high levels of foreign direct investment in renewables and local investment across a wide range of low-carbon energy sources to power the region’s data center and AI ambitions. A clear consensus among investors was that deploying capital into both existing energy infrastructure and emerging technologies represents a viable pathway to long-term success. An independent session led by William Hess highlighted China’s significant competitive advantage in power generation capacity, noting that the country is doubling its output and generating a substantial energy surplus, a development that positions it as a formidable challenger to US dominance in the AI race. Access to metals and minerals was identified as a critical macroeconomic pressure point, and one in which China has strategically entrenched itself.

The UAE’s role in the broader investment landscape was also recognized, with particular emphasis on strong credit market support from sovereign wealth funds, a free-trade system that enables capital-intensive investment, and active partnerships with countries such as India, Australia, and Canada.
Discussions around strategic partnerships and risk management revealed a notable shift among institutional investors toward sovereign capital vehicles deployed through government channels. Participants emphasized the importance of building governance relationships and partnerships that extend beyond individual transactions, a necessity given the increasingly complex investment environment. Across institution types, from large sovereign funds to single-family offices, a common theme emerged: the need to build both portfolio and institutional resilience to navigate an environment defined by evolving markets and shifting risks. Portfolio diversification across currencies and asset classes has become a dominant conversation, with real assets including digital and energy infrastructure and digital assets emerging as primary drivers of portfolio returns, particularly as asset correlations rise and persistently higher inflation erodes the value of fiat currency.

In a fireside chat, Robert of the Oman Investment Authority offered his perspective on what an ideal sovereign portfolio might look like in the context of Vision 2035. He addressed current trends around the total portfolio approach versus strategic asset allocation, and shared insights on how institutional investors can meet long-term expectations from a sovereign fund perspective. Central to his remarks was the importance of clear, consistent communication with multiple stakeholders around long-term goals, particularly during periods of market volatility.