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7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
An exclusive networking dinner bringing together asset owners, family offices, institutional investors, sponsors, speakers and industry leaders ahead of the main conference.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Registration & Welcome Coffee
Collect your badge, enjoy a welcome coffee and connect with fellow delegates before the programme begins.
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
Opening Ceremony & Cultural Performance
The conference opens with a warm welcome to delegates and a cultural performance celebrating the heritage of the UAE.
8:45 AM - 8:55 AM
Welcome Remarks
SPEAKER
William Tohme, President, CFA Society Emirates
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Keynote & Conversation · Energy & Geopolitics: The Forces Reshaping Global Risk
The session opens with a presentation on global energy markets, policy and the transition, followed by a conversation on what these shifts mean for markets and for investors in the region.
SPEAKERS
Dr Carole Nakhle, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Crystol Energy
George Pollack, Partner & Senior Analyst, US & Canada Policy, Signum Global Advisors
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
Panel · CIOs & Asset Owners: Positioning for the Next Decade
Leading CIOs and asset owners share how they are rethinking asset allocation, risk and return expectations. Hear first-hand how some of the world’s most influential allocators are preparing their portfolios for the decade ahead.
10:30 AM - 10:50 AM
Coffee Break & Networking
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Debate Session · Is Active Management Winning Again?
Passive investing has dominated for over a decade, but is the tide turning? The session explores whether active managers are once again earning their fees, and where skill still makes the difference.
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Panel · Private Equity & Private Credit: Where Returns Come From Now
Higher financing costs and slower exits are rewriting the private markets playbook. This panel explores where private equity sponsors and private credit lenders are finding returns today, and what investors should expect going forward.
12:30 PM - 12:45 PM
Short Break
12:45 PM - 1:30 PM
Panel · Real Assets: Real Estate & Infrastructure
From inflation protection to the energy transition and the rise of digital infrastructure, real assets remain at the core of long-term portfolios. Panellists discuss where the opportunities lie and how investors are positioning.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Networking Lunch + Speech & Book Signing
Join fellow delegates for lunch, followed by a talk on how small, deliberate habits compound into lasting success in careers and in life, and a book signing.
SPEAKER
Eric Sim, CFA, Author of Small Actions & Founder, Institute of Life
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Panel · Investing in AI, Investing with AI: From Software to the Physical World
AI is reshaping both what investors back and how they invest. This session moves from the venture landscape to the rise of physical AI, including robotics, autonomy and the infrastructure behind them, before exploring how investment firms are putting AI to work in their own processes.
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Family Office Forum
Family offices are among the most influential sources of capital in the region. Hear how they are professionalising, shaping their portfolios, partnering with managers and preparing for the next generation.
Building Influence on LinkedIn: Personal Branding for Finance Professionals
Your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression you make. In this hands-on session, work on your own profile with direct feedback and leave with a practical plan to grow your visibility and influence, including what to post next.
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Closing Panel & Keynote
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Networking Reception
Further speakers will be added in the run-up to the Congress. Programme subject to change.
MEA Finance is the leading media platform and B2B event organiser for the banking and financial sectors across the Middle East and Africa. As a premier source of industry intelligence, it provides high-level insights through specialised publications and digital media. Its capabilities include hosting impactful summits, prestigious awards programmes, and executive forums that connect regional C-suite leaders with global innovators. By fostering strategic dialogue and recognising industry excellence, MEA Finance serves as a key catalyst for regional growth and the advancement of financial innovation.
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Get in Touch & Find Us
The Ritz-Carlton JBR, Dubai, UAE
Al Mamsha St - Jumeirah Beach Residence
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
