Abu Dhabi is preparing to host the Middle East & Africa Finance Forum 2025 at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, bringing international investors and regional decision makers together around the growing digital infrastructure economy on Monday 24 November 2025. The Tech Capital, which has already run multiple International Finance Forum editions in major financial centres, now focuses this one day forum specifically on Middle East and African markets. Check in and networking are scheduled from 08:00 to 08:55, followed by a full day of sessions and discussions focused on capital flows into data centres, connectivity and energy assets. The tone is businesslike rather than promotional, with many attendees coming in to test market sentiment and meet capital partners in person. This forum puts digital infrastructure finance at the centre of Abu Dhabi’s regional calendar.
Forum spotlight on digital infrastructure finance
This forum has a tight agenda around themes like data centre investment, subsea and terrestrial connectivity, cloud infrastructure, and power for digital assets across Middle East and African markets. Sessions are expected to cover how sovereign funds, private equity and infrastructure managers deploy capital, as well as how regional operators structure their growth pipelines. Organisers highlight both mature Gulf markets and high growth African economies, so conversations should move between established hubs and frontier opportunities. For visitors planning their year, it sits alongside larger global finance events but with a clear digital infrastructure lens. Content is designed for people who already work with complex capital structures.
Programme from early check in to evening
According to the agenda, doors open at 08:00 for check in and informal networking, with the first structured session starting shortly after 09:00 and the programme running into the late afternoon or early evening. Panels and keynotes are arranged to move from broad market outlooks into more focused discussions on regulation, project finance and regional case studies. Coffee breaks and a networking lunch are built into the day so that delegates can move conversations from the stage to the lobby without losing time. Because it is a single day format, attendees should expect a relatively dense schedule and limited gaps between sessions. Plan to stay on site from morning to early evening to benefit fully.
High level speakers and investor audience
The Tech Capital indicates that speakers will include senior figures from global banks, regional investors and major digital infrastructure operators, with names such as HSBC, Equinix, RBC, DAMAC, Huawei, Khazna, G42, N+ONE Datacenters and Newmark mentioned in the announcement. Alongside them, panellists are drawn from private equity, infrastructure funds, advisory firms and law practices that specialise in cross border deals. This mix usually creates a room where capital providers, asset owners and advisors can address each other directly rather than through intermediaries. For many delegates, this type of composition is the main reason to attend, since it compresses several months of calls and meetings into one focused day. It is not suitable for children and is best for senior professionals only (solo and corporate groups).
Who should register and how to budget
The forum is targeted at C level executives, investment managers, corporate development teams and advisors who work on digital infrastructure transactions across Middle East and African regions. Typical delegates include CFOs, heads of strategy, fund partners, government investment officials and senior bankers with responsibility for infrastructure or TMT. Organisers position it as a premium, boardroom level gathering, so companies should budget at a corporate training or conference level rather than a casual networking event. Exact registration fees are listed in foreign currency by the organiser, but for planning purposes you can expect a one day ticket at a high three to low four figure cost in AED per delegate, approximately, depending on package and timing. Paid entry applies and advance registration is essential.
Rosewood Abu Dhabi venue and surroundings
Rosewood Abu Dhabi sits on Al Maryah Island, within the city’s financial and business district, directly connected to The Galleria Al Maryah Island mall and a cluster of office towers. The hotel’s ballroom and meeting spaces are used frequently for financial and government events, so the infrastructure for simultaneous panels, coffee breaks and private meetings is well tested. Guests can usually access on site or nearby parking and valet services, but large weekday conferences often fill spaces quickly. For this reason, delegates should factor in extra time to park or consider being dropped off at the main entrance instead of self driving into the basement at peak times. Parking capacity may be limited during the morning arrival window.
Reaching the forum from Dubai and other Emirates
From central Dubai, the drive to Rosewood Abu Dhabi along the E11 highway usually takes around one hour and thirty minutes outside rush hours, but this can stretch closer to two hours if you hit morning traffic leaving Dubai or entering Abu Dhabi Island. Attendees coming from Sharjah or Ajman should calculate additional time to cross Dubai, especially on Monday morning when commuter flows are heavy. An alternative is to use intercity buses to Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station and then take a taxi to Al Maryah Island, which normally costs around 20 to 30 AED within the city. From Zayed International Airport to Al Maryah Island, standard taxis typically cost in the region of 70 to 90 AED one way, depending on traffic and time of day. If you are travelling from another emirate, leaving before 06:00 greatly reduces the risk of arriving late.
Networking breaks and dealmaking opportunities
Beyond the stage content, the forum builds in several structured and informal networking slots, including the initial 08:00 to 08:55 check in window, a mid morning break, lunch and end of day social time. These breaks often become the most valuable part of the day, as they allow delegates to follow up on panel remarks, compare deal pipelines and quietly test appetite for upcoming transactions. In practice, many attendees pre book short meetings around these intervals, using the hotel lobby and adjacent lounges as semi private spaces. The atmosphere is typically professional but relaxed, with most people already familiar with the sector’s jargon and deal frameworks. Bring plenty of business cards and be ready for continuous conversations (solo professionals and corporate teams will both find strong networking value).
Weather outlook and what to wear
For the weekend leading into the forum, forecasts for Abu Dhabi from Friday 21 November 2025 through Monday 24 November 2025 indicate hazy sunshine with daytime highs around 30 to 31 degrees Celsius and night time lows between 20 and 23 degrees Celsius, with no significant rain expected. Humidity can still rise in the afternoons, but late November is generally more comfortable than peak summer, especially in shaded or indoor spaces. Because the event is fully indoors in a five star hotel, light business wear with layers is the safest option, for example a breathable shirt or blouse with a blazer that can be removed between sessions. Attendees who plan to walk between the hotel and nearby offices or restaurants should still consider the strong sun and carry water, sunglasses and light footwear. Smart business attire with a light jacket is recommended to balance air conditioning indoors and warm air outside.
Traffic warnings and closing notes for attendees
On Monday morning, traffic from Dubai, Sharjah and inside Abu Dhabi itself can be heavy between 07:00 and 09:00, especially around main bridges and the approach to Al Maryah Island, so planning to arrive by 07:45 is far safer than aiming for the last minutes of check in. Evening traffic leaving Abu Dhabi towards Dubai generally peaks between 17:30 and 19:30, and delegates who stay for final networking may find that leaving slightly later gives a smoother journey home. Public transport options are limited directly to Al Maryah Island, but a combination of intercity bus and taxi keeps costs in check, with local taxi rides around the island usually costing under 30 AED. Ticket prices and any on site payment options for food or valet may change as the event approaches, so treat any budget figures as approximately and double check shortly before you travel. As some editors at www.few.ae like to remind business travelers, make your reservation before it is too late so that both your seat and your schedule are secure.
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