Investopia Bridge 2026 opens in Abu Dhabi with ministers from UAE, Italy and Uzbekistan
In short
Investopia Bridge 2026 opened in Abu Dhabi on October 7 under the theme "Investing in a More Resilient World", bringing together ministers, investors and business leaders to discuss investor confidence and long-term capital. Italy's Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, said Italy seeks deeper economic and investment cooperation with the UAE, and the event held eight roundtables on topics from SME growth to UAE-Uzbekistan investment.
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Investopia Bridge 2026 opened in Abu Dhabi on October 7, bringing together ministers, policymakers, investors and business leaders from the UAE and other countries to discuss shifts in the global economic and investment landscape, investor confidence and long-term capital, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. Held under the theme "Investing in a More Resilient World" at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, the event serves as a bridge to the next flagship edition of Investopia in 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 7 ]
According to WAM, participants included Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, and Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment, who co-chair the Investopia Board of Trustees, as well as Adolfo Urso, Italy's Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy; Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade; Stephen Flynn, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport in the Scottish Government; and Dame Susan Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London. The programme included a discussion with Alsuwaidi on investor confidence and the role of institutional quality, policy consistency, openness and innovation in attracting long-term capital, and a ministerial dialogue between Al Marri and ministers from Italy, Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Scotland. [ 1 ]
Urso said Italy is seeking to deepen economic and investment cooperation with the UAE, stressing the importance of concluding the free trade agreement between the European Union and the UAE and expanding cooperation in critical raw materials and recycling, robotics and artificial intelligence, Economy Middle East reported. [ 3 , 4 ]
The event organised eight specialised roundtables. According to WAM's report carried by Aletihad, they covered innovation enablers in the built environment, the growth of SMEs and UAE companies, digital financial infrastructure, UAE-Uzbekistan investment opportunities, family office strategies, electric mobility and the circular economy, and impact investment. Al Marri took part in the Next50 roundtable "Unlocking the Next Phase of Growth" with founders and CEOs of UAE companies; Next50 is an initiative launched by Investopia Communities that connects UAE companies with government entities, investors and financial institutions. [ 7 , 8 ]
Economy Middle East reported that discussions also covered opportunities in artificial intelligence, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, clean technologies, digital infrastructure, tourism, digital finance, venture capital and digital investment assets, as well as the international expansion of UAE private-sector companies. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
Economy Middle East presented the event as part of the UAE's effort to strengthen international investment partnerships and find new sources of growth, while WAM said it focused on ways to attract long-term capital. Italy's minister used it to press for concluding the free trade agreement between the European Union and the UAE, according to Economy Middle East.
Key facts
- Investopia Bridge 2026 opened in Abu Dhabi on October 7, 2026, under the theme "Investing in a More Resilient World". [ 1 , 2 ]
- The event was held at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. [ 2 , 7 ]
- It serves as a bridge to the next flagship edition of Investopia in 2027. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Participants included UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri and UAE Minister of Investment Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, the co-chairs of the Investopia Board of Trustees. [ 1 ]
- Foreign participants included Italy's Adolfo Urso, Uzbekistan's Laziz Kudratov, Scotland's Stephen Flynn and Dame Susan Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London. [ 1 ]
- Adolfo Urso stressed the importance of concluding the EU-UAE free trade agreement and expanding cooperation in critical raw materials and recycling, robotics and artificial intelligence. [ 4 ]
- The event organised eight specialised roundtables with ministers, investors, senior executives and entrepreneurs. [ 7 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Investopia Bridge 2026 opened in Abu Dhabi on October 7 under the theme "Investing in a More Resilient World". [ 1 , 2 ]
- The event serves as a bridge to the next flagship Investopia edition in 2027. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The event held eight specialised roundtables at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. [ 7 , 8 ]
- The UAE and Italy discussed stronger economic and investment cooperation at the event. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether any agreements or investment commitments were announced at the event. None of the documents reports a signed agreement or specific investment figure.
- What the "new economy dialogues" launched at the event involve. Only a WAM headline mentions them; no text was available.