The first-ever Digital Assets Forum in Abu Dhabi will bring together senior leaders from global banks, asset managers, regulators, and sovereign-backed institutions on May 13, 2026, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This event examines the growing adoption of digital assets under the UAE’s progressive regulatory framework, positioning the Gulf region as a leading hub for institutional digital finance.
Its London edition attracted nearly 2,000 senior attendees from global financial institutions and infrastructure providers. As the Middle East expansion of the Digital Assets Forum series organized by the European Blockchain Convention, it arrives at a critical juncture, with the UAE establishing structured licensing regimes, sovereign innovation programs, and a thriving ecosystem that attracts capital deployment and strategic partnerships.
Victoria Gago, co-founder of Digital Assets Forum, emphasized the momentum saying, “Across our successful London editions, we have seen how regulatory clarity drives institutional engagement.”
“Abu Dhabi is now at the center of a structural shift in global finance, with capital concentration, infrastructure buildout, and global firms relocating headquarters. This forum brings together the decision-makers who are shaping the future of digital finance and turning strategy into action.”
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Confirmed speakers include Christoph Richter, Head of Digital Assets & AI at ADGM; Sebastian Widmann, Head of Dubai at Komainu; Karl Naim, Group Chief Commercial Officer at XBTO Middle East; Yan Ma, Executive Director at Spartan Group; Catrina Wang, General Partner at Portal Ventures; Elliot Andrews, CEO of Aspen Digital; and Rachel Conlan, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Binance.
What can you look forward to at the Digital Assets Forum in Abu Dhabi?
The agenda will cover key topics such as UAE digital asset regulation compared to other jurisdictions, institutional portfolio strategies, stablecoins, payments and CBDCs, DeFi-TradFi integration, real-world asset tokenization (RWA), crypto ETFs, liquidity, custody, market infrastructure, and risk management.
Designed for deal-making rather than retail awareness, the curated format features main-stage panels, closed-door sessions, one-to-one meeting areas, and private briefing rooms to foster tangible agreements and coordinated strategies for 2026 and beyond.
For tickets and details of the Digital Assets Forum, visit www.eblockchainconvention.com/digital-assets-forum-abu-dhabi.
