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Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the host of Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW)—the leading financial event in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region—announced the return of Hanwha Finance, the financial services arm of Korea's Hanwha Group, as a Headline Partner for ADFW 2026 for the second consecutive year.

The agreement was announced in Seoul during a high-level delegation visit from Abu Dhabi to the Republic of Korea, led by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The visit, taking place from September 15 to 17, features the participation of senior leaders and representatives from over 88 public and private sector entities, including ADGM. It aims to enhance economic cooperation and explore new opportunities in trade, investment, and partnerships.

This partnership comes as the UAE and the Republic of Korea continue to expand their cooperation across several strategic economic sectors.

The UAE had previously committed to investing $30 billion in vital sectors within the Korean economy, including nuclear energy, hydrogen, renewable energy, semiconductors, and advanced technologies.

Additionally, the recently established UAE-Korea Joint Business Council has activated sectoral working groups covering artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, digital content, energy, and advanced manufacturing. Meanwhile, plans are underway to establish a specialized industrial zone in Abu Dhabi for Korean manufacturing companies.

In this context, H.E. Rashed Al Blooshi, CEO of the Registration Authority at ADGM, said: "Economic relations between the UAE and the Republic of Korea are entering a new and promising phase, driven by continuous growth in trade and investment, and the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in strategic sectors. Financial institutions play a pivotal role in translating this momentum into new capital flows, partnerships, and opportunities connecting the two countries' markets."

He added, "The return of Hanwha Finance as a Headline Partner for Abu Dhabi Finance Week reflects this shared ambition and underscores the strength of the relationship between both sides and its continuous development. The signing of the agreement in Seoul is part of Abu Dhabi's comprehensive efforts to enhance cooperation with government and business leaders in Korea. It also reflects ADFW's ability to bridge two dynamic financial and investment ecosystems, building connections whose impact extends beyond the event itself."

For his part, Heek-wong Kwon, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hanwha Life, a subsidiary of Hanwha Finance, said: "As a Korean financial group expanding its global footprint, Hanwha Finance is delighted to continue its partnership with Abu Dhabi Finance Week for the second consecutive year. By enhancing our cooperation with Abu Dhabi, we look forward to strengthening the financial and investment ties between Korea and Abu Dhabi, turning this partnership into fruitful business opportunities."

The signing of the agreement coincides with the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum held in Seoul on September 16, 2026, led by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and ADGM.

The forum brings together Korean investors, business leaders, and decision-makers with top representatives of government entities, financial institutions, and the business sector in Abu Dhabi. It aims to showcase investment opportunities in priority sectors and support bilateral cooperation, market entry, capital deployment, and business expansion.

Hanwha Finance's renewed partnership with ADFW builds on this momentum by providing an additional platform for Korean and international financial institutions to connect with Abu Dhabi's investment community.

Under the theme "Capital Community... Powered by Partnerships," ADFW 2026 will once again gather an elite group of global leaders in investment, finance, business, and government to discuss the major forces and trends shaping capital markets, technologies, regulatory frameworks, and cross-border investments.

ADFW reflects Abu Dhabi's status as a leading global hub for capital deployment, bolstered by sovereign wealth fund assets exceeding $1.8 trillion, alongside a diversified economy and a world-class financial ecosystem.