Date: 13 May 2026
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Context: Middle East edition of the global Digital Assets Forum series
Tickets & Information: https://www.eblockchainconvention.com/digital-assets-forum-abu-dhabi/
On 13 May 2026, senior leaders from global finance, sovereign capital, regulation and digital asset infrastructure convene in Abu Dhabi for the inaugural Digital Assets Forum Abu Dhabi (DAFME 1). The event marks the Middle East expansion of the institutional Digital Assets Forum series and positions itself at the intersection of traditional finance and the digital asset economy.
Hosted within Abu Dhabi’s rapidly advancing ecosystem — including the regulatory framework of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and its Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) — the forum provides a high-level platform for decision-makers driving institutional adoption across the Gulf region.
Core Focus Areas
DAFME 1 delivers a pragmatic, institutional agenda centered on:
- UAE and cross-border digital asset regulation
- Stablecoins, payments and CBDC initiatives
- Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization
- Institutional custody and crypto ETFs
- Liquidity and market infrastructure
- Institutional risk management frameworks
- DeFi–TradFi integration
- Portfolio management and alpha generation in digital assets
Participants and Institutional Scope
The forum convenes senior representatives from:
- Global and regional banks
- Asset managers and sovereign-backed institutions
- Regulators and policymakers
- Market infrastructure providers
- Custodians and ETF issuers
- Tokenization platforms and institutional DeFi leaders
Confirmed speakers include leaders from ADGM, Komainu, XBTO Middle East, Spartan Group, Portal Ventures, Aspen Digital, and Binance.
Agenda and Format
Designed as a highly curated executive-level gathering, DAFME 1 focuses on practical implementation rather than retail awareness. The format includes:
- Main-stage panels
- Closed-door sessions
- Dedicated one-to-one meeting areas
- Private briefing rooms
The objective is to translate dialogue into tangible agreements, capital allocation decisions and strategic partnerships for 2026 and beyond.
The UAE as a Digital Asset Hub
The forum takes place amid accelerating institutional momentum across the Gulf. The UAE has positioned itself as a global leader in digital asset regulation, offering structured licensing regimes, sovereign-backed innovation initiatives and a robust infrastructure for banks, asset managers and institutional investors deploying capital in the space.
Following the successful London editions of the Digital Assets Forum — which gathered nearly 2,000 senior participants — the Abu Dhabi edition reflects the growing strategic importance of the region in shaping the next phase of global digital finance.
DAFME 1 serves as a meeting point for institutions turning regulatory clarity and capital concentration into structured digital asset strategies.
Further articles of interest: UAE Institutional Leaders Gather in Abu Dhabi as Digital Asset Strategy Accelerates Across the Gulf
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