Summit Day - GT (Gulf Time, GMT+04:00)
An analysis of today’s landscape: how are geopolitical shifts influencing fundraising momentum and strategy in the Middle East and globally? How to move forward when everyone is chasing the same deals. In the midst of an uncertain IPO market, what alternative exit strategies should fund managers consider to ensure liquidity and maximise returns for their investors? In what ways will the long-term visions of KSA’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Centennial Plan 2071 influence future investment strategies and cross-border opportunities in the region?
Caution vs. confidence: what factors are tipping LP decisions towards bold bets vs. conservative commitments? Leaning local: how is the shift toward local deployment reshaping private capital strategies and where does that leave global diversification plans? How is increasing involvement from corporate and retail investors realigning priorities in PE and transforming the traditional LP-GP relationship? Dry powder excess: blessing or curse?
Ready for a boom – or still in the warm-up phase? Analysing the implications of global macro trends on private credit deployment. Unpacking the opportunity versus execution gap, local fund maturity and deal flow realities. What makes the region’s credit landscape different from other global markets and what does that mean for fund strategies? What types of debt are shaping the next wave of growth?
Is regulation catching up or holding private credit back in the region? What does AAOIFI’s Standard 62 mean for Sukuk and how are investors responding to uncertainty? What’s new and what’s next?
Unpacking the criteria, valuation methods and evolving definition of ‘bankable’ assets across sectors. Why is ABL gaining traction in the Middle East and what growth opportunities are on the horizon? How to overcome the barriers to scaling asset-backed lending. Discussing real examples: what happens when ABL works and what are the key lessons to learn?
What’s a search fund? What is the typical cycle for a search fund and how do entrepreneurs navigate each phase? What makes the Middle East a fertile ground for this investment model?
Navigating the minefields of pitching to a family office in the middle east: what are the common pitfalls to avoid? With rising sophistication, what are the key areas of due diligence that family offices are prioritising before committing to an investment? How are family offices tapping into the rapidly expanding secondary market? How can fund managers proactively build strong relationships with family offices to secure co-investment opportunities?
Steering through the private capital landscape as an emerging manager can be pretty daunting, especially when track records and revenue aren’t yet built.
In this dynamic workshop, we’ll tackle the toughest challenges for first-, second- and third-time funds respectively.
Explore critical insights from a leading expert on how to overcome the barriers to raising capital, leverage relationships and to secure vital support.
This workshop is an unmissable opportunity to sharpen your fundraising strategy, understand the evolving dynamics of the Middle Eastern markets and take away actionable tactics that could transform your investment approach.
Get the inside track on how to move from fundraising frustration to financial success.
What made private credit the right choice for the business? What has really changed on the ground? How did the relationship between lender and founder evolve and how were hurdles handled?
As demand for private credit accelerates across the Middle East, how can investors, fund managers and financial institutions structure true sharia-compliant deals?
In this highly interactive workshop, participants will explore case studies of successful (and challenged) sharia-based transactions, weigh in through poll Q&A and engage in a myth-busting session with a leading expert.
We’ll unpack:
• Evolving legal frameworks
• Sukuk trends
• BNPL solutions
Whether you are navigating structuring challenges, seeking to expand your sharia-compliant offerings or assessing cross-border growth opportunities, this is a must-attend session to stay ahead and take away actionable insights.
One region, three capital solutions, real world results.
These case studies will break down distinct financing solutions and outcomes across the Middle East. Hear:
• Case study 1: Direct lending – supporting strategic expansion while regional banks retreat
• Case study 2: Mezzanine – bridging the gap between equity and senior debt for transformational growth
• Case study 3: Revenue based financing – empowering a founder-led business to scale without dilution
No theory – just execution.
How are Middle Eastern SWFs shifting from passive to active investment strategies and what does this mean for fund managers? Deal-by-deal or blind pool funds: what’s the current focus? How are different SWFs balancing local market impact with global ambitions and how can GPs align their investment strategies accordingly?
Limited seating. Spaces are first-come, first-served.
Run under the Chatham House Rule and closed to press.
Qualifying LPs, to register, please contact foyin.awosika@informa.com
GPs, to register, please contact munazzah.siddique@informa.com
Not everything is as it appears in the pitch deck.
In this session, we take a candid look at how GPs are presenting performance, leveraging credit lines and shaping marketing narratives to win allocations.
Explore:
• How credit facilities can mask volatility or inflate early IRRs
• The psychology of fund marketing
• What to ask for in a limited data environment
• How to truly separate substance from spin
This discussion is about knowledge-sharing, war stories and equipping LPs with a clearer view of what’s under the hood.
Asking the right questions matters now more than ever – what are they?
Limited seating. Spaces are first-come, first-served.
Run under the Chatham House Rule and closed to press.
This exclusive session is only open to pre-registered development finance institutions, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, single family offices, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, subject to qualification.
LPs, to register, please contact foyin.awosika@informa.com
With the arrival of new infrastructure players, how can LPs and GPs stay competitive as the pie grows but the slices shrink? New infrastructure corridors: how is the Middle East elevating its rank? How can private infrastructure players streamline operations and navigate a relatively fragmented regulatory landscape? In a world of rising geopolitical fault lines, West vs. China, sanctions vs. access – how can infrastructure investors future-proof their strategies?
Featuring three expert presenters each offering a unique standpoint on the complexities of energy transition, tech driven solutions, finance initiatives and balancing sustainability and profitability in the Middle East.
These case studies will provide in depth insights into the region’s evolving infrastructure investment trends, challenges and opportunities.
• Case study 1: Energy transition and sustainability
• Case study 2: Innovation and emerging technologies
• Case study 3: Climate finance
Where real innovation meets capital conviction across three different sectors shaping the region’s venture landscape.
Three visionary VC investors present their business strategies.
• Showcase 1: Fintech – as open banking gains ground and AI transforms everything from payments to underwriting, fintech continues to lead. But with early-stage noise high, how are investors identifying models with revenue and staying power?
• Showcase 2: Biotech – despite global headwinds, targeted biotech positions (from preclinical therapeutics to health tech) are regaining momentum. What does it take to build confidence and catalyse syndicates in this risk-sensitive space?
• Showcase 3: Deeptech – From artificial intelligence and quantum to energy and space, deeptech is fast becoming the region’s most ambitious investment frontier. Where is the smart capital flowing and what defines readiness in a long-horizon sector?
Three sectors. Three bold visions. One region rewriting the venture playbook.
If AI is no longer a standalone vertical but the underlying layer of everything, how should investors rethink their frameworks for evaluating opportunities across sectors? Building vs. backing: do we see the region cultivating its own AI ecosystem or will long-term success come more from strategic global partnerships? What has and hasn’t worked, and what’s to come?
In a fast-shifting world shaped by geopolitical pivots, maturing markets and technological tides, how are single family offices in the Middle East and beyond redefining their asset allocation playbooks to generate sustainable alpha?
This confidential session invites candid dialogue exploring:
• Rebalancing for resilience: how and why are portfolios shifting between traditional real estate, debt, venture and alternatives?
• Beyond borders: which global markets are truly winning the confidence of family offices today?
• Building in-house brilliance: how are families professionalising investment operations?
• Innovating to outperform: which sectors are bathing in the limelight today?
Private insights, bold perspectives and strategic intelligence.
Strictly single-family offices only. Limited seating. Spaces are first-come, first-served.
Run under the Chatham House Rule and closed to press.
SFOs, to register, please contact foyin.awosika@informa.com
As family offices scale in size and sophistication, the stakes are higher. Exchange real world experiences in:
• Next level diligence: how are families upgrading to deep operational, tax and legal due diligence before deploying capital?• Mastering manager selection: when flooded with fund pitches, how are leading families efficiently filtering and selecting the right partners?
Special feature: The Risk Lab Table ChallengeEach pair receives a surprise risk scenario followed by 5 mins to brainstorm mitigation strategies.In pairs, everyone will then share their unique solution in a rapid-fire 1-minute summary.
Private, practical and peer led: learn how other families handle the same problems.
Strictly single-family offices only. Limited seating. Spaces are first-come, first-served. Run under the Chatham House Rule and closed to press.
SFOs, to register, please contact foyin.awosika@informa.com
With the cyclical nature of real estate, how are investors adjusting their portfolios accordingly? As mega infrastructure projects revolutionise the region, what strategies should investors adopt to capitalise on public-private opportunities? Has the UAE real estate market reached its peak? An analysis of the risks and rewards for the industry. What’s on the forecast for the next year?
How are Gulf giants reimagining infrastructure to outpace global shifts in transport, trade and technology? With a rise in EVs, how can the private sector tackle the growing demand for EV charging stations in the Gulf? Dubai Loop and The Etihad Rail Project: financing, key players and fast benefits.
In a market demanding returns before reinvestment, how are VCs adapting their fundraising strategies to reassure LPs and stand out in a saturated landscape? Is the era of generalist VC coming to a close? How will the secondary market change the VC space? From seed to series C – how are investors navigating the ‘missing middle’ and what will unlock growth-stage momentum?
Liquidity for LPs: how can digital assets, fractional ownership and secondary trading of traditionally illiquid assets reshape how LPs manage, trade and exit their positions in private capital? Diving into some success stories. From promise to practice: what’s holding tokenisation back in the Middle East? And how are these challenges being addressed?
Tech trivia: to energise the conversation, this session kicks off with a live quiz where participants will answer thought provoking questions on current tech trends and pitfalls.
Followed by an exciting discussion on:
• Real opportunities vs. hype: how are family offices adapting to innovations like AI, crypto and blockchain?
• Digital operations: from financial accounting to people management, how can families build data effectively to manage records, secure documents and preserve relationships?
Open to single family offices only. Limited seating. Spaces are first-come, first-served.
Run under the Chatham House Rule and closed to press.
SFOs, to register, please contact foyin.awosika@informa.com
Next gen transition: join critical conversations on estate planning and family harmony.
Key talking points:
• What structures work best for Middle Eastern families and how are they evolving to ensure smooth wealth transitions?
• What are the biggest mindset shifts between first-gen founders and their successors?
• Avoiding disputes and ensuring cohesion – is bringing in an external, neutral advisor essential?
• How are families effectively preparing the next generation to take the reins?
Open to single family offices only. Limited seating. Spaces are first-come, first-served.
Run under the Chatham House Rule and closed to press.
SFOs, to register, please contact foyin.awosika@informa.com
This private session brings together leading LPs and GPs for a candid exchange on fundraising realities, return expectations and evolving partnership models.
Key themes:
• LP priorities
• Building durable VC models
• Middle East based vs. international VCs: comparisons and takeaways
• Exit strategies and aligning timelinesLimited seating.
Spaces are first-come, first-served. Run under the Chatham House Rule and closed to press.
Qualifying LPs, to register, please contact foyin.awosika@informa.com
GPs, to register, please contact munazzah.siddique@informa.com