Global experts map future of investment, smart cities at Abu Dhabi's AIM Congress 2025
The event, which attracted more than 25,000 participants from 180 countries, highlighted the UAE's growing influence as a strategic investment hub and showcased emerging technologies transforming urban environments.
Smart city development emerged as a central theme of the congress, with panels exploring how artificial intelligence, 5G connectivity and renewable energy are creating more sustainable and resilient urban centres.
'Human-centric strategies must remain at the core of technological implementation,' said Akram Awad, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, during a panel on smart cities. 'The Middle East has a unique opportunity to build cities that balance innovation with quality of life.'
The convergence of technologies supporting smart city development was a recurring theme, with Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), emphasising that 'renewable energy forms the backbone of truly sustainable urban environments.'
A separate panel explored how 5G technology is transforming urban governance and service delivery, with Jawad Abbassi, Head of MENA at GSMA, noting regional readiness for advanced telecommunications infrastructure.
Economic challenges
Zayed bin Aweidha, CEO of Abu Dhabi Investment Group (ADIG), warned of potential global economic turbulence during a Leaders' Panel on future manufacturing trends.
'Current economic indicators point to a potential economic crisis that may be more severe than the 2008 crisis, given that markets were in better shape at that time,' bin Aweidha said.
He noted that recent tariffs imposed by the US administration could exacerbate already challenging economic conditions, adding further pressure on the global economy.
Addressing the future of manufacturing, bin Aweidha explained that Industry 5.0 focuses on human-machine integration for sustainable productivity, while Industry 6.0 moves towards advanced AI and comprehensive digital transformation. However, he cautioned that achieving these advanced stages may prove difficult amid current financial pressures.
'In the event of another global economic crisis, many companies, especially those with uncollected debts, are likely to go bankrupt,' he warned.
Bin Aweidha also discussed corporate migration trends, noting that companies increasingly seek markets with lower operating costs, leading to movement from high-cost economic environments to more favourable ones.
Trade partnerships take centre stage
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, used the congress to outline the country's investment priorities and showcase its growing role as a global investment power.
'The UAE will continue to champion investment as an essential catalyst of development – where investment is geared towards expanding opportunities, unlocking potential, forging new industries, and driving prosperity,' Al Zeyoudi said in his opening remarks.
He highlighted the UAE's position as the 16th largest source of foreign investment globally, noting the country deployed $22.3 billion to international projects in 2023 alone. These investments span sectors from renewable energy to agriculture, with over $50 billion invested in clean energy projects across six continents.
The minister also participated in a roundtable on international trade agreements, where he emphasised the UAE's Comprehensive Economic Partnership programme, which has concluded 27 deals, with eight already in force.
International engagement
The congress facilitated numerous bilateral discussions between UAE officials and international delegations. Al Zeyoudi held meetings with government representatives including Rustam Minnikhanov, Prime Minister of Tatarstan, and Hua Yuan, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, alongside trade ministers from across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Balkans and Oceania.
Interest from Indian businesses was particularly notable. Ali AlKaitoob, CEO of Investment and Promotion at Ajman Chamber, said: 'India remains one of our most significant trade and investment partners, particularly in light of the CEPA agreement signed with the UAE.'
He noted increasing interest from businesses looking to use the UAE as a gateway to India's market. 'We've seen growing interest from firms seeking to capitalise on the strategic advantages CEPA offers for expansion.'
Belarus also established a presence at the congress, with an exposition featuring the Free Economic Zones of Mogilev, Gomel-Raton, and Brest. The Belarusian delegation, which included National Bank Chairman Roman Golovchenko, showcased opportunities for creating production facilities in Belarus.
The event hosted specialised investment forums dedicated to various countries and regions, alongside a TradeTech Forum co-hosted with the World Economic Forum.
Diverse programme offerings
The congress featured eight main portfolios covering Foreign Direct Investment, Global Trade, Startups and Unicorns, Future Cities, Future Finance, Global Manufacturing, Digital Economy, and Entrepreneurs.
Pre-congress workshops addressed practical topics including municipal investment promotion, B2B sales strategies, market access for SMEs, and venture capital approaches. These sessions provided attendees with tangible tools for navigating the evolving investment landscape.
The AI World Championship, described as 'a unique competition format where artificial intelligence becomes not only a tool, but also the main driving force,' showcased AI solutions across sectors including healthcare, finance, and logistics.
Future outlook
As the congress concluded, it reinforced Abu Dhabi's position as a strategic hub for global investment conversations and highlighted the UAE's dual focus on inbound and outbound investment strategies.
The event's forward-looking agenda covered emerging investment trends including health equity challenges, local production enhancement, and the integration of artificial intelligence in city governance.
With participation from both established economic powers and developing markets, the AIM Congress 2025 demonstrated the increasingly interconnected nature of global investment landscapes and the central role the UAE is playing in facilitating cross-border economic collaboration.
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