World Stage
Reuters journalists host CEOs, policymakers and investors shaping the Gulf’s economic transformation.
Reuters NEXT · Abu Dhabi
Reuters NEXT Gulf 2026
Shifting influence. Defining decisions.
Policymakers, investors and business leaders come together as the Gulf turns growing regional influence into global impact.
About Reuters NEXT Gulf
Where power is recast
Influence is being reconfigured around the world; in the Gulf, it is being actively reshaped. As energy, capital and technology converge, the region is emerging as a global connector linking markets and systems.
Powered by Reuters’ global newsroom, Reuters NEXT Gulf convenes policymakers, investors and business leaders in Abu Dhabi to connect financial innovation, AI deployment, energy, climate, trade and geopolitical realignment into one strategic view.
Date21 October 2026
VenueThe St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
CityAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
AttendanceApply to Attend
750Attendees
40+Countries represented
80%C-level executives
15+Industries represented
2026 experience
Six official programme formats
Current programme formats published on the official Reuters NEXT Gulf 2026 website.
Immersive Experience
Exchange café, Reuters photo gallery, networking lounges and partner-led experiences.
AI & Tech Forum
Panels, workshops, a startup showcase and leadership roundtables on sovereign AI and responsible scaling.
Finance & Economy Forum
Panels and private meetings focused on sovereign capital, GCC IPOs, digital finance, investment and trade flows.
NEXT Dialogues
Invitation-only roundtables under the Chatham House Rule on the region’s defining strategic questions.
Connection & Curated Meetings
Gala dinner, leadership reception and structured meeting programmes connecting senior decision-makers.
Inaugural edition
Reuters NEXT Gulf in 2025
600+Senior executives in the room
40+Countries represented
2MViewers reached worldwide by livestream
30+Speakers on the World Stage
Official 2026 agenda
Reuters NEXT Gulf agenda
Agenda items currently published by Reuters. TBA means Reuters currently shows no fixed time.
09:10 – 09:30
Interviews
A conversation with a senior policymaker hosted by Reuters
09:30 – 09:50
Fireside Chat
The next chapter: Trade, alliances and resilience
09:30 – 09:50
Panel
Disruption in the Gulf: The business of uncertainty
09:30 – 09:50
Interview
A conversation with a senior executive hosted by Reuters
10:10 – 10:40
Panel
Money in motion: Sovereign spending power picking global winners
11:10 – 11:30
Panel
Financing growth in a changing climate: FDI, PPPs and domestic capital
11:30 – 11:50
Fireside Chat
The GCC IPO flywheel: Turning a regional deal boom into global market depth
11:50 – 12:10
Panel
Reuters Editors Briefing: Iran in focus
12:40 – 14:00
Panel
From oil to ores: The race for energy security
12:40 – 14:00
Interview
A conversation with a senior executive hosted by Reuters
14:20 – 14:40
Fireside Chat
Health security under pressure: Access, resilience and breakthrough innovation
14:40 – 15:10
Panel
The changing face of luxury: Brands, technology and the new consumer
14:40 – 15:10
Interview
A conversation with a senior executive hosted by Reuters
15:10 – 15:30
Panel
AI power play: Building the world’s next compute superpower
15:30 – 16:00
Fireside Chat
The age of Agentic AI: Keeping humans in the loop
16:00 – 16:40
Interview
A conversation with a business executive hosted by Reuters
11:50 – 12:10
Breakfast Panel
Women in tech
12:10 – 12:40
Panel
The ROI reckoning: Extracting value from AI investments
14:40 – 15:10
Leadership Roundtable
The governance gap: Leading AI responsibly at scale
TBA
Startup Showcase
AI & Tech
TBA
Workshop
Building trustworthy AI: A principles-based governance framework
TBA
Networking
AI & tech mixer and structured meetings
11:50 – 12:10
Live Podcast
Live podcast & interactive Q&A
12:10 – 12:40
Roundtable Lunch
Geopolitics shaping investment & finance
14:40 – 15:10
Panel
Banking in the digital era: Fintech partnerships, consumer demand, and cybersecurity
TBA
Panel
Capital deployment and strategic commodities for securing intergenerational returns
TBA
Networking
Finance mixer & structured meetings
11:50 – 12:10
Roundtable
Trade under pressure: Red Sea, Gulf-Africa and the new resilience playbook
12:10 – 12:40
Roundtable
Crypto in the GCC: Building a global hub for regulated digital assets
14:40 – 15:10
Roundtable
The Gulf shopper: A trendsetter for global demand?
Agenda remains subject to change by Reuters. Check the official event website for live updates.
Previous edition
Reuters NEXT Gulf Speaker Alumni
These speakers are shown by Reuters as 2025 speaker alumni. Reuters has not yet identified them as confirmed 2026 speakers.
United Arab Emirates
H.E. Dr. Anwar Gargash
Diplomatic Advisor to the President
Egypt
H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat
Minister of Planning, Economic Development & International Cooperation
Nigeria
H.E. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
Minister of Foreign Affairs
United Arab Emirates
H.E. Lana Nusseibeh
Minister of State
Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development
H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi
Chairman
IUCN
H.E. Razan Al Mubarak
President & Executive Managing Director of Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
European Union
Luigi Di Maio
Special Representative for the Gulf Region
Landmark Group
Renuka Jagtiani
Chairwoman
HashKey Exchange
Haiyang Ru
Chief Executive Officer
Emaar
Mohamed Alabbar
Founder and Chairman
2026 speaker status: Reuters' current public speaker page still labels its speaker list as “Our 2025 Speakers.” This page therefore does not present alumni as confirmed 2026 speakers.
2026 partner
Official Reuters NEXT Gulf partner
Current partner information displayed on the official Reuters NEXT Gulf 2026 homepage.
Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development
ADDED is listed by Reuters as the Host City Partner for Reuters NEXT Gulf.
Partner Website →Source & accuracy notice: Event details, venue, 2026 audience statistics, programme formats, agenda, speaker-alumni information and partners on this independent listing are based on the current official Reuters NEXT Gulf 2026 event website and Reuters Media Center announcement.
Official event: Reuters NEXT Gulf 2026 · Official speakers: Reuters speaker page.
