About the Forum
Background
Following the success of the inaugural forum in 2024, the 2nd EU-GCC Finance & Investment for Green Transition Forum will serve as the flagship event of Abu Dhabi Finance Week’s Sustainability Day, bringing together senior policymakers, financiers, and investors from the EU, GCC, and MENA to advance sustainable finance and investment cooperation for clean energy projects.
Why is this critical now?
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USD 4.5 trillion annually is needed in renewable energy and infrastructure investments by 2030 to meet global net-zero targets (IRENA, 2024).
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In 2023 alone, USD 570 billion was invested globally in renewables, but this needs to quadruple to stay on track for climate goals.
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The Gulf region has already committed over USD 90 billion to clean energy projects, including major hydrogen, solar, and wind developments.
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The EU is the largest global provider of public climate finance, contributing EUR 28.6 billion in 2023 to support developing countries in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change, while mobilising an additional EUR 7.2 billion in private finance.
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The EU Emissions Trading System has generated over EUR 210 billion since 2013, providing valuable lessons for carbon pricing mechanisms that can guide GCC frameworks.
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With 16.2% of GCC imports coming from the EU, the EU remains a key economic collaborator and investor for the region’s green transition.
The forum will spotlight scaling renewable energy, hydrogen, and energy efficiency investments while advancing discussions on carbon markets and innovative financial instruments, such as green bonds and sustainability-linked finance. It aligns with Team Europe’s integrated approach and the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, linking it with GCC climate and energy transition strategies to mobilise capital and unlock new project pipelines across the region.
By addressing these priorities, the forum aims to position the EU-GCC-MENA nexus as a leader in sustainable finance, fostering long-term economic cooperation and accelerating the region’s path toward a clean, resilient, and prosperous future.
Who Should Attend
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Senior government representatives from the EU, GCC, and MENA
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Public and private financial institutions and investors
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European and GCC development banks and sovereign wealth funds
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Clean energy and green tech project developers
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Industry leaders in renewables, hydrogen, and energy efficiency
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Think tanks, research centres, and sustainability consultants
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International organisations, embassies, and regulators
Why You Should Attend
- Network with high-level decision-makers and investors shaping clean energy finance in the region.
- Identify project opportunities and investment pipelines in renewables, hydrogen, and energy efficiency
- Understand how carbon markets and green bonds are reshaping investment frameworks.
- Learn from EU and GCC leaders on policy alignment, risk de-risking, and innovative finance models.
- Align your organisation with Team Europe and GCC climate priorities, enhancing visibility and partnership potential.
- Be part of shaping the region’s clean energy future through practical dialogue and actionable insights.
Main Topics Covered
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Catalysing Renewable Energy, Hydrogen, and Energy Efficiency Investments
Exploring large-scale project opportunities across MENA, leveraging EU-GCC partnerships. -
Scaling Green Finance: Public-Private Models for a Sustainable Future
Mobilising capital through innovative financing models, blended finance, and de-risking mechanisms. -
Carbon Markets and Green Bonds in Climate Action
Advancing discussions on carbon pricing and leveraging green financial instruments. -
Policy Alignment and Regulatory Frameworks
Bridging EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, CBAM, and GCC climate policies to attract investment.
Expected Outcomes
By participating, you will contribute to:
✅ Strengthening EU-GCC cooperation in green finance and investment.
✅ Unlocking new investment opportunities in clean energy and green tech.
✅ Advancing the development of carbon markets and sustainable finance instruments.
✅ Driving public-private collaboration for large-scale renewable and hydrogen projects.
✅ Enhancing regional policy alignment and climate action frameworks.
Join Us
Join us in Abu Dhabi to connect with leaders shaping the future of clean energy investment in the EU-GCC-MENA region. Together, let’s unlock opportunities and drive meaningful progress towards a sustainable future.
Program
This opening fireside chat will explore how the EU, GCC, and MENA regions can collaborate to accelerate the green transition through clean energy investments. Learn how public-private partnerships, innovative finance models, and regional cooperation are unlocking opportunities in renewables, hydrogen, and energy efficiency, setting the tone for a day of actionable discussions.
This session will delve into large-scale opportunities for clean energy investments across the Gulf and wider MENA region, focusing on solar, wind, hydrogen, and grid interconnections. It will highlight how EU-GCC partnerships and financial institutions can help shape the region’s clean energy landscape, bridge regulatory frameworks, and mobilise capital for impactful climate action while addressing regional needs and ambitions.
Explore how innovative financial instruments can drive the green transition across the EU-GCC-MENA regions. This session will cover blended finance, green bonds, sustainability-linked finance, and ESG-aligned investments while examining best practices to de-risk investments and attract private capital to climate projects. It will showcase practical pathways to scaling up funding for renewables, hydrogen, and sustainable infrastructure across the region.
Closed Side Session: Making Carbon Pay – Carbon Markets in Focus
This invitation-only session will offer a deep dive into carbon markets as a tool to drive climate action in the GCC and MENA, drawing on practical lessons from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Discussions will explore carbon pricing strategies, CBAM preparedness, and how aligning carbon markets with investment frameworks can stimulate clean technology adoption and accelerate decarbonisation across the region.