Abu Dhabi Global Academy partners with Abu Dhabi Family Business Council to empower family enterprises

Abu Dhabi Launches Strategic Initiative to Future-Proof Family Business Dynasties

Abu Dhabi has unveiled an ambitious partnership between the Abu Dhabi Global Financial Centre Academy and the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council, targeting one of the emirate's most critical economic challenges: ensuring multi-generational business continuity. The collaboration addresses a global pain point where 70% of family businesses fail to survive the transition to the second generation, positioning Abu Dhabi as a regional leader in family enterprise sustainability.

The Strategic Framework

The memorandum of understanding establishes a comprehensive knowledge ecosystem designed to tackle the unique challenges facing family-owned enterprises. The partnership will deliver advanced training programs, educational seminars, and capacity-building initiatives specifically tailored to Abu Dhabi's family business landscape.

Key focus areas include family governance structures, succession planning across generations, wealth management strategies, global best practices adoption, leadership and entrepreneurial skill development, and family dispute resolution mechanisms. These elements form the foundation for sustainable growth and business continuity across multiple generations.

Market Context and Economic Significance

Family businesses represent a substantial portion of the UAE's economic backbone, contributing significantly to employment and GDP growth. This initiative comes at a critical juncture as the region's first-generation entrepreneurs, who built their empires during the oil boom decades, are approaching succession planning phases.

The partnership leverages the Academy's extensive research capabilities and global network of academic experts and industry specialists, alongside advanced resources to develop pioneering intellectual content, practical workshops, and digital learning platforms.

International Benchmarking

This move aligns Abu Dhabi with global financial centers like Singapore and Switzerland, which have established specialized family office and succession planning frameworks. However, Abu Dhabi's approach is more comprehensive, integrating cultural considerations specific to the Middle Eastern business environment with international best practices.

Implementation and Industry Impact

The collaboration will organize specialized events featuring international experts and speakers to address emerging challenges facing family businesses. These initiatives focus on developing an integrated knowledge system that supports family business projects and initiatives while enabling future leaders to navigate changing challenges with efficiency, flexibility, and strategic vision.

The formal signing ceremony, attended by key figures including Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Global Academy Board, and Shams Ali Al Dhaheri, Second Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, underscores the strategic importance of this cooperation.

Future Implications for Regional Business

This partnership signals Abu Dhabi's evolution from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-driven financial hub. By addressing succession planning systematically, the emirate is positioning itself to retain generational wealth that might otherwise migrate to established family office jurisdictions.

Mansour Jafar, CEO of Abu Dhabi Global Academy, emphasized that family businesses constitute a fundamental pillar of the UAE's economy, with the partnership aimed at empowering them with necessary tools, skills, and strategic vision for multi-generational growth.

Ali Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described the agreement as a milestone in enhancing Abu Dhabi's business environment and competitiveness on regional and global levels, embodying their commitment to supporting family businesses in adopting global best practices.

Investment and Policy Outlook

This initiative likely precedes broader regulatory frameworks designed to attract international family offices to Abu Dhabi, competing directly with Dubai's established family office sector and regional centers like Riyadh and Doha. The focus on digital learning platforms and international expertise suggests significant investment in educational infrastructure that could benefit the broader financial services sector.

The partnership represents a calculated move to capture the estimated $2 trillion in Middle Eastern family wealth expected to transfer to next generations over the coming decades, positioning Abu Dhabi as the preferred jurisdiction for family business continuity planning in the region.