Hili Forum 2026 to bring together global policymakers and experts in Abu Dhabi
More than 75 speakers and over 1,000 participants from 35 countries will discuss security, economics and technology under the theme 'Gulf at Crossroads: Conflict, Consequences and Course Correction'
Abu Dhabi: The third edition of Hili Forum 2026 will open in Abu Dhabi on 7-8 September, bringing together policymakers, senior government officials, diplomats, academics, business leaders and international experts to discuss the strategic choices shaping the Gulf region amid growing geopolitical, economic and technological challenges.
Jointly organised by the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), the forum will be held at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort under the theme 'Gulf at Crossroads: Conflict, Consequences and Course Correction'.
Organisers expect more than 1,000 participants, over 75 speakers and representatives from more than 35 countries to take part in more than 20 sessions examining the future of regional security, economic resilience, emerging technologies and international cooperation.
According to organisers, this year's forum comes at a critical moment as the Gulf region increasingly sits at the intersection of military competition, economic interdependence, technological transformation and global connectivity. Discussions will explore how Gulf states can navigate an increasingly complex strategic environment while helping to build a more resilient and stable regional order.
Three main themes
The forum agenda is structured around three principal pillars:
- Geopolitics
- Geoeconomics
- Geotechnology
Key discussions will focus on:
- The future of regional security architectures and deterrence.
- The resilience of critical trade and energy corridors.
- The growing convergence of technology and geopolitics.
- Geoeconomic transformation and supply-chain resilience.
- The role of middle powers in shaping the next phase of the international system.
Distinguished speakers
The forum will feature a number of regional and international figures, including:
- Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President.
- Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
- Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade.
- Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden.
- Vuk Jeremić, former Foreign Minister of Serbia.
- Yoo Jeh Seung, former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UAE.
- Lieutenant General Stefano Mannino, President of Italy's Centre for Higher Defence Studies.
- Jean-Yves Le Gall, former President of the International Astronautical Federation.
Day one highlights
The opening day will feature a plenary session on 'Gulf Regional Security Complexes', followed by a fireside discussion examining whether Gaza's recovery can revive the two-state solution. A special address will be delivered by Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash.
Concurrent sessions will cover topics including:
- Layers of security in the Gulf and strategic autonomy.
- Gulf-global economic cooperation.
- The cost of deterrence and future conflicts.
- The Strait of Hormuz and maritime security.
A plenary session titled 'The Gulf and the World: Navigating the New Geoeconomic Reality' will examine economic transformation, investment and global trade dynamics.
Day two highlights
The second day will focus on the intersection of technology, security and international affairs.
Sessions include:
- Data, Drones, Digital (Dis) Order
- The Future of Iran, the Region, and Beyond
- A World of Chokepoints and Blockades?
- From Water Stress to Water Security
- Sovereign Infrastructure: Space, Surveillance and Security
A keynote address by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and a fireside discussion with Luigi Di Maio, the European Union Special Representative for the Gulf Region, will precede a closing plenary on the role of middle powers in a fragmented global order.
Platform for dialogue
Organisers said the forum aims to provide a platform for strategic foresight, constructive dialogue and practical policy solutions at a time of accelerating geopolitical change. The event will also examine the Gulf's evolving role in shaping broader regional and international outcomes.
The forum is open to academics, researchers, students and members of the public interested in regional and international affairs.