LIVEX 2026 opened today at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, welcoming government leaders, international speakers, investors and private-sector partners for the inaugural Liveability and Investment Exhibition. Powered by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), LIVEX is an Abu Dhabi Government platform bringing together government and private-sector partners to examine how liveability can support the emirate’s continued growth and development.
The opening day centred on The Human City, examining what it means to live well and why that matters to decisions about where people live and invest. The programme considered the decisions that affect everyday life: how neighbourhoods are planned, how residents are heard, how housing and services keep pace with growth, and how technology, culture and education can strengthen a city over the long term.
Opening LIVEX, H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, set out Abu Dhabi’s approach to liveability and the role of long-term planning and investment in supporting the emirate’s continued growth.
H.E. Al Shorafa remarked: “Sometimes we talk about liveability and investment as if they are two different things. I don’t believe they are. When people enjoy living somewhere, they put down roots and stay. Businesses grow, communities become stronger, and investment in infrastructure, services and communities makes those places better as well. Better places create stronger economies.”
Following the keynote, H.E. Dr. Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, Chairman, Department of Energy, Abu Dhabi and H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi participated in a panel discussion with Tucker Carlson where they explored how Abu Dhabi is managing rapid growth while keeping quality of life at the centre of decision-making. The discussion covered infrastructure investment, energy and water resilience, safety, long-term planning and public service, with both speakers emphasising that growth must ultimately translate into better everyday experiences for residents and communities.
During the panel, H.E. Dr. Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan noted that “the fundamental discussion is always about quality of life: how can we continuously find ways to enhance the quality of life for residents, visitors and everyone who has a touchpoint with Abu Dhabi?”
Later in the panel, H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak reminded the audience that “the most competitive way of generating additional capacity that is sustainable, reliable and affordable is by improving the efficiency of your system.”
The Human City: why living well matters to a city’s future
Morning sessions focused on what residents say they need. Richard Florida joined former Bogotá mayor Enrique Peñalosa and Christiana Figueres to examine the gap between what experts assume people want and the priorities residents identify, from safety and affordability to green space, social connection and access to essential services. A separate discussion on inclusive cities examined how accessibility and family-friendly design can be built into standards and neighbourhood planning from the outset rather than added later.
The programme then moved to an Oxford-style debate where Carlos Moreno, Carlo Ratti, Vladislav Boutenko and Fatma Alkhayat tested whether the 15-minute city should be a model for cities around the world. While there was broad agreement on the value of proximity, walkability and people-centred planning, the discussion challenged the idea of a single universal model. For example, Carlos Moreno remarked that, “Proximity is not a question of distance. Proximity is a question of useful time.”
Later, Talal Al Dhiyebi, Bill O’Regan, Mahdi Amjad, Low Ping and Carlos Wakim examined what it takes to build ahead of demand, looking at housing supply, financing and neighbourhood quality as factors in attracting and retaining people.
Technology and culture featured later in the day. H.E. Faisal Al Bannai opened a discussion with Tom Gruber, Steve Chen, Abdallah Abu-Sheikh and Frank Dai on artificial intelligence and data in urban systems, focusing on when technology improves services and decision-making.
The closing session shifted to culture, tourism and identity, with a keynote from Antonoaldo Neves followed by a fireside conversation between Tyler Brûlé and Ryan Reynolds on how experience, story and place can generate both economic value and reasons for people to return.
From discussion to delivery: Day 1 announcements
Five agreements were signed on the opening day of LIVEX 2026, bringing together government entities, private-sector organisations and academic institutions across community inclusion, professional capabilities and real estate innovation and development. Reflecting Day 1’s theme, The Human City, the signings focused on practical collaboration spanning community inclusion, skills development, real estate and urban innovation.
DMT’s Operations Support Sector and the Zayed Authority for People of Determination signed an MoU on community initiatives to maintain the appearance and cleanliness of public spaces and create opportunities for People of Determination to take part. DMT also signed an MoU with Abu Dhabi University to provide practical training to College of Law students.
In real estate, the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) signed an MoU with Hub71 to support real estate start-ups and encourage new solutions for the sector. ONE Development also signed agreements with Ambassadori for a project in Batumi Island, Georgia, and with Mohammed Rasool Khoory & Sons to jointly development a project on Al Reem Island.
Together, the five signings demonstrate LIVEX’s role in bringing public- and private-sector partners together around practical areas of cooperation supporting Abu Dhabi’s urban development, professional capabilities, community priorities and long-term growth.
From interest to investment: Inside the Investor Stage
Alongside the main conference programme, LIVEX’s dedicated Investor Lounge provides a focused setting for the more than 1,500 global investors attending the event. The Investor Stage focused on turning investment interest into action, taking investors through the practical pathways from initial interest in Abu Dhabi to market entry, partnership and long-term capital allocation. Day 1, themed The Entry Point, brought together government, investors, developers and private-sector leaders to examine the mechanics of investing in Abu Dhabi — from licensing, ownership structures and market-entry pathways to sovereign co-investment, AI and digital infrastructure, and the long-term value of masterplanned communities.
Opening the Investor Stage, H.E. Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi, set out predictability, global reach and strategic clarity as three pillars of Abu Dhabi’s investment advantage, emphasising the emirate’s focus on enduring partnerships rather than short-term capital. He said: “Abu Dhabi’s investment advantage is ultimately about confidence — the confidence to build, commit capital and expand. We are not looking for one-time investors, but long-term partners. Our role is to create the conditions for that growth: to invest from Abu Dhabi, build for Abu Dhabi and grow with Abu Dhabi.”
Tomorrow at LIVEX: The Architecture of Liveability
Day 2 will focus on how to deliver the priorities discussed on opening day. The Architecture of Liveability will examine the governance, technology, design, mobility and investment required to create places and systems that work in everyday life.
H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, will open the day. The programme will include Anne Hidalgo on the realities of governing a major city; a discussion on sustainable cities as an investment priority with Adrian Grenier, Jesper Brodin and H.E. Masaood Al Masaood; a structured debate on density; and a major urban mobility session featuring Sebastian Thrun alongside Abu Dhabi Mobility, Etihad Rail and Uber. Day 2 will also bring further project and investment announcements.
LIVEX 2026 continues on 30 September and 1 October at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. Registration is open at livex-global.com.
