Hili Forum 2026: Registration Now Open for a Global Gathering of 60 Speakers from 35+ Nations in Abu Dhabi.
The Emirates Policy Center and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy have announced the opening of registration for the third edition of the annual Hili Forum, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on September 7 and 8, 2026, under the theme, “The Gulf at a Crossroads: Conflict, Consequences and Course Correction.”
The forum will be held at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, and will bring together leading policymakers, experts, academics, diplomats, thought leaders and business figures from the UAE, the region and around the world. Participants will examine major regional and global transformations and assess their implications for the Gulf.
The organisers are inviting members of the community — particularly academics, researchers, students and those interested in strategic affairs — to register and take part in the forum’s sessions and strategic dialogues.
Registration and further information are available through the forum’s Arabic registration page at hiliforum.ae/ar and its English registration page at hiliforum.ae/en.
The forum will feature more than 60 speakers from over 35 countries, bringing together prominent policymakers, diplomats, academics, researchers and experts to discuss pressing regional and global strategic issues.
More than 60 speakers from 35+ countries
The third edition of the forum is expected to bring together more than 60 speakers and over 1,000 participants from more than 35 countries, including senior officials, decision-makers, diplomats, experts, intellectuals, academics, business leaders, and representatives of international organisations and think tanks from the UAE, the region and beyond.
Among the prominent speakers scheduled to participate are Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President; Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade; Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden; Vuk Jeremić, former Foreign Minister of Serbia; Yoo Jae-sung, former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UAE; Lieutenant General Stefano Mannino, President of the Italian Centre for Higher Defence Studies; and Jean-Yves Le Gall, former President of the International Astronautical Federation.
Three key pillars shaping the forum agenda
The forum’s agenda is structured around three main pillars: geopolitics, geoeconomics and geotechnology, reflecting the interconnected forces shaping the Gulf and the wider international landscape.
This year’s discussions will examine the options available to Gulf states as they navigate an increasingly complex strategic environment, focusing on efforts to build a more stable and resilient regional order, strengthen crisis-management capabilities and develop new strategic balances.
Sessions will also explore the future of security frameworks and deterrence policies, the security of vital maritime routes, and measures to enhance the resilience of supply chains, trade and energy systems.
The forum will further examine the growing role of middle powers in shaping the next phase of globalisation and the evolution of the international order.
Rethinking conventional assumptions
Against this backdrop, the forum will challenge conventional assumptions and explore new approaches to understanding the rapidly changing geopolitical, economic and technological landscape. Discussions will consider how Gulf states can adapt to emerging risks and opportunities while strengthening their strategic autonomy and capacity to respond to future crises.
The forum’s theme reflects the need to reassess traditional assumptions surrounding security, cooperation and global governance, while emphasising the importance of anticipating future developments and developing practical solutions and pathways to help course-correct unfolding events.
It also aims to identify and capitalise on new opportunities arising from regional and international transformations, while fostering strategic thinking on the challenges and possibilities that will shape the future of the Gulf and the wider international system.
How to register for Hili Forum 2026
Those interested in attending can register through the forum’s official registration platforms:
- Arabic registration: hiliforum.ae/ar
- English registration: hiliforum.ae/en
- Official website: Hili Forum 2026
