Welcome and Opening Remarks

The Rihla Initiative for Green Economic Growth

This session will review Rihla’s work to date, including its regional councils, thematic focus groups, research, workshops and simulations, and outline the initiative’s next phase. It will introduce the new tools and platforms: the Gulf–Global South Green Transition Stakeholder Maps, the Gulf–Global South Green Industrial Policy Platform, and the Gulf Green Outward Investment Tracker, demonstrating how it maps Gulf investments across countries and sectors and how its data can help identify investment trends, gaps and opportunities for green economic growth across the Global South.

GCC Climate Finance in a New Economic Landscape

Gulf economies are entering a new period of investment and economic planning. The war has reinforced the importance of resilient infrastructure and stronger domestic productive capacity. At the same time, the GCC retains significant capital, commercial reach and long-term interests across the Global South. The discussion will consider how Gulf institutions can pursue both priorities and where outward climate investment can contribute most clearly to economic diversification, resilience and long-term growth.

Methane

This spotlight session will present the Rihla Statement on Methane and launch Frontier25's UAE Methane Policy Review 2026, prepared with support from the Global Methane Hub. Several Gulf states, including the UAE, are signatories to the Global Methane Pledge made at COP26, giving the region a basis to lead on abatement. The review finds that within the UAE specifically, the fastest-growing sources are now waste and agriculture, where measurement and mitigation capacity are less developed than in oil and gas. The discussion will examine the report's six recommendations, spanning measurement, market incentives for abatement, and integrating methane targets into national and investment strategies.

Building a Green Industrial Future

A new investment landscape is emerging across MENA. Countries are seeking stronger domestic industries, more resilient infrastructure and deeper regional economic links. Reconstruction will create major investment needs in parts of the region while established manufacturing economies are looking to decarbonize and move into higher-value production. The discussion will consider where Gulf capital can support that transformation and which investments can strengthen regional value chains while creating durable economic opportunities.

Powering the Next Stage of Growth

Central Asia and the Caucasus are becoming increasingly important destinations for Gulf investment. Renewable generation is expanding and new trade corridors are creating stronger connections between Asian, European and Gulf markets. The next opportunity is to link clean power with industry, grids, water systems and regional infrastructure. The discussion will consider where GCC investors can help build that next stage of growth and how projects can create greater value within regional economies.

Scaling Green Investment

Sub-Saharan Africa offers some of the strongest opportunities for new investment in renewable energy, agriculture, minerals and infrastructure. The Africa Green Industrialization Initiative has added momentum to efforts to turn these resources into productive industries and regional value chains. Gulf capital can become an important part of that agenda through long-term investment and stronger partnerships with African institutions. The discussion will focus on how promising projects can reach investment at greater scale and how GCC engagement can support local processing, industrial growth and stronger regional markets.

Investing in Green Industrial Growth

South and Southeast Asia already sit at the center of global manufacturing and clean-technology supply chains. Rapid urbanization and growing energy demand are creating another major wave of investment across the region. Gulf countries are also deepening their economic relationships with Asian markets as they diversify trade, investment and supply chains. The discussion will consider where GCC capital can support competitive industry, clean power and agro-industrial growth while building lasting commercial links with the region.

Toward a GCC Approach to Climate Finance in the Global South

The GCC has become an increasingly important source of investment, technology and project development across the Global South. The next opportunity is to connect these growing relationships through a clearer Gulf approach to green economic growth. The keynote will consider how outward investment can advance the GCC’s own diversification priorities while supporting productive growth and stronger economic partnerships abroad.

Green Industrialization Across the Global South

Green industrialization is opening a new field for Gulf–Global South economic cooperation. Abundant renewable resources can support manufacturing, processing and new industrial value chains when investment is connected to real markets and existing economic strengths. Gulf institutions bring capital and project-development experience while partner countries bring resources, industries and growing domestic demand. The discussion will consider how these advantages can be combined to build competitive industries with stronger local firms, skills and technological capacity.

Gulf–China Cooperation for Green Industrialization

China and the Gulf are becoming increasingly important economic partners across the Global South. Chinese companies bring major manufacturing capacity and established clean-technology supply chains. Gulf institutions bring capital, project development and strong commercial relationships across many of the same markets. The discussion will consider where these strengths can support joint investment and how new partnerships can expand local production, technology transfer and industrial capacity in partner countries.

The Next Market

The hydrogen economy is entering a more focused stage of development. International offtake has grown more slowly than expected, which is directing greater attention toward industrial demand and higher-value products. Fertilizers, chemicals, refining and green steel offer routes to build demand while supporting industrial growth in producer countries. The discussion will consider how Gulf investment and expertise can advance these opportunities across the Global South and how closer cooperation among producers, including through the proposed Organisation of Hydrogen Exporting Countries (OHEC), could help develop markets, standards and infrastructure.

Building Resilient Food Systems

Food security is becoming an increasingly important area of shared interest between the Gulf and the Global South. Investment can strengthen production while also building the processing, storage and logistics required to create reliable food systems. These investments can expand rural economies and improve market access while giving Gulf countries more diversified sources of supply. The discussion will consider how agricultural partnerships can create greater value for producer countries and more resilient food relationships with the GCC.

Investing in the Cities of the Future

Cities across the Global South will account for a growing share of future infrastructure investment. Demand is rising for transport, water, cooling, energy, waste systems and housing that can support expanding urban economies. Gulf companies and investors have considerable experience across many of these sectors. The discussion will consider where that experience can support locally designed urban investment programs and how cities can turn long-term development priorities into projects capable of attracting sustained capital.

Investing in Coastal Economies

Maritime trade already binds the Gulf closely to economies across the Global South. That relationship can support a wider generation of investment in ports, logistics, water infrastructure, fisheries and offshore energy. Gulf experience in desalination and maritime infrastructure provides a particularly strong basis for new partnerships. The discussion will consider how investment can strengthen coastal economies and trade while supporting resilient infrastructure and sustainable use of marine resources.

Rihla’s Path Forward

The closing session will draw on the day’s regional and sector discussions to set priorities for Rihla’s next phase. It will consider how the regional councils, thematic focus groups and partners can contribute to the new platforms and develop country and sector studies addressing the investment and policy gaps identified during the summit. The session will outline the next steps for joint research, partnerships and future convenings, including opportunities for the wider Rihla network to contribute.

Networking Dinner (by invitation only)

TBC

Depart from AGDA at 19:00