- The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council and the Family Business Council Gulf sign a strategic agreement
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 12 December 2025: The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council (ADFBC), an affiliate of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Family Business Council Gulf (FBCG), a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the sustainability and long-term success of family businesses across the Gulf Cooperation Council. The agreement aims to reinforce the resilience and competitiveness of family enterprises regionally and globally, in line with Abu Dhabi’s ambition to consolidate its role as a global hub for family business leadership and private sector development.
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Khaled Al Fahim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council and Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mr. Badr Al Ghurair, Board Member of Family Business Council Gulf, during Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW).
The cooperation framework encompasses capability-building programmes, next-generation leadership development, family governance initiatives, introductory forums and workshops, as well as the development of benchmarking studies and policy papers addressing future challenges facing family businesses in the region. It will also promote best practices in strategic planning, business continuity and family governance, and offer structured guidance on leadership succession.
The agreement sets out a joint work plan that includes developing specialised training programmes for next-generation leaders, launching family governance initiatives, designing succession and continuity frameworks, and collaborating on comparative studies and policy recommendations that deepen understanding of regional family business dynamics and emerging trends.
It also provides for the organisation of high-level events, roundtables and dialogue platforms bringing together family business leaders, policymakers and international experts, while establishing knowledge-sharing channels that connect the regional family business community. Under the agreement, programmes and workshops hosted in Abu Dhabi will be conducted in coordination with the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council to ensure alignment with the emirate’s economic priorities and to reinforce Abu Dhabi’s status as a global destination for sustainable, multigenerational family businesses.
Commenting on the signing, His Excellency Khaled Al Fahim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council and Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "This agreement marks a pivotal milestone in strengthening the role of family businesses as a strategic pillar of economic development. Investing in capability building, knowledge transfer and governance is the most effective guarantee for ensuring continuity across generations and supporting Abu Dhabi’s diversified and sustainable economic trajectory."
He added: "We are entering a new phase that requires a shift in mindset within family businesses, from models built primarily on inherited experience to institutional models grounded in governance, planning, asset management and future readiness."
Chairman of Family Business Council Gulf, Hind Bahwan, noted: “The Gulf region is poised for significant economic growth, and family businesses are at the forefront of this transformation. I'm excited about the opportunities this partnership presents, and I'm confident that together, we can create a lasting impact and shape the future of family businesses in the region."
Badr Al Ghurair, Board Member of the Family Business Council-Gulf, said: “This partnership marks an exciting step in expanding our community in Abu Dhabi. By connecting the emirate’s dynamic family business ecosystem with our global network of over 20,000 members across 65 countries, we are creating new opportunities for collaboration and growth. Abu Dhabi’s unique position as a hub for continuity, governance and generational wealth make it the ideal home for global families shaping the future”
The agreement comes at a time of growing recognition of the central economic role played by family businesses. Regional studies indicate that family businesses account for up to 90% of private sector companies in the Middle East, contribute around 60% of GDP, and generate nearly 80% of private sector employment, making them a cornerstone of national economies and a key engine of growth and diversification.
In the United Arab Emirates, family businesses contribute 60% of GDP, employ 80% of the workforce and represent approximately 90% of private sector companies. They operate across a broad range of vital sectors including the new economy, hospitality, retail, real estate and construction. In Abu Dhabi specifically, family businesses account for 50% of companies in the construction sector, 60% in financial services, 80% in wholesale trade and 70% in transport.
Globally, family businesses generate nearly 70% of global GDP, representing more than two-thirds of worldwide economic activity, and employ approximately 60% of the global workforce, underscoring their role as the world’s largest employer and a cornerstone of economic stability.
This agreement is expected to establish a reference framework for family businesses in the UAE and the wider region, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global destination for sustainable family enterprises and long-term strategic planning, in line with the leadership’s vision for a more diversified and resilient economy.
The Family Business Council Gulf (FBCG), established in 2013, is the leading non-profit, organisation dedicated to supporting family businesses in the Gulf. Its mission is to unite and strengthen family enterprises in the GCC to advance together across generations. FBCG focuses on governance development, leadership succession, and smooth generational transition, while also conducting specialised research, enhancing regional and international representation, and supporting family businesses in adapting to economic change and unlocking new growth opportunities.