Past Events & Webinars

We officially kicked off the CFA Institute Research Challenge 2025–2026, bringing together talented students from 12 participating universities across the UAE:
 Ajman University, American University in Dubai, Heriot-Watt University- Dubai Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology – Al Ain Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology – Dubai Campus, Higher Colleges of Technology – Abu Dhabi Campus, Middlesex University Dubai, New York University Abu Dhabi, Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai (RIT Dubai), University of Birmingham Dubai, University of Wollongong in Dubai,Zayed University.
We are thrilled to announce this year’s official subject company: ALDAR, a leading force in the region’s real estate and investment landscape. Aldar will offer students a rich, dynamic, and highly engaging research opportunity.
It was a pleasure having Salma Laalej with us to deliver an insightful presentation on Aldar’s business and strategy, giving participants a strong foundation as they begin their research journey.
A big thank you to all participating universities, faculty advisors, and students for joining us. With 12 universities competing this year, we look forward to an inspiring season of analysis, collaboration, and excellence.
Let the challenge begin!

Highlights from the events hosted by CFA Society Emirates on "Wited to Thrive: The Neuroscience of Success" at Waldorf Astoria Hotel, DIFC Dubai. It was an inspiring and interactive session led by Dr. Yaro Fong-Olivares. A warm thank you to Dr. Yaro for delivering such an engaging, science-based discussion that truly resonated with our members

Highlights from the events hosted by CFA Society Emirates in collaboration with S&P Dow Jones Indices on "Bringing the Active vs. Passive Debate to Fixed Income" at Waldorf Astoria Hotel, DIFC Dubai.  We greatly appreciate Tim Edwards, Managing Director, Index Investment Strategy at S&P Dow Jones Indices, for leading such an insightful session and sharing his perspectives with our members in Dubai.

Webinar: Personal Portfolio Management - Doing It The Right Way

On Thursday, 30 October 2025, CFA Society Emirates candidates participated in an insightful webinar focused on translating investment theory into practical action. The session explored key topics including building smarter portfolios, leveraging digital investment platforms, and understanding the impact of asset allocation on performance.

Speaker: Fareeha Hussain, CFA, CTP – Corporate Trainer, PwC Academy Middle East

The session provided participants with a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between learning and practice, enhancing their portfolio management expertise.

Highlights from the recent CFA Society Emirates Women’s Club event, “Your Health, Your Wealth: Investing in Yourself,” held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, DIFC Dubai, showcased an inspiring evening dedicated to women’s wellbeing, balance, and self-care. The session featured Dr. Wajdi AlBonji, who led an engaging and insightful discussion on health, wellness habits, and stress management, reminding everyone that taking care of ourselves is the foundation for all that we achieve. CFA Society Emirates Women’s Club continues its mission of empowering women in finance to thrive both personally and professionally.

Highlights from the events hosted by CFA Society Emirates in collaboration with Aladdin by BlackRock on 'The Rise of Private Capital in the Middle East' at Waldorf Astoria Hotel, DIFC Dubai.  It was a pleasure to host an engaging discussion and explore the latest insights shaping private markets in the region.

The MENA Investment Congress 2025, hosted by CFA Society Emirates at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi, brought together leading global thinkers, investors, and innovators for two impactful days of dialogue and discovery.

Day 1 set an inspiring tone with engaging sessions on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in finance, investment management, and innovation. Speakers shared practical insights on leveraging AI as a strategic partner and explored its influence across sectors such as wealth management, healthcare, and fintech.

Day 2 continued with thought-provoking discussions on geopolitics, global macro strategy, AI and investing, family offices, private markets, and digital transformation. The day concluded with a captivating fireside chat with Ray Dalio, offering profound perspectives on markets, global policy, and principle-driven investing.

A heartfelt thank you to all our members, partners, and attendees for joining us and contributing to the success of the MENA Investment Congress 2025. Your participation and engagement made this event truly exceptional.

CFA Society Emirates and CFA Society Saudi Arabia co-hosted the Societies Regional Research Challenge—a day of collaboration, innovation, and outstanding student presentations. This event was hosted on 30th May, 2025 at Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel, Dubai. 14 university teams from 12 countries represented their local CFA Societies, showcasing their research skills and professionalism. Congratulations to our top teams: 🥇 1st – American University of Beirut (AUB), CFA Society Lebanon 🥈 2nd – King Saud University (Women), CFA Society Saudi Arabia 🥉 3rd – ADA University, Azerbaijan, CFA Society Istanbul. More than a competition, this event was a celebration of learning, connection, and regional collaboration.

Highlight from CFA Society Event on 'Investing in Frontier Markets Debt' in collaboration with LGT Capital Partners on 21st May 2025 at Waldorf Astoria, DIFC, Dubai. This session provided an overview of Frontier Market Debt (FMD), an asset class often characterized by higher risk and lower liquidity. The discussion examined its historical performance relative to Developed Market Debt, with attention to return and volatility patterns. Jetro Siekkinen (Finnish) is a Partner at LGT Capital Partners in Switzerland, presented research-based insights on how FMD may influence portfolio diversification and liquidity considerations in various market conditions

Highlight from CFA Society Event on 'Navigating Global Fixed Income in Volatile Times' in collaboration with MFS Investment Management on 13th May 2025 at Rosewood Hotel, Abu Dhabi and on 14th May, 2025 at Duck and Waffles Restaurant, Dubai. Pilar Gomez-Bravo, CFA, Co-CIO of Fixed Income at MFS Investment Management, delivered a powerful presentation on navigating fixed income strategies in today’s complex global landscape, while also sharing her personal journey with authenticity and depth.

Highlight from CFA Society Event on 'Tactical Asset Allocation – Agility Meets Alpha' in collaboration with State Street Global Advisors, hosted on 30th April 2025 at Waldorf Astoria, DIFC Dubai and on 01st May 2025 at Rosewood Hotel. Dan Farley, EVP & CIO of the Investment Solutions Group at SSGA, shared valuable insights on how Tactical Asset Allocation (TAA) strategies can help investment professionals remain agile, effectively manage risk, and take advantage of short-term market opportunities. Key highlights from the discussion included dynamic portfolio positioning, regime-based risk management, tactical diversification across geographies and factors, and real-world TAA frameworks in action.

We recently hosted an engaging session with our distinguished speaker, Maya Beyhan, who provided valuable insights into the dynamic shifts in the U.S. market following the 2024 presidential election. During the session, we explored key sector performance trends, economic implications, and strategies for navigating the opportunities and risks in this evolving landscape.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Maya for sharing her expertise, and to our members for their active participation, thoughtful questions, and meaningful discussions. Your engagement is what truly makes these sessions impactful.

We’re excited to share that CFA Society Emirates and CFA Institute have officially partnered with The Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF) through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
 
This partnership is a strong testament to our commitment to advancing research collaboration and cooperation in critical sectors of finance.
 
The MOU was signed during a ceremony at Bab Al Qasr Hotel in Abu Dhabi, graced by the presence of H.E. Khalid Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates. 

This momentous occasion marks a significant step forward in enhancing global financial cooperation.
 
Through this collaboration, we look forward to expanding research opportunities, professional development, and the exchange of knowledge within the finance community.