Hanwha Finance is expanding its relationship with Abu Dhabi’s financial sector as part of its Digital Asset Silk Road strategy. The announcement followed agreements signed with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and ADGM during the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum Seoul.
Hanwha Life, Hanwha General Insurance, Hanwha Investment & Securities and Hanwha Asset Management announced the expanded cooperation.
ADIF Seoul took place at the JW Marriott Hotel Seoul on Sept. 16. Senior executives from Hanwha Finance attended alongside representatives from Abu Dhabi’s government and financial sector.
Participants included Hyek Woong Kwon, vice chairman and CEO of Hanwha Life, and Dong Wook Kim, chief global business officer at Hanwha Life. Dongjun Im, CEO of Hanwha Asset Management, also attended with Seungpill Baik, head of digital innovation at the asset manager.
Abu Dhabi representatives included Shamis Ali Al Dhaheri and Badr Al-Olama. Fatima Al Hammadi, head of ADIO’s Fintech, Insurance, Digital and Alternative Investments Cluster, also joined the event.
Hanwha Life signed a partnership with ADIO focused on digital finance cooperation. The agreement covers development of a digital asset ecosystem and stronger links between Korean and Abu Dhabi financial markets.
Digital banking and financial innovation form another area of work. Hanwha Life and ADIO also plan to assess business opportunities involving digital assets, including real-world asset tokenisation.
Hanwha Asset Management signed a separate memorandum of understanding with ADGM and Hana Financial Group. That agreement focuses on stablecoins and cross-border financial infrastructure.
The parties will examine digital asset and payment systems serving Korea and Abu Dhabi. Their work includes cross-border payment and remittance services between the two markets.
The MoU also covers development of an interoperable digital asset ecosystem. Hanwha Asset Management said the work will support its wider expansion in international digital finance.
Hanwha Finance has also partnered with ADGM for Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2026. The event takes place in the UAE capital in December.
The latest agreements build on relationships Hanwha Finance developed during Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025. The group is seeking deeper links with financial institutions across the Middle East.
Hanwha Life CEO Hyek Woong Kwon said the agreement should turn cooperation with Abu Dhabi into specific commercial opportunities. He expects the relationship to support Hanwha Life’s international growth plans.
ADIF is an investment forum organised by ADIO. It presents Abu Dhabi’s investment environment and growth sectors to international companies and investors.
The Seoul event brought together companies and investment representatives from Korea and Abu Dhabi. Discussions focused on long-term investment opportunities and new business partnerships between the two markets.
