Future of Sustainable Development in Mideast to be Discussed During INSEAD Dubai Forum

Future of Sustainable Development in Mideast to be Discussed During INSEAD Dubai Forum
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Future of Sustainable Development in Mideast to be Discussed During INSEAD Dubai Forum

Future of Sustainable Development in Mideast to be Discussed During INSEAD Dubai Forum

An economic forum in Dubai, UAE, is scheduled to discuss the MENA region’s economic future.

INSEAD NAA UAE Leadership Forum, to be held on October 31, will also discuss prospects for cultural and social development and means to employ creativity and encourage creators and entrepreneurs to enable the region to reach high levels of progress and prosperity.

The one-day event will provide a platform for sharing diverse ideas and perspectives on promoting sustainable economic growth and shaping the future of the region.

The Forum is organized through a partnership between the INSEAD National Alumni Association (NAA) in the UAE, one of the world's leading graduate business schools, and the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO).

Both sides announced the event’s agenda, which includes many significant topics as part of a series of intensive sessions that will be organized over one day.

Through these sessions, they aim at sharing ideas and visions on possible means of collaborating to promote sustainable development processes in the region and conceptualizing opportunities that can be exploited to ensure a promising future for their people and enable them to overcome all challenges.

“Organizing the Forum, in partnership with the INSEAD National Alumni Association in the UAE, is part of our efforts to bring together various stakeholders to foster a meaningful discussion on key issues shaping the region with the goal of unlocking new opportunities for a better future,” said Director of Strategic Media Affairs in the GDMO Noora al-Abbar.

President of the INSEAD's NAA Elias Aad, for his part, said: “We are excited to host this event in collaboration with the GDMO.”

“An event of this nature allows the INSEAD Alumni to interact closely with leaders and visionaries of this region, giving us a better insight on how best to contribute to our community over the coming years and how leaders in the region can benefit from our global and local expertise and successes in various industries,” Aad explained.

The Forum’s first session titled “A New Vision for the Future” will feature a keynote address that will outline the UAE’s national vision to advance further growth and foster an innovation-driven economy.

The session will also look at how the Eight Principles of Governance and the Fifty-Year Charter, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, are setting the direction for Dubai’s future.



Future Investment Initiative Conference Gathers Global Decision-Makers in Riyadh

One of the dialogue sessions of the Future Investment Initiative in its previous edition (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the dialogue sessions of the Future Investment Initiative in its previous edition (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Future Investment Initiative Conference Gathers Global Decision-Makers in Riyadh

One of the dialogue sessions of the Future Investment Initiative in its previous edition (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the dialogue sessions of the Future Investment Initiative in its previous edition (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh is set to launch the eighth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference on Monday.
This year’s event carries the theme, “Infinite Horizons... Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow” and will feature prominent figures in finance, investment, and technology.
Through its annual conference, often called the “Davos of the Desert,” the Future Investment Initiative aims to foster discussions on how investment can drive a prosperous and sustainable future, expanding the possibilities for humanity.
The conference is expected to attract over 7,000 guests and 500 speakers, covering a wide range of current topics across more than 200 sessions. Key areas of focus include economic stability, equitable development, climate change, artificial intelligence, innovation, health, and geopolitical issues.
Among those looking to leverage projects aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 are David Solomon of Goldman Sachs, Jane Fraser of Citigroup, and Larry Fink of BlackRock, which recently agreed to establish a multi-asset investment platform in Riyadh, backed by a $5 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. This year, the conference will also host the New Africa Summit, featuring speakers from Africa’s mining and banking sectors.
Reflecting Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on technology and artificial intelligence, industry leaders in these fields will participate in the event. Notably, Alphabet President Ruth Porat, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, and tech entrepreneur Benjamin Horowitz, co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, are scheduled to speak for the first time.
According to Richard Attias, CEO of the Future Investment Initiative, executives worldwide are expected to announce deals exceeding $28 billion. Some of these initiatives will focus on artificial intelligence, including a new potential fund with Andreessen Horowitz that could grow to $40 billion, as reported by Bloomberg.
The Kingdom is also expected to announce a new company that will invest at least $10 billion in making Saudi Arabia the world’s largest producer of hydrogen—a low-carbon fuel critical for the global transition away from fossil fuels. Key speakers from Asia will include Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Belt and Road Commissioner Nicholas Ho.
On the eve of the event, Swiss entrepreneur and FII participant Stephan Knuser told Asharq Al-Awsat that the conference will provide significant business insights for both local and international communities, anticipating that new partnerships will form between Swiss and Saudi companies in energy-efficient technologies and food security.
Neil Bush, Chairman of Sky Towers, remarked: “We view FII as not only a driver for attracting capital but also for bringing in technologies that accelerate Saudi Arabia’s goals.” According to Bush, the FII topics align with needs like business registration processes, free trade zone policies, and strategies for developing industrial complexes, which will help accelerate Vision 2030 goals, including carbon reduction.