MEED's Middle East Capital Markets 2006

More than 250 delegates have confirmed their participation at the event, where 51 key speakers are set to deliver their opinions and stir timely debate on global and regional capital markets over 21 sessions.

The two-day conference at Emirates Towers Hotel casts a high-level panel of international and region-based finance experts, addressing headline topics crucial to the further development of the Middle East financial markets.

In addition to the 'growing force of the Gulf capital markets' debate, other hot topics include economic diversification, Gulf IPOs, country specific discussions, Islamic finance and a spotlight on regulatory changes.

'The vibrancy of the region's economy is driving unprecedented growth across all sectors. The financial sector, in particular, has seen huge uptake from both companies jumping onto the listing bandwagon, and investors fast to place funds but slow to trade, said Edmund O'Sullivan, Editorial Director, MEED and conference Chairman.

He confirmed that he is set for a vibrant two-day debate 'leaving no stone unturned' as he leads the speakers through the pressing issues to the public and private-sector audience comprising securities, broking, banking and finance and investors, as well as regulatory bodies and the media.

The list of confirmed speakers includes two regional and three global securities market heads. Henry Azzam, Chairman of Dubai International Financial Exchange; and Abu Dhabi's Rashed Al Baloushi, Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi Securities Market will be joined by Martin Graham, Director of Market Services and Head of AIM, London Stock Exchange; Charlotte Crosswell, Head of NASDAQ International and Madhu Kannan, Vice-President - International of NYSE Group.

Azzam, who is also founder and CEO of Amwal Invest, will give a keynote address outlining Dubai's vision to become a new global financial player, including an outline of the progress made so far.

'Azzam is known for his 'straight talk' and this session should be no different,' observed O'Sullivan.

He said the event content has been crafted by an advisory committee of senior finance executives: 'We pulled together the 'who's who' of the corporate finance and investment banking community to ensure we deliver a compelling event, including eleven round-table discussions,' he added.

The panel includes: Peggy Farley (President and CEO - Ascent Capital Management), Yasser El Mallawany (Chairman & CEO - EFG Hermes), Amit Tripathy (Senior Financial Analyst - Global Investment House), Timothy Gray (Chief Executive - HSBC Saudi Arabia), and Hani Kablawi (Managing Director - The Bank of New York) among other very senior officials from the Banking & Finance industry.

Sponsors at the event include Commercial Bank, Dubai Bank, Fitch Ratings, Kamco, QNB and Shuaa Capital as gold sponsors; Al Qudra, HSBC and Makaseb as silver sponsors; and Victory Heights as conference sponsor.