Big turnout of leaders in Dubai

More than 1800 delegates including royalty, former heads of state government ministers and many of the regions most senior decision makers met at the Dubai International Convention Centre for the first of two days keynote speeches and networking.

Keynote speakers including Jordan's Queen Noor, former IBM CEO Louis V Gerstner Jr, creative thinker Edward De Bono and internationally renowned business strategist, CK Prahalad set the stage for the two day forum.

Prahalad highlighted the changing nature of business and consumer dynamics. He stressed on the importance of co-creating value through unique experiences for the consumer. The developing world with 5 billion potential consumers offers new innovative strategy avenues for businesses. These countries are the seeds of leapfrogging technology and some of the most viable markets for products and services.

Tomorrow the delegates, who include members of the royal courts of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman; a Ukrainian trade delegation including former Prime Minister, Valery Pustovoytenko; and business and government representatives from 43 countries will hear from former US Secretary of State, General Colin Powell (retired).

He will be joined by immediate past president and CEO of Disney, Michael Eisner and economic forecaster Harry S Dent.

Several Arab business leaders are playing a major role in the forum. Today the five member Al Rouad (pioneers) group, comprising managing director Kuwait's Global Investment House, Maha A-Ghunaim; Ithma Capital founder, Faisal in Juma Belhoul; I Capital chairman Ibrahim Belselah; Regency Group Chairman Ibrahim Asmakh and Addax Bank CEO, Yousef Al-Essa took part in a round table to discuss the future of the region's economy.

Earlier in the day they met with media from several countries to discuss regional issues and conduct interviews.

The region's economic outlook will again be debated during the CNN CEO debate moderated by CNN Middle East Anchor Hala Gorani and featuring the group chief executive of DMI, Khalid Janahi; Chairman & CEO of GroupMed Holding, Mohammad Hariri; and the Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer of Aramex International, Fadi Ghandour.