Strong Al Rouad line up for this year's Leaders in Dubai Business Forum

The Al Rouad members are the Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair; leading Qatari business woman Sheikha Hanadi Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani; Bahrain's Economic Development Board Chief Executive Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa; Managing Director of Saudi Arabia's Savola Group, Dr Sami Baroum; and Vice President of Corporate Finance for Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Mr Mutlaq H Al Morished.

They are expected to stimulate wide ranging debate under the theme "Strategy for the Future" on issues such as regional diversification; sustainable growth and development; job creation; the Arab education system; the role of governments and family run conglomerates; business influence over development and the future role of private equity in the region.

Event organiser Alan Kelly says Al Rouad has become a very important part of the annual Leaders in Dubai Business Forum because it identifies local solutions to regional problems.

"While the keynote speakers provide an international perspective, many of the delegates will be very keen to hear what these highly successful local business personalities have to say on issues that are of major importance to their day to day activities."

Organisers expect the high calibre of presenters, including former UN secretary general Kofi Annan; entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson; author Malcolm Gladwell; business strategy gurus Philip Kotler and Steve Forbes; 2006 Nobel Peace prize recipient Professor Muhammad Yunus; Baker Foundation professor Harvard Business School, Robert S. Kaplan; and Google's European head, Nikesh Arora will draw a record crowd to the event this year.