Arab Aluminium Forum meets in Dubai to discuss upcoming Arabal 2008 event

ARABAL 2008 will be hosted by Dubai Aluminium Company Limited ("DUBAL") in Dubai, from 9 to 11 November this year.

Chaired by Mohammed Al Naki (Chairman: Arabal Executive Committee), who played an instrumental role in the founding of ARABAL in 1983, the ARABAL Executive Committee comprises industry representatives from the GCC countries and Egypt. The members meet at regular intervals to plan and organise the biennial ARABAL Conference and Exhibition events, which are held by rotation between the major aluminium producers in the Arab world. ARABAL 2008, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the inaugural ARABAL Conference, will be held under the patronage and with the attendance of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Chairman of DUBAL.

By design, the series of ARABAL events provides a forum for specialists and major aluminium companies from the Arab world to transfer their experiences and exchange information with the regional aluminium smelters and other downstream companies, alongside participants from multinational organisations. Over the years, it has evolved into one of the most important events in the international aluminium industry calendar, as evidenced by growing attendance figures over the years.

Importantly, DUBAL is the first company to host an ARABAL event for the fourth time, having successfully done so in 1987, 1995 and 2001. The other host companies of past events - Kuwait Industries, Aluminium Bahrain ("ALBA") and the Aluminium Company of Egypt ("EGYPTAL") - have each hosted it three times. Given the rapid growth of the aluminium industry in the region, as evidenced by the new smelter development projects already announced in the UAE (Emirates Aluminium in Abu Dhabi), Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the number of potential ARABAL event hosts is likely to expand directly in the near future.

Mohammed Ahmed Yahya (Manager Corporate Relations & International Affairs for DUBAL) advises that the arrangements for ARABAL 2008 are well underway.

"DUBAL has secured a full line-up of high calibre, international speakers representing the aluminium industries to address a range of topics in support of the overriding theme, namely 'The changing dynamics of the aluminium industry in the GCC',"

he says.

"The programme, which also includes very good social activities, has attracted relevant participants from the aluminium industry in the Gulf region as well as representatives of international aluminium industry players. Likewise, an appropriate range of companies has signed-up for the associated exhibition."

Yahya adds that ARABAL's 25th anniversary represents both a pinnacle of achievement and a major milestone for the rapidly-growing aluminium industry "We will celebrate the occasion by delivering one of the most successful ARABAL events ever, thus ensuring that this silver jubilee year is truly memorable."