DIFC Week to focus on challenges and opportunities for family businesses as they emerge from current market turmoil

About DIFC:

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centres of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services. Since November 2004, over 650 firms have registered at DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100% foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition, their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards. In March 2008, the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) ranked Dubai as the region's fastest growing financial hub.

About Tharawat Family Business Forum:

The Tharawat Family Business Forum is a network of family-owned enterprises in the Arab World. The organisation provides a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences on business and management issues related to family businesses in the Arab world. Tharawat's vision is to become the first-choice networking and mutual-assistance forum for family businesses in the Arab world. Through its network of members, Tharawat aims to encourage collaboration and alliances among family-owned and controlled firms in the region. It provides its members specialised education and helps them leverage business opportunities in the region and beyond. The forum seeks to bring a new focus on the business, social and cultural challenges facing family firms in the region. It promotes and sponsors research that helps advance the sustainable development of family businesses. It also works to raise public awareness of new developments within the family business sector. The Tharawat Family Business Forum has a governance structure designed to guarantee the transparency of its activities and its receptivity to high-quality inputs from both members and external experts. The members of Tharawat constitute an innovative and committed community of family-owned businesses, working together to improve collaboration, business growth, and prosperity.

About Deutsche Bank:

Deutsche Bank is a leading global investment bank with a strong and profitable private clients franchise. A leader in Germany and Europe, the bank is continuously growing in North America, Asia and key emerging markets. With 81,308 employees in 75 countries, Deutsche Bank offers unparalleled financial services throughout the world. The bank competes to be the leading global provider of financial solutions for demanding clients creating exceptional value for its shareholders and people.

Deutsche Bank's commitment in the MENA region is more than a century old, beginning with the Bank's financing of the construction of the Baghdad railway. Deutsche Bank opened its first office in Cairo in 1959, followed in the early seventies by an office in Bahrain. In 1999, Deutsche Bank embarked on a regional expansion drive across the GCC which began with the opening of an office in the UAE's Capital Abu Dhabi in 1999, followed by two offices in Dubai: a representative office inaugurated in 2001 and a branch at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in 2005. In April of 2006, Deutsche Bank opened a branch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the capital Riyadh. In November of 2007, Deutsche Bank opened its branch in the Qatar Financial Centre in Doha. Deutsche Bank AG in the MENA region offers the full range of investment banking, asset management; private wealth management; and global transaction banking services. Deutsche Bank AG is well recognized for its leading role on some of the most prestigious regional transactions. The Bank is the recipient of several regional and international awards in recognition for its achievements in investment banking and Islamic finance in the region.

About Abraaj Capital:

Dubai-based Abraaj Capital is the largest private equity company in the Middle East and North Africa with more than $7.5bn of assets under management. Established in 2002, the company has led the way in developing the private equity industry in the region. Abraaj Capital Ltd. is licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, which operates according to international regulatory standards. The company's more than 165 'best in class' employees are drawn from the global talent pool, and span more than two dozen nationalities. Abraaj Capital invests in the growing Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region and has executed some of its landmark deals. These include the $1.41bn purchase in 2007 of Egyptian Fertilizers Company, the largest leveraged buy-out in MENA. Abraaj Capital has won several industry awards, including 'Middle Eastern Private Equity Firm of the Year' from Private Equity International (2005, 2006 & 2007). On average, Internal Rates of Return exceed 50%.

Media enquiries:

Amira Abdulla
Director- Regional Public Relations
DIFC | Dubai International Financial Centre
Level 14, The Gate
P.O. Box 74777, Dubai, UAE
T: 971 4 3622433
F: 971 4 3622236

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