Arab Strategy Forum announces speakers for first regional discussion sessions in Dubai

To be held in Dubai from 28 - 29 October at the Mina A'Salam Hotel, the forum titled 'Towards the Establishment of Knowledge Society in the Arab World' will draw upon the perspectives of leading researchers and intellectuals for enhancing the region's knowledge landscape. The discussion sessions will mark the commencement of a series of events the Arab Strategy Forum will be organizing in different Arab countries.

John P. Keegan, Chairman and President of the Charles Edison Fund and Edison Innovation Foundation in the US; Her Excellency Dr. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of State; Dr. Ziad Bin Abdullah Aldrees, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate at UNESCO; Dr. Ali Fakhro, Bahrain's former Minister of Education; Dr. Turki Al Hamad, Saudi thinker and writer, and Dr. Taher Kanaan, Managing Director, Jordan Center for Public Policy Research and Dialogue, Jordan, are among the speakers who will take the podium in the Dubai event.

The launch of the Arab Knowledge Report, a joint effort between the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme, will feature as a key component of the inaugural event in Dubai. Discussing how knowledge is generated in the region, the report will define the factors driving and/or obstructing development.

Dr. Sulaiman Al Hattlan, CEO of the Arab Strategy Forum, said:

"The exceptional panel of researchers and experts will debate on the current status of knowledge in the Arab World and explore ways to help create a prolific environment for innovation. With their extraordinary insights, the panelists will examine the strategies, approaches and techniques that can be adopted to effectively achieve this objective."

"Relaunched with an interactive format, the Arab Strategy Forum is set to act as a crucial platform for regional and international thought leaders to convene and address current issues. The event in Dubai, the first in a series of regional events, will set the tone for the following sessions in highlighting the role of decision-makers from the political, social and economic landscape in knowledge creation."

'Tangible Innovation' will be the focus of John P. Keegan's address on the first day of the session. Keegan will bring with him unique insights gained through his work on the preservation of Thomas Alva Edison's ideas, processes, inventions, inspiration and works.

Launched in 2001 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Arab Strategy Forum offers a unique combination of unparalleled network, debate-driven sessions and custom-made knowledge products. The Arab Strategy Forum will provide participants with the tools needed to shape viable action plans for the region.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to drive the region towards a knowledge-based economy. With a $10bn endowment, the Foundation seeks to identify and develop promising institutions and individuals for guiding the region on the road to economic and social progress.