2nd Middle East Free Zone Forum calls for development of Free Zones to attract companies with sustainable developments

The event was attended by key CEOs and director generals of the region's top free zones, with keynote speakers including, Dr. Rashid Alleem, Director General of Sharjah Ports and Customs and the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority; Dr. Ayoub Kazim, Director General of both Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) and Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), both of which are members of the Education Cluster of TECOM Investments, a member of Dubai Holding; Mr. Oussama El Omari, Principal Advisor to the Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone "RAK FTZ" and Mr. Nader Atout, Executive Director of Business Development in Abu Dhabi Media Zone "TwoFour54".

Mr. Hamdan Mohamed Al Morshedi, President and Chairman of the Board, Arab Business Club, said: "The 2nd Middle East Free Zone Forum served as an ideal platform to boost strategic partnerships and mutual relations among the region's key players and business leaders, through providing interactive opportunities that reflect positively on free zones' investments in the UAE and the region."

He added, "The wide participation of key director generals in the event will help in building an effective communication channels with CEOs and decision makers of the world's top corporations, to better discuss means of developing this growing sector and to better attract companies who evolve to serve their target audiences in a sustainable manner."

The speakers at the Forum estimated the growth rate of the free zones in the Middle East and North Africa at about 20% annually, with the UAE topping the rank in terms of the increase in the number of registered companies in around 30 free zones, covering sectors in finance,media, textiles,technology, health, education, FMCG, among others.

The Forum concluded with a call to action to further develop the free zones to serve as key investors' attraction through initiating additional incentives and infrastructure development.

Four years after its establishment as a global network with offices in both New York and Dubai, Arab Business Club now includes more than 8500 members of from 27 countries and functions as a platform that brings together elite businessmen, investors and decision makers from the region and from the world, with the aim of serving as a catalyst for investment opportunities.