Dubai Strategy Forum to be held in December

Open and frank discussions lead by top regional and international speakers in the presence of private and public sector decision makers and experts will offer valuable insights and perspectives on issues that will be of vital concern for the Arab world in the future.

This year's forum is expected to draw heads of state and NGOs, high-ranking government decision makers, prominent business executives, renowned international experts and other distinguished personalities.

The Forum sessions will discuss future scenarios of the Arab world across three major axis: Governments in the Arab world by 2020, Business & Economy in the Arab world by 2020 and Arab Society by 2020.

Mohammed Al Gergawi Chairman of the Dubai Strategy Forum Organizing Committee stated that, "The significance of this year's Forum stems from the fact that the themes and discussion topics have been carefully selected after a comprehensive review of current and projected Arab world affairs. This selection is backed by an impressive line up of leading regional and international speakers. Topics such as the evolution of home grown governance systems in the Arab world, the economic and social implications of regional security instability, to issues such as the future of Arab economic integration and the new global role of the region are on the agenda this year."

He added, "The Forum by the directives of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minster of Defence, is designed to bring together decision makers and officials with a view to promote a constructive and collaborative approach to regional issues."

Mohammed Al Gergawi said that HH Sheikh Mohammed has stressed the importance of open and frank dialogue when it comes to discussing key and pivotal issues of the Arab world. This approach is vital in overcoming the political, developmental, and security difficulties in the region.

The strategic timing of the Forum around end of the year 2004 gives it even greater significance as it allows the Forum to wrap-up the year's events and activities and gives both its participants and speakers the chance to digest the highlights of the year. This will further enable them to have an end of the year assessment of regional and global affairs and the chance to discuss future strategies of the different sectors in the Arab world.

Dubai Strategy Forum aims to develop the region by bringing together key regional stakeholders to engage in activities that bridge differences and build opportunities for growth and prosperity in the region. Over 50 sessions in the two previous forums have featured over 70 key speakers and over 3000 participants from around the world.

Previous prominent speakers have included the like of HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman, Kingdom Holding Company, Dr. Rima Khalaf Hunaidi, Assistant Secretary General and Director, Regional Bureau for Arab States, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Samuel Huntington, Professor at Harvard University and the author of 'The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order'; Paul Kennedy, Director, International Security Studies, Yale University, Nicholas Negroponte, Co-Founder and Director, MIT Media Laboratory, Edward S. Walker Jr, President, The Middle East Institute, Economic expert Hernando de Soto, President, Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Clovis Maksoud, Member, Advisory Group, Arab Human Development Report, UNDP and Michael Hay, Professor, London Business School.