Cultural identity must be protected in the wake of globalisation, says Al Zamil

Al Zamil, who is one of the regional leaders associated with the international leadership summit, Leaders in Dubai, said: 'Leaders need to keep pace with the changing world. We are in an era of alliances and merging boundaries and borders.

'However, we must take care to prevent a loss of cultural identity. In many countries, the traditional way of life is getting lost and the public feel that their way of life has to be protected against foreign influence.'

Globalisation was the subject of a Pew Global Attitudes Project, which is chaired by Dr Madeleine Albright - one of the nine speakers at Leaders in Dubai, and former Secretary of State in America. The project's advisory board members include Hernando de Soto, Henry Kissinger, Queen Noor of Jordan and Desmond Tutu.

According to the survey, globalisation, the free market model and democratic ideals are accepted in all corners of the world. Most notably, the report found strong democratic aspirations in most of the Muslim countries surveyed. These aspirations remain intact despite the conflict in Iraq.

Majorities in 41 of the 44 countries surveyed say that international trade and business contacts have increased in the past five years. More than 75 per cent of those interviewed in almost every country think children need to learn English to succeed in the world today.

People generally view the growth in foreign trade, global communication and international popular culture as good for them and their families as well as their countries.

Despite the widespread support for the globalisation process, people around the world think many aspects of their lives are getting worse. Majorities in 34 of 44 countries see the gap between rich and poor, the affordability of health care and the ability to save for their old age as getting worse.

Al Zamil's comments came in the lead-up to Leaders in Dubai on November 28 - 29, where he has been appointed one of the Corporate Ambassador alumni.

Apart from holding numerous board positions on a variety of I.T. and industrial companies throughout the Middle East, he is also a member of the Executive Board of Saudi Export Development, part of the Saudi Commercial Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of various University committees and chambers of commerce throughout the Kingdom.

Dr Albright is part of the highest profile line-up at a Middle East conference. Nine political, business and strategy leaders will debate international leadership principles in front of more than 2,000 delegates.

The full line-up of speakers is:


• Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the former Soviet Union and winner of the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize


• Bill Clinton (via videocast), former President of the USA from 1993 - 2001


• Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 - 2003


• Madeleine Albright, the first female Secretary of State in the USA and a director of the New York Stock Exchange


• Daniel Pink, the author of Free Agent Nation, the Washington Post bestseller, who will suggest six aptitudes crucial to the survival of white-collar workers


• Kenichi Ohmae, the former director of McKinsey Japan, who has earned global acclaim as 'Mr Strategy'


• Arie de Geus, who was at the helm of Royal Dutch Shell for 40 years and has been described as 'the global statesman' of business change


• Spencer Johnson, the author of the bestsellers Who Moved My Cheese and The One-Minute Manager


• Scott Bedbury, one of the world's leading brand architects, responsible for Nike's Just Do It campaign and the emergence of the Starbucks brand

Regional business leaders - the Leaders in Dubai corporate alumni - have confirmed their support for the event. They include: HE Sheikh Faisal Al Qassemi, founder of the Al Qasimi Group; Nabila Al Anjari, Assistant Under-Secretary for Tourism Affairs in Kuwait; Aramex's President and CEO Fadi Ghandour; former Lebanese minister of national economy Saeb Jaroudi; Bharat Jashanmal, of the GCC retail corporation Jashanmal & Sons; Khamis Al Muqla, founder and chairman of Gulf Hill & Knowlton and Gulf Saatchi & Saatchi; Lebanese industrialist Jacques Sarraf; veteran hotelier Sami Zoghbi, regional head of Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts; and Saudi industrialist Abdulla al Zamil.

Leaders in Dubai is expected to attract more than 2,000 business leaders from across Arabia and will be held at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, from November 28 to 29, 2005.

Headline sponsors are the international names Citigroup, EMAAR, Mastercard, Nokia and Saudi Oger Ltd.

CNN is confirmed as the international media partner, with Al Arabiya News Channel as headline media partner. Media sponsors are Al Hayat, AME Info, Gulf Business, Gulf News and Oman Economic Review.

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