Mubadala Development and Oxford Business Group to launch in depth business guide: Emerging Abu Dhabi 2006

The event will be held under the patronage and with the attendance of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 13 November, 2005, at the Emirates Palace.

The evening will also include speeches from HH Sheikh Hamad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Planning and Economy; HE Mohammed Ahmad Al Bowardi, Secretary General of the Executive Council, HE Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala Development, Michael Tomalin, CEO of National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Michael Benson-Colpi, Chairman of Oxford Business Group.

The guide, an essential reference for businesses, institutions and investors, is published by Oxford Business Group, and is part of the group's flagship Emerging Market Series. The series specializes in research on emerging markets around the world. The UAE is the 12th country in the MENA region and the 5th country in the GCC to be covered in the Emerging Markets series.

The guide reviews developments and trends in all the major economic sectors, including; banking, capital markets (produced in association with National Bank of Abu Dhabi), insurance, energy, telecommunications and IT, real estate, construction and infrastructure, tourism, transportation, retail, health and education and industry. These sector overviews are followed by an accountancy (produced in association with PriceWaterHouse Coopers) and legal section (produced in association with Simmons&Simmons) reviewing the regulatory framework that governs foreign investment in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi's main achievements in 2005 are highlighted in the publication, including the events on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market, signing of Free Trade Agreements, the liberalization of the telecommunications sector, and Real Estate sector developments. In addition, numerous ongoing development projects across sectors are also covered, showing both public and private sector initiatives.

Emerging Abu Dhabi 2006 features a number of published interviews which include: HH the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Planning and Economy; HE Mohammed Ahmad Al Bowardi, Secretary General of the Executive Council, HE Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Economy and Planning, HE Khaldoon Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala Development, HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation and Etihad, HE Yousef Omair bin Yousef, CEO of ADNOC and many others.

The publication will also feature viewpoint articles from national and international business professionals, analysts, and academics. Contributors include: H.R.H. The Duke of York, Dr. Judith Kipper, Council on Foreign Relations, Professor Robert Mabro, Oxford Energy Institute, and Dr. Fatih Birol, International Energy Agency.