Back2Business bigger than ever

Mr Ihsan Qatawneh, Chairman of the Jordan Business Council, host to this year's prestigious event, welcomed over 900 guests to the Grand Hyatt and under the auspices of her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, celebrated the great diversity of cultures, interests and expertise represented within the assembled business community.

Mr Riyad Kamal, addressing the business council representatives and business men and women from across the region reflected on the changes he has witnessed in his 25 years of doing business in Dubai and how currently the developments were more rapid than ever, a situation demanding strong business relationships which respected the needs of the Emirati people.

This event, he said is about building bridges of commercial co-operation that will lead to local, regional and international growth.

The twenty Business councils established within the Dubai Chamber of Commerce represent local and international interests in the region and at the event we were able to walk past Iran, France and India on our way to Sweden or South Africa, stopping in on Jordan or Lebanon on the way. There were no international barriers at this evening's event and the map was certainly redrawn.

Jordan hosted this years event, Jordanian companies generously sponsored it and whilst there is not space in this article to mention them all, thanks were given to Aqaba Special Zone Authority, Aqaba Development Corporation, Saraya Aqaba, Jordan Tourist Board, Royal Jordanian National paints, the Arab bank and Hills Advertising. With welcomes and introductions over, the networking began.

Like some great dance, 900 people took to the floor exchanging business cards and putting dates in diaries. And as the music of all nations played in the background everyone changed partners and began again. The energy in the room was electric and the enthusiasm for the occasion obvious as smiling faces and warm words declared genuine interest in the people and the opportunities.

Delicious food and drinks made this business occasion a relaxed and social one of real style and as the evening progressed the separate conversations were focussed onto a stage and The Dubai Drummers. This troupe of multinationals, who, I discovered were business people during the day and drummers at night, had the audience clapping and cheering, showing how willing and able they all were to find a common rhythm in more ways than one.

The master of ceremonies then began the drawing of raffle prizes generously donated by each of the Business councils and several of the business sponsors present. Whilst some lucky delegates took away dinner vouchers, mobile phones and lap top computers, everyone took something of great value from what can only be described as the most successful event of its kind in Dubai this year.

If you weren't there then you missed an opportunity, but one that will come again in 2007 and promises to be bigger and better than ever.