The ongoing realignment of the global order, transformative new technologies, energy transition, geography , and access to capital align the Middle East and North Africa regions at the center point of change, challenges and opportunity. Volatility has become a defining feature of this new global marketplace, challenging assumptions about stability and raising new risks for business leaders. Today, these executives face a difficult balance: making long-term strategic decisions in environments where short-term disruptions and uncertainty dominate.
Within the MENA region, few countries embody this bridging role more than the UAE as a hub that connects East and West in a fragmenting world, offering stability and cultural connectivity when the global system needs it most. By bridging these divides, it not only secures its own future prosperity, but it also contributes to shaping a more integrated and resilient global economy.
Against this backdrop, three interlinked pillars will define how the UAE can maximize its role and impact:
- Human Capital in an Age of Fragmentation and AI
- Shifting Trade Flows in a Deglobalizing World
- Changing Energy Flows and Uses Amid Booming Local Demand
The 2026 CEO Dialogue convened influential regional and international business leaders and experts, and decision-makers for a MENA-centric yet global discussion on the evolving challenges and opportunities of this complex era of economic uncertainty.
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Speakers and Delegates
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