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 will convene 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.
Speakers and Delegates
Location and Logistics
The event will be held in Session Room 3 at the World Governments Summit.
You should receive a registration link to the World Governments Summit via email. Your registration will be critical to ensure you have access to the World Governments Summit space. Please kindly note that you will not be allowed access to the premises without a WGS badge.
Important: If you do not receive registration information for the World Governments Summit from noreply@worldgovernmentsummit.org, please contact Nour Dabboussi at ndabboussi@atlanticcouncil.org.
Agenda
8:00–8:50 a.m. | Check-in and breakfast reception
8:50–9:00 a.m. | Welcome remarks
Featuring
Majid Jaffar
Chief Executive Officer
Crescent Petroleum
William Wechsler
Senior Director, Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs
Atlantic Council
9:00–9:15 a.m. | Keynote remarks: Bridging east and west: The GCC’s strategic role in global economic shifts
Featuring
H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama
Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office of the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates
9:15–9:30 a.m. | Pre-dialogue CEO polling
We value your insights on current perceptions of events and trends shaping global dynamics. Your feedback is anonymous and will help to inform our conversations during the CEO Dialogue 2026 and future publications.
9:30–10:15 a.m. | Session 1: Sovereign wealth funds as strategic engines of diversification
The GCC SWFs have evolved from passive investors to strategic catalysts of national development. SWF led domestic investments are now responsible for roughly half of total investment activity in the region and deliver significant returns to non-hydrocarbon GDP growth. Their portfolios increasingly emphasize futuristic sectors such as technology and renewable energy, making SWFs a central actor in the GCC’s economic reorientation.
Featuring
May Nasrallah
Chairwoman
PJT Partners Middle East
Karim Radwan
Partner and Head of Investments
Alterra
Douraid Zaghouani
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Investment Corporation of Dubai
Moderated by
Khalid Azim
Director, MENA Futures Lab
Atlantic Council
10:15 – 11:00 a.m. | Session 2: Global perspectives on the rising importance of geoeconomics in the GCC
This session will examine how states use economic means to advance strategic interests via cooperation or competition, setting the table for an evolving new paradigm on what is the true definition of the competitive advantages of nations.
Featuring
Eric Fine
Portfolio Manager
VanEck Investment
Adel Hamaizia
Chief Executive Officer
Highbridge Advisory
Moderated by
Jonathan Panikoff,
Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative
Atlantic Council
11:00–11:30 a.m. | The IMF and the MENA Region: Key Perspectives
Featuring
Jihad Azour
Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department
International Monetary Fund
11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m | Session 3: The new energy equation for data and AI growth
This session will explore the evolving dynamics of energy supply and demand, with a particular focus on the rise of alternative energy sources. It will examine how the rapid growth of AI hubs and data centers is driving increased consumption of these resources, and how today’s global fragmentation can create vulnerabilities in meeting this rising demand.
Featuring
Ilker Baburoglu
Chief Executive Officer
MedTrade Energy & Commodities
Amjad Barzandji
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
OiLSERV
Majid Jafar
Chief Executive Officer
Crescent Petroleum
Moderated by
Omar Besbes
Professor of Business and Reynolds
Columbia University
12:15–1:30 p.m. | Seated Lunch, Hosted by Majid Jafar
Calla Vista, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
1:30-2:00 p.m. | Atlantic Council’s 2026 Outlook
Featuring
Fred Kempe
President and Chief Executive Officer
Atlantic Council
2:00-2:45 p.m. | Session 4: Building capacity within an AI-driven marketplace
This session will highlight the critical importance of sustaining human capacity in an AI-driven economy. Beyond equipping individuals with the right skillsets, it will examine strategies for preparing the next generation to navigate and harness technological advances effectively. At the heart of economic progress lies innovation, and as AI adoption accelerates, ensuring the availability of the right talent is essential to developing solutions that drive societal, economic, and marketplace advancement.
Featuring
Baghdad Gherras
Chief Executive Officer
Semantic
Helmut von Struve
Chief Executive Officer, Siemens
Middle East
Moderated by
Graham Brookie
Vice President of Technology
Atlantic Council
2:45–3:45 p.m. | Session 5: Rethinking supply chains in an era of trade volatility
This session will explore how shifting trade flows are reshaping global supply chains, the implications of volatility on stability and market dynamics, and how leaders can navigate the disconnect between immediate challenges and long-term business objectives. By examining both risks and opportunities, the discussion will offer practical insights into building resilience and enhancing market positions for sustainable growth in an era of uncertainty.
Featuring
Bishoy Azmy
Founder and Global Chief Executive Officer
Innovo Group
Nicolas Hamawi
Regional Director
Red Bull Asia FZE
Ahmed Galal Ismail
Chief Executive Officer
Majid Al Futtaim Holding
Hemang Kapur
Chief Executive Officer
iContainer and Shipa Freight
Iyad Malas
Group Chief Executive Officer
Al Ghurair Group
Moderated by
Omar Besbes
Professor of Business and Reynolds
Columbia University
3:45–3:50 p.m. | Post-dialogue CEO polling
We value your insights on current perceptions of events and trends shaping global dynamics. Your feedback is anonymous and will help to inform our conversations during the CEO Dialogue 2026 and future publications.
3:50 – 4:00 p.m. | Closing remarks
Featuring
Fred Kempe
President and Chief Executive Officer
Atlantic Council
In partnership with
