Overview
Resilience and Growth
*When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.


Who we’ve invited
The Summit will bring together a high profile audience of corporate decision-makers, prominent CEOs, prominent entrepreneurs and business elite from the Middle East region and beyond.
Speakers
Agenda
08:00 Registration and networking
09:00 Chairman’s opening remarks

09:10 Emirates NBD opening remarks

09:15 Guest opening remarks: Challenges to global growth
Dr Raghuram Rajan, Economist
09:45 Strategy session
The two strategy sessions will run concurrently and participants will receive their allocation upon arrival for registration at the venue. In each session, an Economist editor will introduce the session’s topic and moderate a relevant, forward-looking and thought-provoking discussion with the approximately 50 C-suite guests.
Session 1: Frameworks for growth Against the background of geopolitical tensions, the Middle East’s economies are enacting some far-reaching fiscal reforms that could lead to robust and diversified growth. In this context, how are the region’s entrepreneurs planning to grow their business? How are the region’s businesses accessing new markets? What are the additional concerns and challenges that need to be tackled to ensure continuing future growth? What is keeping the region’s CEOs and leaders up at night?
Discussion points could include:
- How is the global geopolitical landscape affecting business operations in the Middle East?
- Have the necessary regulatory frameworks and access to funding been put into place to enable the region’s businesses to scale? Is enough being done in the region to facilitate entrepreneurial growth?
- Looking beyond the region, where are the best business opportunities to be found and what are the challenges in accessing them?
Session 2: Beating disruption The key to developing and sustaining the region is to develop local leaders, compete globally to attract the brightest talents and then retain a highly competitive workforce. As Middle Eastern economies seek to diversify from oil, is the region doing enough to attract entrepreneurs and startups? How are local companies engaging digital natives and leading the way in new technologies and innovation? What do business leaders need to understand about the millennial mindset?
Discussion points could include:
- Which entrepreneurs are at the vanguard of innovation? Is the region incubating its own global disruptors?
- How are businesses driving profits and cutting costs through digital engagement?
- Getting the most value out of their employees: in the context of digital transformation how are businesses equipping their workforce with critical skills?
- As consumers evolve, how can industries stay ahead of the trends? What do businesses need to understand about the millennial mindset to capture the next generation of consumers
10:45 Morning refreshment and networking break
11:15 Strategy session
The two strategy sessions will run concurrently and participants will receive their allocation upon arrival for registration at the venue. In each session, an Economist editor will introduce the session’s topic and moderate a relevant, forward-looking and thought-provoking discussion with the approximately 50 C-suite guests.
Session 1: Frameworks for growth Against the background of geopolitical tensions, the Middle East’s economies are enacting some far-reaching fiscal reforms that could lead to robust and diversified growth. In this context, how are the region’s entrepreneurs planning to grow their business? How are the region’s businesses accessing new markets? What are the additional concerns and challenges that need to be tackled to ensure continuing future growth? What is keeping the region’s CEOs and leaders up at night?
Discussion points could include:
- How is the global geopolitical landscape affecting business operations in the Middle East?
- Have the necessary regulatory frameworks and access to funding been put into place to enable the region’s businesses to scale? Is enough being done in the region to facilitate entrepreneurial growth?
- Looking beyond the region, where are the best business opportunities to be found and what are the challenges in accessing them?
Session 2: Beating disruption The key to developing and sustaining the region is to develop local leaders, compete globally to attract the brightest talents and then retain a highly competitive workforce. As Middle Eastern economies seek to diversify from oil, is the region doing enough to attract entrepreneurs and startups? How are local companies engaging digital natives and leading the way in new technologies and innovation? What do business leaders need to understand about the millennial mindset?
Discussion points could include:
- Which entrepreneurs are at the vanguard of innovation? Is the region incubating its own global disruptors?
- How are businesses driving profits and cutting costs through digital engagement?
- Getting the most value out of their employees: in the context of digital transformation how are businesses equipping their workforce with critical skills?
- As consumers evolve, how can industries stay ahead of the trends? What do businesses need to understand about the millennial mindset to capture the next generation of consumers
12:15 Economist debrief - ask the editors

Pratibha Thaker, Editorial and Regional Director, MEA, The Economist Intelligence Unit
Robert Willock, director, Economist Corporate Network (MENA)
12:30 Lunchtime keynote interview: Innovating through disruption
Marc Randolph, Netflix Co-Founder, Executive Mentor & Angel Investor
14:00 Networking opportunity
Venue
Jumeirah Mina A’Salam
Madinat Jumeirah Jumeira Road
Umm Suqeim 3 Dubai UAE
+971 (0) 4 366 8888
For more information on the venue, please visit Jumeirah Mina A’Salam website
Travel Assistance
please contact our dedicated representative Ms Rochelle Pereira
Rochelle@ntravel.ae or call +971 (0) 56 2165783
Contact Us
Registration and Delegate Services
If you need any assistance with your registration or if you have any questions regarding your participation as a delegate, please contact: theleadershipsummit@economist.com
General Enquiry
For any other enquiries, please contact theleadershipsummit@economist.com and we will pass this on to the relevant department

Organised by Emirates NBD
Emirates NBD is a leading banking Group in the region. As at 31st March 2018, total assets were AED 475.6 Billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 129.4 Billion). The Group has a significant retail banking franchise in the UAE and is a key participant in the global digital banking industry, with over 90 per cent of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The bank was declared the Most Innovative Financial Services Organization of the Year at the 2017 BAI Global Innovation Awards.
Programmed
by The Economist Events
