The third Women As Global Leaders Conference will begin next week

Over 2000 delegates from 60 countries from all sectors including education, government, and nongovernmental organizations all around the world are scheduled to attend the bi-annual three-day Women As Global Leaders Conference organized by Zayed University in Dubai from March 10 to 12.

The conference will be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, President of Arab Women Organization, under the theme :?Learning Leadership? .

Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim, Vice President of Zayed University, announced in a press conference held in the university?s educational center in Dubai Media City on Wednesday that H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University, will open the third Women as Global Leaders Conference.

''The gathering aims to build bridges that unite female students from around the world as participants meet with internationally renowned women leaders, share ideas, and engage in debate on 'Learning Leadership', he added.

Dr. Al Jassim stressed the importance of the conference as it focuses on women's emergent and current leadership roles across the globe as well as the practice of educating students for and about leadership, with each other and with some of the most prominent leaders in the world today, in addition to creating a connection between the emerging generation of leaders through discussing the issue of women empowerment.

He emphasized the importance of the upcoming conference in determining ways of preparing young women as future global leaders, as it includes presentations by prominent world leaders and personalities sharing ideas on the topic of leadership and interacting with submitted papers, presentations, simulations and workshops.

Key women figures will send a message to the attending students and their fellow women on how to equip themselves with knowledge and determination to be more prominent in positions of leadership and have their own vision and commitment which will make a difference. (WAM)

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$2 billion investment plan for Islamically-compliant hotels

A $2 billion plan to develop an Islamically-compliant hotel brand portfolio appealing to lifestyle travellers - both Muslim and non-Muslim - is to be outlined to potential investors.

Abdulla Mohamed Almulla, Chairman of Dubai-based Almulla Hospitality, will reveal details of a multi-brand chain of up to 90 international hotels operating under a Shari?ah supervisory board at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference that takes place in May in Dubai.

He will explain to institutional investors and high net worth individuals the company's plan to establish a hotel chain with universal Islamic codes such as no alcohol and Halal food only under the brand names of Cliftonwood, Adham and Wings.

"In less than a decade, Middle East leaders have transformed the landscape and created one of the world?s fastest growing regions, with hospitality investment at its core," Almulla said. "The Islamic hotel chain is the new wave coming through," he added.

"The market for Islamic hotels is currently fragmented due to lack of professional management and we recognise the growing need for a professionally-operated international hotel chain which operates on Islamic principles." Recent surveys have revealed plans for $3 trillion worth of tourist developments in the Middle East between now and 2020 - $1 trillion for around 900 hotels.

"We are aiming to capture between five and 10% of that growth - between 45 and 90 hotels," Almulla said.

The initial destinations targeted by Almulla Hospitality are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Malaysia and Thailand. The company is also looking to set up operations in Europe.

Almulla believes there is a huge untapped potential market for uniquely Islamic hotels as more and more Muslims travel not only for religious reasons but also for business and leisure. "The Muslim traveller market is growing around the world due to increasing wealth combined with conscious lifestyle living and represents 10% of the world tourism market - one of the fastest growing segments," he said.

Almulla will detail the business case in his presentation to potential investors at the Dubai conference. For example, travellers from the Gulf Co-operation Council countries spend over $12 billion annually on leisure travel alone, according to the World Travel Organisation.

"$3 trillion is forecast to be invested in the region?s tourism and supporting infrastructure and by 2010 outbound tourism trips from the Middle East are expected to increase to $44.8 billion, an annual growth rate of 5.5% ," Almulla added.

Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest outbound travel markets in terms of average spend with tourists from the kingdom spending $6.7 billion annually on overseas travel. Travellers from the UAE are close behind at more than $4.9 billion, an average of $1,700 per trip, which is $500 higher than the European average. (WAM)

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First International Conference on Drug Design and Discovery

About 500 of the world’s leading scientific, industrial and academic experts, including Nobel laureates, have converged at Dubai for the first International Conference on Drug Design and Discovery which began yesterday.

The conference, slated to run till February 7, was opened by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

In his opening speech, Shaikh Nahyan stressed the importance of observing clear ethical standards in drug research, discovery and industry.

“The UAE is pleased to host this international conference, which is being held in the region for the first time. Such a focused international conference to present various disciplines of drug design and discovery is important to the health and wellness of humanity. The UAE remains committed towards advancing the scientific research, as science is a global endeavour,” he said.

Shaikh Nahyan praised the achievements made by the Nobel Laureates in medicine and clinical chemistry. “Thanks to their efforts, cures for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes and probably cancer are hopefully in sight. However, we need to harness the benefits of the research and discovery for the welfare of human beings. Everybody should have a quick and global access to the necessary drugs they need,” Shaikh Nahyan said.

The minister called on all scientists working in the field of pharmaceuticals to seize the opportunities by exploiting advances in biotechnology, health informatics and biomedical engineering. “Visionary efforts combined with innovative technologies are needed in pharmaceutical research today. There is an urgent need to address the large gap between supply and demand for affordable and accessible treatment,” he concluded.

Professor Richard Ernst, chairman of organising committee and Nobel laureate, warned pharmaceutical scientists against the transformation of the drug discovery and design into a trade.

“The anticipated danger can be used as a compass so that the scientists can anticipate the consequences of their actions. As the saying goes, science without conscience can ruin the soul. We in the academic community, have to keep the boat of medicine development afloat. We need to remain optimistic because we are all jointly responsible for what we will become,” Prof Ernst maintained.

He pointed to the increasing preference for natural products in the drug discovery. “People from all over the world — Mexico, Africa, Brazil, China, European and Arab countries — are going to the nature to extract and discover the herbal drugs. There are many examples of success stories of biopharmaceuticals. The use of Enbrel has proven to be an effective therapy in chronic inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis),” Prof Ernst explained. Source

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Gulf Charity conference in Dubai

The Gulf Charitable Activities Conference organized by Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities DIACA was opened on Sunday under the theme " Charitable Work : Pioneering and Development ".

The 3-day conference, which is organized by the, is attended by a number of charity organizations in the UAE and GCC countries.

In his key note address, on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai and minister of finance, Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, chairman of lands and properties in Dubai, said " Dubai has always been supporting the needy people and the have-nots within the country and throughout the world " , pointing out the charitable works and projects conducted by the charitable foundations such as Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation , Al Maktoum Charitable Authority, Dubai charitable Society and Dar Al Birr.

He also pointed out the important roles that those charitable organizations played in supporting people affected by earth quakes, floods , wars and other catastrophes, and how they built schools, mosques, hospitals ....etc at different parts of the world.

Dr Hamad Al Shaibani, director-general of Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities DIACA said " the conference aims to show the civilized and humanitarian side of the charitable societies in the Arabian Gulf and their active participation in the social development, identifying the urgent needs of permanently stricken areas worldwide to strive to meet those demands and searching for a permanent working partnerships between diverse agencies working in the field of relief and charity".(WAM)

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Dubai to host global education conference

A major international educational conference slated to be held from January 22 to 24 in Dubai will explore the future of education in the Arabian Gulf.

Experts from the UK, Germany, the US, Jordan, Canada, India and Scandinavia will take the speaker platform at the Gulf Education Forum, which will run at the Madinat Arena from January 22-24.

The high-powered speaker panel includes Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, UAE Minister of Education, Dominic Savage, President of Worlddidac, and the global association for the education industry. Speakers also include Prof. Gerhard Preiss, Neurodidactics pioneer and Mike Lloyd, Education Marketing Manager of Microsoft UK among others.

'This is a rare opportunity for education professionals from throughout the Arabian Gulf to gain insight into the shape of education to come,' said Virginia Kern, Chairman, Fairs & Exhibitions organiser of the inaugural Global Education Forum.

The Global Education Forum takes place alongside the Gulf Educational Supplies Show (GESS), the region's premier educational supplies and solutions event and will examine key issues impacting the broad industry landscape, from how schools can become the centre of communities, to trends and perspectives in early childhood education, from new dimensions in classroom technology to the hidden dimension in educational reform.

Case studies on global successes and failures will back up the addresses as experts highlight how the Gulf can learn from experiences elsewhere.

'This is the largest investment period in educational development for generations,' said Kern. 'This is the moment to absorb knowledge from the best in the industry to ensure that the pooled experience will assist in delivering a regional education system that is second-to-none.' GESS is being held with the support of the UAE Ministry of Education. It will bring the latest international education products and technologies to local and regional education professionals as the Gulf's education sector undergoes substantial change and investment.

GESS has received tremendous response from the global education sector with large groups from the UK and Germany confirmed. The British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA) and UK Trade and Investment Support, World Didac and the DDV - The German Educational Supplies Association assisted by AUMA - the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry - have all pledged support. (WAM)

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Premiere Gathering Of Global Anti-Money Laundering Experts In Dubai

Diaz, Reus, Rolff & Targ, LLP announced that Michael Diaz, managing partner, has been invited as a speaker at the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists’ (ACAMS) Middle East-North Africa International Money Laundering Conference.
The conference is being held on December 9, 10 and 11 at the Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa in Dubai. During his presentation, Diaz will discuss hot topics relating to U.S. money laundering investigations.

Mr. Diaz’s experience includes more than 21 years as both a defense attorney and prosecutor in some of the most highly publicized investigations in Latin America relating to money laundering, fraud, and public corruption. Diaz is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and is Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated.

Diaz, Reus, Rolff & Targ, LLP is an international law firm with offices in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The Firm counsels its clients on a variety of compliance issues, with an emphasis on developing, implementing, and monitoring anti-money laundering programs. DRRT has strong and well-developed relationships with law firms, attorneys, and other professionals throughout Latin America, Europe, Hong Kong, and Dubai. From its main office in Miami, DRRT offers a global platform from which it serves its clients’ diverse needs. Whether you are defending a federal court action in New York, responding to a grand jury subpoena in Washington, D.C., or arbitrating a complex commercial dispute before Hong Kong’s International Arbitration Center, DRRT’s committed team of multi-lingual lawyers and professional staff have the depth of experience and knowledge necessary to represent your best interests. Source

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International Petroleum Technology Conference begins tomorrow

The International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) – one of the world’s foremost technical conferences for the energy industry – is set to begin tomorrow.
Over 3,000 delegates are expected to attend, including representatives from some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies.
The event will combine the strengths of the world’s four largest representative bodies of exploration and production professionals: The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE), the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). It is set to be one of the most substantial gatherings of the energy industry in the region’s history.

The conference will examine critical issues including exploration, environmental issues and solutions for the challenge of energy constraints.
Executive committee co-chairpersons, Farouk Al Zanki, Chairman and Managing Director, Kuwait Oil Co., and Tony Hayward, Group Chief Executive, BP, are both set to speak at the event, and have encouraged fellow professionals to attend.
The opening session of IPTC will include addresses from Al Zanki and Hayward, as well as dignitaries from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman. This will be followed by over 50 technical sessions, special panels on climate change, and a series of panel discussions featuring leading industry experts.
“A Changing World – Interdependence, Innovation and Implementation,” will take place 4–6 December 2007at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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Energy policy throws up key challenges for world economy

Major Global Conference Considers Core Strategic and Geopolitical Concerns
Global awareness of the significance of energy policy has increased worldwide, a major gathering of energy industry professionals will hear at the International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC), held in Dubai next month.
According to the 2007 BP statistical review, 35 percent of global energy consumption the previous year was oil-based. This study was preceded by a 19-nation BBC World Service poll in which large majorities opined that current energy use was a potential threat to future peace and prosperity. Taken together, the findings indicate widespread public unease with energy policy.
For Dr. Ibrahim Abou-Sayed, Advantek International Corp Vice President and Managing Director, Middle East Region: “Research shows that the international energy market relies on the work of petroleum professionals, amid public perceptions best characterised as widespread unease. This high-level, international conference is a welcome opportunity to address these issues.”
The level of consumption obliges energy professionals to collaborate on billion dollar projects that can satisfy the continuing demand for the fossil fuel, especially from the air and road transport industries. Simultaneously, the backdrop of heightened risk awareness necessitates boosting public confidence, both in large-scale oil projects and in the personnel development of the industry itself.
A number of key energy policy themes will be discussed at ITPC. Delegates will hear senior industry representatives debating “Billion-Dollar Project Execution: Interdependence & Innovation”.
In the long term, adequate recruiting, developing and retaining skilled young people, while boosting the prestige of energy industry professions, could provide an antidote to the uncertainty surrounding energy policy. This message will form part of “Meeting our Global Responsibilities to People and the Industry”, a panel involving Imperial College, London; ExxonMobil; BP; and Schlumberger. Source

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Dubai to host petroleum technology conference in December

A group of renowned energy experts from around the world will meet in Dubai on 4th December to discuss the petroleum technology and the global trends in the foreign investments for developing sustainable energy.
The three-day conference will see the energy experts explore the theme of new forms of sustainable energy, and discuss investment potentials for production of more oil to face future issues of inadequate supply.
The high level conference is expected to present a comprehensive programme to face major challenges posed in the oil industry on the global level. Source

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ECSSR's Gulf Energy Conference

Colonel Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Vital Installations Protection Authority, opened on Monday the 13th Annual Energy Conference.

The three-day energy forum is being organised by the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) under the theme : Future Gulf Energy Sources: Hydrocarbon, Nuclear or Renewable. Source

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Dubai to host International Petroleum Technology Conference

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) will host the International Petroleum Technology Conference to be held from 4 to 6 December this year.
The conference which brings together international industry experts from around the world will be held under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The gathering will shed light on the challenges faced by energy production worldwide and explore the role of international agencies in overcoming the obstacles faced by the industry. It will also explore the extent to which cooperation, discussion and shared learning will enable everyone to address the issues relating to energy in the modern world.
According to the Energy Information Administration affiliated to US government, energy prices are to remain high during 2008 due to limited supply, and this poses an additional group of challenges before the world energy industry. Source

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MEED's Rail Conference to discuss urban rail networks

MEED's 4th Middle East Rail Projects Conference 2007 will take place on Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 October at the Park Hyatt, Dubai.
The two day event will bring together regional and international leaders to share the latest industry trends and provide fresh intelligence on integrating urban and inter-urban rail networks.
In the past three years the MENA region has experienced an unprecedented rail boom with over $30 billion being invested, as rapid population growth and increasing road-traffic congestion have encouraged governments to take a serious look at light and mass transportation.
In the last 12 months alone, construction on the Dubai Light Rail project - also known as the Dubai Metro - has really gathered pace, tenders for the Saudi Land bridge project have been issued and awards have been made on the multi-billion-dollar minerals railway, also in the Kingdom.

Edmund O'Sullivan, MEED Events Chairman, says: "Funding is key.
Finding a reliable source of finance has always been the main challenge in the development of rail projects, not just to cover the capital construction cost but also for the day-to-day running of the systems. Rising oil and gas prices mean that governments now have the liquidity to finance these huge infrastructure projects.
'Having this stream of finance in place, combined with an unprecedented willingness to invest in rail-based transport systems, heralds a new era for rail in the region. At Middle East Rail Projects 2007 we will look at the big picture of how best to develop an integrated process in regional rail systems, and allow our international delegates and speakers to meet one another face-to-face to forge new and effective working relationships.' The event, sponsored by the leading international legal practice Herbert Smith, and now in its fourth successful year, will feature keynote speakers including Eng. Mourhaf Sabhouni, Director General of Arab Union of Railways, providing a comprehensive overview of existing and planned railways in the Middle East, Sultan Al-Ghanim, Director of Transport, GCC - Secretariat General, who will provide a status report on the region's most ambitious rail project, the planned GCC Railway, and Abdulredha Abu Al-Hassan, Director of Planning, RTA DUBAI on the Dubai Metro project. Source

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Middle East Jet Fuel Conference in Dubai

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), the Dubai Government owned diversified Energy Group, hosted the Middle East Jet Fuel Conference on April 18, 2007, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai. Organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE & Ruler of Dubai, the event was held in conjunction with MPGC 2007.

Events like the Middle East Jet Fuel Conference are immensely beneficial by providing the industry with a common platform to discuss key issues and exchange ideas.

The Middle East is currently in an unprecedented economic boom and the aviation sector is at its forefront. Jet fuel is the lifeblood of the aviation industry.

The conference covered key topics including the trends in Aviation Fuel Business, Airport expansion and fuelling requirements, trading of jet fuel futures, management of fuel costs and ways to look at meeting the supply chain challenges within the Aviation Industry.

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Health Minister inaugurates ADDEX 2007 conference

Health Minister, Humaid Al Qattami, inaugurated here today at the Emirates Palace Hotel an international conference on disabled persons. The conference, which is part of the activities of the Abu Dhabi International Disability Exhibition & Conference (ADDEX2007), which opened yesterday and runs until March 23, 2007, is being organised by Dolphin Conferences and Exhibitions, under the auspices of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women's Union.In a keynote address, the minister expressed profound gratitude to Shaikha Fatima for sponsoring the unique event, which, he said, reflects her deep concern for this segment of the society.This, he added, is based on Shaikha Fatima's deep belief on the need for them to overcome this obstacle to enable them make meaningful contributions to the national development drive.He said the conference also reflects the importance attached to the disabled persons by both government and private sectors through their continuous support for the disabled persons, adding that the UAE continues to give all the necessary support for this category of the society as part of the national programme to get them involved in the country's social, health and educational programmes. Source WAM

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Hawala conference debates best approach to regulation.

The challenges of establishing a sustainable system for isolating those who misuse informal funds transfer (IFT) systems, such as Hawala, has been the main theme of the conference on Hawala, organized by the Central Bank of the UAE.The conference, which is being held in Abu Dhabi from 18-20 March, heard from regulators, academic specialists, law enforcement officers and financial institutions, who related their experiences in dealing with the various elements of IFT systems and debated the potential solutions.More than 300 local and international representatives from many countries attended the event, which is fourth on Hawala to be organized by the Central Bank. These conferences have been instrumental in increasing understanding of IFT systems and led the debate on the best way to bring them into the regulatory system.There was broad agreement that the goal should be to establish a system of regulation that encouraged the informal system to provide regulators with more information while ensuring that law enforcement agencies were able to act against those who used it to finance money laundering and other criminal activities.At the start of the conference, His Excellency Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, said that more regulations should be devised and introduced to isolate further those who misused the Hawala system. Representatives also heard from some regulators who stressed the importance of having a system which monitored the activities of those, including Hawaladars, involved in the informal transfer of funds.However, some other regulators and law enforcement agencies said that tighter regulations made it easier to track down those who were misusing the system for money laundering, terrorist finance and other illegal activities.Academics and those involved in providing development support for poorer economies provided detailed research into the way IFT systems operated, showing the importance of effective, affordable remittance systems to the world's poorest economies. And private financial institutions showed how they were trying to offer new types of money transfer that could compete with informal systems on cost, speed and exchange rates. Source WAM

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Aviation Procurement And Finance Conference

Organisers of the Aviation Procurement and Finance Conference to be held later this month in Abu Dhabi have announced that leading aerospace company and aircraft manufacturer Boeing is the platinum sponsor of the event.The three-day conference is part of the Aviation Procurement Expo (APEX), which takes place from March 19 – 21 in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and will feature key industry experts from around the world.This new event, organised by Streamline Marketing Group, has been commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Government and is central to its plans to establish the UAE capital as a world-class aviation hub.James Hogan, CEO of the UAE’s national airline Etihad Airways, will be keynote speaker at the conference, which focuses on procurement issues facing modern airlines. Etihad is one of the fastest growing airlines in aviation history and is playing a major role in the development of Abu Dhabi’s aviation industry.The Aviation Procurement and Finance Conference will also feature presentations by heads of procurement and finance from major airlines around the world, including British Airways and Emirates, as well as industry experts from companies such as Rolls-Royce, international management consultancy Mott MacDonald and global corporate law firm Norton Rose. Around 200 delegates from international airlines and related industry sectors are expected to attend and topics will include financing options for fleet expansion, Islamic financing of aircraft, strategic sourcing in the aviation sector and fuel procurement. Delegates can also take part in a final-day workshop run by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, UK, which looks at effective risk management and negotiation strategies in purchasing. Continue to the full story from Source.

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