Speakers

His Excellency Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori is the Chairman of Dubai Chambers and Chairman of  Dubai Chamber of Commerce.  

In addition to his roles at Dubai Chambers, H.E. Al Mansoori serves as Chairman of the Emirati Human  Resources Development Council in Dubai, Chairman of the Postal Sector Regulation Committee, Chairman  of the Supreme Committee for Hosting the 28th UPU Congress in Dubai 2025 and member of board of the  Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), Prior to joining Dubai Chambers, H.E. Al Mansoori held a number of  key ministerial roles in the UAE government. Between 2008 and 2020, His Excellency served as Minister of  the Economy. Previously, he held the posts of Minister of Governmental Sector Development and Minister of  Transport and Communications. 

Throughout his career, His Excellency has held senior leadership roles at high-profile public and private  organisations, as well as driving the success of impactful national initiatives. He has served as Chairman of  the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, the UAE international Investors Council, the UAE SME  Council, the Board of Directors of the Securities and Commodities Authority, and the Insurance Authority. 

In addition, H.E. Al Mansoori held the post of Chairman at the Federal Civil Aviation Authority, the Dubai  Islamic Economy Development Centre, and the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology. He has  also served as a member of the Education and Human Resources Council, the Board of Directors of the  Emirates Investment Authority, and the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. 

H.E. Al Mansoori held the role of Deputy Director General of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry from  1996 and 1998. Other notable previous posts include Group Managing Director of Saeed & Mohammed Al  Naboodah Group, Vice President of Dubai Islamic Bank, and Chairman of Aman (Dubai Islamic Insurance  Company).  

His Excellency holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and management systems from Arizona  State University, USA. He also gained a diploma in computer system analysis from the Institute of Computer  Technology in Los Angeles, California.

His Excellency Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah is the President and CEO of Dubai Chambers,  one of the largest economic development arms in Dubai. In his current role, he oversees the  implementation of Dubai Chambers’ strategic initiatives and plans, which aim to improve the  ease of doing business in Dubai, support businesses expanding globally, attract foreign  companies and investment, and advance the digital economy. 

In addition to his current role at Dubai Chambers, His Excellency serves as a member of the board  at the Dubai Free Zones Council and Emirati Human Resources Development Council and is a  member of the University of Dubai Board of Trustees and a member of the board of Union Coop. 

Previously, he served as CEO of the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection for Dubai’s  Department of Economy and Tourism, where he was responsible for overseeing consumer  protection, business protection, intellectual property protection, and commercial compliance.  
His Excellency also held several other leadership positions at the Department of Economic  Development, namely Deputy CEO of the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection  Sector, Deputy CEO of the Dubai Export Development Corporation, Executive Director of  Corporate Quality and Excellence, and Deputy Director of the Information Technology  Department at Dubai Land Department. 

H.E. Lootah earned a bachelor’s degree in computer systems engineering from Arizona State  University in the United States and an executive MBA in strategic management from the Higher  Colleges of Technology in Dubai. 

Her Excellency Amna Almheiri was appointed Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in New York in August 2021. In this role, she advances UAE–US relations by strengthening economic, cultural, and educational partnerships across New York and the eastern United States. She also serves as a liaison for US government and corporate leaders and as a resource for UAE nationals living on the East Coast.

Her Excellency joined the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2005 and served at the UAE’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York until 2010, where she represented the UAE in the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee on human rights.

Upon returning to Abu Dhabi in 2010, she helped establish the Human Rights Department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, later becoming its Director. In that capacity, she oversaw the UAE’s engagement with the UN Human Rights Council and led the country’s Universal Periodic Review process.

From 2017 to 2018, she served with the UAE’s National Media Council in Brussels, where she managed public diplomacy initiatives across Europe.

Her Excellency holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the American University of Sharjah and a Master’s in Global Finance from The New School in New York. She resides in New York with her husband and four children.

As Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC) at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Hadi Badri is responsible for leading the DEDC team in orchestrating the implementation of projects related to the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’. As the economic development arm of Dubai, DEDC is mandated to enhance Dubai’s economic competitiveness across sectors, diversify the emirate’s economy, attract foreign investment and global talent, and develop initiatives that focus on fostering innovation and driving Dubai’s digital economy.

Hadi also serves a member of the board of directors of the Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), one of the leading banks in the UAE. And, Chairman of Network International UAE Board, one  of the Middle East and Africa’s largest and leading digital payments company.

Prior to joining DET, Hadi held various management roles at Emaar Properties, including as CEO of Emaar International, Group Chief Strategy Officer at Emaar and Chairman of Namshi. Hadi was a Principal at Bain & Company, where he led a range of complex strategy and organization projects across industries.

He was also an investment professional at The Carlyle Group and Dubai International Capital. Hadi has served as a Board Director for Emaar Properties as well as Namshi (Fashion E-commerce) and Rove Hotels (Hospitality).

Hadi has also previously served as a Board Director at Sandooq Al Watan and Rivoli Group and as a Member of Investment Advisory Committees at Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) and Carlyle MENA Partners.

Hadi is an honors graduate in Economics from Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA.

Abdulla Al Hashmi leads DP World’s Parks & Zones pillar in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. In this role, he oversees key assets including Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), Dubai Auto Zone (DAZ), National Industries Park (NIP), Dubai Maritime City, the re-development of Mina Rashid and Jafza Enterprises.

Joining DP World’s commercial department in 2010, Abdulla has held numerous leadership roles, playing a key part in positioning the business as a global smart trade enabler.

With more than 16 years of experience in finance and commerce, Abdulla has spearheaded the execution of large-scale mergers, acquisitions and greenfield deals. As a senior member of the Corporate Finance and Business Development teams, he also informed investment strategies to support the group’s transformation from a port operator to a global trade enabler.

Abdulla previously held the position of Vice President of Business Intelligence, where he was responsible for implementing a data-driven approach to addressing supply chain disruptions, supporting DP World’s business growth and enhancing the trade competitiveness of Jebel Ali and Dubai.

A seasoned industry professional, Abdulla serves as Director on several DP World boards and other entities.

Amna Nawaz serves as co-anchor and co-managing editor of PBS News Hour.

Prior to joining PBS News Hour in April 2018, Nawaz was an anchor and correspondent at ABC News, anchoring breaking news coverage and leading the network’s livestream coverage of the 2016 presidential election. Before that, she served as foreign correspondent and Islamabad Bureau Chief at NBC News. She is also the founder and former managing editor of NBC’s Asian America platform, built in 2014, to elevate stories from America’s fastest-growing and most diverse population.

At the News Hour, Nawaz has reported from the White House, across the country, and around the world on a range of topics including politics, immigration, foreign affairs, education, gun violence, criminal justice reform, the climate, culture, and sports.

She also serves as an NBC News and MSNBC contributor.

Throughout her career, she has covered major events such as the January 6th attacks on the U.S. Capitol; the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas; the elections and inaugurations of President Joe Biden, President Donald J. Trump, and President Barack Obama; Hurricane Katrina; the 2010 Haiti earthquake; the U.S. war in Afghanistan; and the September 11th attacks.

Nawaz has interviewed multiple heads of state and international leaders including Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. She has interviewed numerous lawmakers and administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. Nawaz has also interviewed newsmakers across industries, including acclaimed director Ava Duvernay, actor Riz Ahmed, WNBA star Sue Bird, and country singer Reba McEntire.

Nawaz has also received four Peabody Awards for News Hour team coverage of some of the biggest stories of our time: in 2024 – reporting from Israel after the Hamas October 7th attack; in 2023 – reporting from Uvalde, Texas after the mass school shooting as part of a gun violence series; in 2021 - reporting from outside the U.S. Capitol during live coverage of the January 6th insurrection; and in 2019 - for an in-depth look at our global plastic pollution problem.

Her other documentaries include “Raising the Future,” a 2021 documentary on America’s childcare crisis; and 2022’s “Life After Lockup,” which followed the lives of four formerly-incarcerated people to track the challenges of re-entry after prison.

In 2020, Nawaz hosted a criminal justice podcast, “Broken Justice,” which was named a finalist for the Silver Gavel Awards, honoring work that fosters the American public’s understanding of law and the legal system. She also hosted 2021’s “The Longest Year,” a pandemic-focused podcast series on the many ways Covid-19 changed Americans’ lives.

Nawaz has hosted three seasons of the primetime PBS series, “Beyond the Canvas,” featuring profiles and interviews of some of the world’s leading artists, musicians, and creators.

In 2019, Nawaz became the first Asian American and the first Muslim American to moderate a presidential debate.

While at ABC News, Nawaz hosted the documentary, “Roberts County: A Year in the Most Pro-Trump Town,” following four families’ lives over President Trump’s first year in office. She also hosted the podcast series, “Uncomfortable” for ABC News Radio, featuring in-depth, one-on-one conversations with thought leaders on the issues dividing America.

While at NBC News, she was the first foreign journalist to gain access to North Waziristan – then the global hub of Al Qaida and the Taliban - while pregnant with her first daughter.

Nawaz was a Fall 2021 Fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Asian American Journalists Association, the South Asian Journalists Association, and the Inter-American Dialogue.

In 2024, Nawaz was the recipient of the Diversity Woman Media’s Pioneer Award, as well as the Women’s Foreign Policy Group’s Breaking Barriers in Journalism Award. In 2023, Nawaz was named an A100 honoree by Gold House. She was the recipient of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ Vision Award and the Media Award from the Muslim Affairs Public Council’s Media Award in 2022. She has also been honored with the American Muslim Institution’s Excellence in Media Award in 2018 and an Emmy award as part the 2009 NBC News Special “Inside the Obama White House.”

She is the first-generation American daughter of Pakistani parents, born and raised in Virginia. Nawaz earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where she captained the varsity field hockey team and studied abroad at the University of Zimbabwe. She later earned her master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

She lives with her husband, Paul, and their two daughters in the Washington, D.C. area.

Tony is the EY Managing Partner for the UAE and has lived in Dubai since 1998.  

During his time in the Emirates he has had a particular focus on advising sovereign wealth funds, real estate developers and family groups.   He has also advised numerous multinational organisations on establishing a presence in the UAE and on transactions where UAE investors have invested globally. 

He has also consulted globally with organisations looking to better understand the UAE business environment and means of building successful business relationships in the UAE and has worked with the Government of Dubai on a number of initiatives to increase the investment attractiveness of Dubai.

He is a frequent speaker on business topics in the UAE and has completed executive training from Harvard Business School, INSEAD and London Business School.

Tony is also a member of the Dubai Chambers International Advisory Board and is passionate about the development of young Emiratis and their integration into the private sector.

Arjun is the Founder and CEO of TENDERD, an AI powered platform transforming the energy, logistics, and construction sectors. TENDERD reduces emissions, increases efficiency, and minimizes accidents during the course of equipment and site operations. TENDERD is backed by notable investors such as Y Combinator, Peter Thiel, and Aramco. His vision is to leverage technology to sustainably build humanity’s future by orchestrating and automating machines. Arjun is also an advisory council member for the Dubai Chambers of Digital Economy and collaborates with the World Economic Forum as an innovation partner. Before founding TENDERD, he founded a technology firm in San Francisco focusing on AI models to help online publishers make informed decisions. He completed his Bachelor's at the University of Toronto and his Master's at the Richard Ivey School of Business. Outside of work, Arjun enjoys golfing and hiking.

Arshad Ghafur is Bank of America's President for the Middle East & North Africa. He is responsible for the firm's MENA operations and drives the regional strategy across capital markets, corporate and investment banking, treasury services, and research. He is on the Board of Merrill Lynch KSA and serves on Bank of America's EMEA Sustainability Strategic Council.

Under Arshad's leadership, Bank of America has been one of the most active global banks in the Middle East, evidenced by a number of significant transactions: the IPOs of Saudi Aramco, ADNOC Distribution, Empower, Salik, and Dubai Taxi; the sale of the PIF stake in SABIC to ARAMCO; ADNOC's monetisation of its oil & gas pipelines; Silk Road Fund's investments in ARAMCO's oil & gas pipelines; and PureHealth's acquisitions of Circle Health and Hellenic Healthcare Group (the largest private healthcare groups in the UK and Greece, respectively).
Bank of America has supported strategic investment activity for key clients across the region and has consistently been ranked the market leading Equities, FICC, and Research platform in MENA (#1 MENA Equities by volume traded).

Arshad has lived in the UAE for 28 years and serves as an advisor to various regional government officials and entities as a member of working groups contributing towards national development. H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, appointed him to the Higher Board of the DIFC. He also sits on the Board of the US.UAE. Business Council which is chaired by H.E. Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Deputy Group CEO of Mubadala. He was recently appointed, by Royal Decree, to the Board of Directors of the Dubai International Chamber.
Prior to joining Bank of America in 2012, Arshad spent 15 years at Lehman Brothers/Nomura where he was Head of Investment Banking for the Middle East & Africa and CEO of NomuraQ.

Arshad is a strong proponent of literacy and education. He supports a number of initiatives in developing countries sponsored by NGOs and charitable foundations such as Education for Employment (EFE) where Bank of America was recently recognised as a Strategic Partner and Arab Excellence. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Injaz Al-Arab, a non-profit organisation that promotes education and training in the Middle East and Africa under three pillars: workforce readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. He is also a collector of South Asian Art and has been a proponent of Bank of America's support of art & culture in the Middle East.

Bassel is the Chief Business Officer at Careem, where he leads strategic partnerships, corporate development, value creation, and business development. He also oversees Careem Ads and the company’s Corporate Affairs, playing a key role in shaping growth initiatives and external relationships across the region.

Since joining Careem in 2016 as one of its earliest management hires, Bassel has been at the forefront of the company’s expansion journey. He initially held the position of Vice President of Business Development and Government Relations, managing strategic partnerships and corporate sales across the region while working closely with governments to develop favorable regulatory frameworks. He later became Managing Director of Verticals, where he led Careem’s flagship businesses - Food and Groceries - while also overseeing additional ventures such as Box, Shops, and Bike. Among his notable achievements is the co-creation and launch of Hala, the world’s first ride-hailing public-private joint venture between a tech company and a government transport authority (Careem and Dubai’s RTA), setting a global precedent in smart mobility collaboration.

Through his work at Careem, Bassel aims to create an impact on people’s lives, support organizations, and drive tech-leading initiatives in the region he proudly calls home, all while embracing the company’s purpose and people.

Raised in the UAE, Bassel has over a decade of experience in management consulting and investment management, having worked with firms across the Middle East and the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Outside of work, Bassel is an avid sports enthusiast with a particular love for basketball - both on and off the court.

Mr. Diamond is Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Merchant Capital and is based in New York. Until 2012, Mr. Diamond was Chief Executive of Barclays, having previously held the position of President of Barclays and was responsible for Barclays Capital and Barclays Global Investors (“BGI”). He became an executive director of Barclays in 2005 and was a member of the Barclays Executive Committee since 1997.
Prior to Barclays, Mr. Diamond held senior executive positions at Credit Suisse First Boston and Morgan Stanley in the United States, Europe and Asia. Mr. Diamond worked at Credit Suisse First Boston from 1992 to 1996, where his roles included Vice Chairman and Head of Global Fixed Income and Foreign Exchange in New York, as well as Chairman, President and CEO of Credit Suisse First Boston Pacific. Mr. Diamond worked at Morgan Stanley from 1979 to 1992, including as the Head of European and Asian Fixed Income Trading.
Mr. Diamond is a Life Trustee and the former Chair of the Colby College Board of Trustees, member of the Yale SOM Council of Global Advisors, a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and Vice Chair of the Impact Through Golf Foundation. A native of Concord, Massachusetts, Mr. Diamond holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College in Maine and a Masters degree from the University of Connecticut. He was awarded Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Connecticut and Doctor of Laws from Colby College.

Mr. Hamed Ali was appointed as CEO of DFM on 8th of November 2021. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Hamed Ali has served as Deputy CEO of DFM from July 2020. He is also leading Nasdaq Dubai as the CEO since 2012.

In these roles, he develops and implements the expansion of existing markets and activities at both exchanges and is creating new areas of growth, building on the synergies between DFM and Nasdaq Dubai.

Under his leadership Nasdaq Dubai launched equity derivatives on UAE stocks in 2016 and on Saudi stocks in 2019.

Nasdaq Dubai has become one of the largest exchanges in the world for Sukuk listings. It is the largest exchange in the Middle East for US dollar-denominated bond listings, many of them from Chinese and other international issuers as well as GCC issuers. Under Mr. Ali’s direction Nasdaq Dubai has also pioneered the UAE’s listed REITs market. The exchange’s MarketSite event space, launched in 2018, has become a leading venue for thought leadership and media activity.

Mr. Hamed Ali was previously Executive Director of Nasdaq Dubai from 2006 to 2008. His experience includes serving as Chief Operating Officer of DIFC Authority and most recently as Executive Director at the Dubai Knowledge & Human Development Authority.

Mr. Hamed Ali played a key role in the development of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 and participated in various strategy development exercises. He holds an Executive MBA from London Business School, a B.Sc. in Applied Computing from Leeds Metropolitan University, and a Master Certificate in Project Management.

Jared Cohen is President of Global Affairs and Co-Head of the Goldman Sachs Global Institute. He is a member of the Management Committee and the Firmwide Client Franchise Committee. Mr. Cohen joined Goldman Sachs as a Partner in 2022.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cohen was Chief Executive Officer of Jigsaw, which he founded at Alphabet Inc. in 2016. In this role, his work focused on applying frontier technology to the greatest challenges facing humanity. Before that, Mr. Cohen was Google’s first Director of Ideas and Chief Advisor to Google’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, Eric Schmidt. From 2006 to 2010, he served as a member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff and as a close advisor to both Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton.

Mr. Cohen is a New York Times bestselling author of six books, including One Hundred Days of Silence: America and the Rwanda Genocide; Children of Jihad; The New Digital Age: Transforming Nations, Business, and Our Lives, co-authored with Eric Schmidt; Accidental Presidents: Eight Men Who Changed America; Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House; and the children’s book Speaking of America: United States Presidents and the Words That Changed History.

Mr. Cohen is a member and adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, and a member of the Trilateral Commission.

John Caplan is the CEO and Director of Payoneer. He is an executive, investor, and entrepreneur with a proven track record of scaling companies in the digital economy. Previously, he served as President of North America and Europe at Alibaba.com, the cross-border B2B business unit of Alibaba Group. In this role, he helped lead its transformation into one of Alibaba Group’s fastest-growing and most profitable units.

Caplan joined Alibaba in 2017 following its acquisition of OpenSky, an SMB software platform he founded in 2009 that enabled e-commerce SMBs to optimize their distribution across marketplaces. He was also previously Chief Executive Officer of Ford Models, Inc., a fashion talent agency, and Chief Marketing Officer of About.com, an internet publishing business.

Jon Clifton serves as the CEO of Gallup, the global analytics and advisory firm. His mission is to connect one billion individuals with their unique strengths, assist organizations in fostering thriving workplaces, and help eight billion of the world’s citizens be heard through the Gallup World Poll, a century-long project spanning over 150 countries. After joining Gallup in 2008, Clifton rose to the position of Global Managing Partner in the firm’s consulting division, leveraging behavioral economics to advise leaders.

His 2022 book, “Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness,” achieved Wall Street Journal bestseller status. Clifton has also contributed to notable platforms like The Economist, BBC, and the Harvard Business Review. He holds a board position at Gallup and has formerly been a board member for Meridian International, Streetwise Partners, and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy.

Educationally, Clifton earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor specializing in international law from the University of Nebraska. He holds a senior fellowship at Baylor University for the Institute for the Studies of Religion and has been recognized with honorary doctorates from Midland University, the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, and Western New England University.

Jose Minaya is Global Head of BNY Investments and Wealth. He is also a member of BNY’s Executive Committee.

Jose joined BNY in 2024 from Nuveen, where he was CEO of the asset manager of TIAA, and responsible for the firm’s strategy and operations to deliver clients with diverse investment capabilities and solutions. Jose previously served as Nuveen’s President and CIO, with oversight of Nuveen’s global investment business including equities, fixed income, real estate, private markets, natural resources, other alternatives and responsible investments. Prior to that, he led TIAA’s global real assets division where he set strategy and developed investment capabilities across real estate, agriculture, timber, infrastructure, energy and alternative credit strategies. He joined TIAA in 2004, with more than 25 years of investment experience at firms including AIG, Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan.

He is on the Board of Trustees of Manhattan College, where he earned a bachelor’s in finance, and the Board of Advisors of the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, where he earned an MBA. In addition, he serves on the boards of multiple companies and charitable organizations, including Moody’s, the Investment Company Institute, the Investment Committee of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and as chair of the Governing Board of Directors of the Robert Toigo Foundation.

Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi is the Assistant Executive Chairman for Investments & Partnerships at the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZA), where he plays a key role in advancing Dubai’s vision to become a global hub for innovation and sustainable economic growth. With deep expertise in economic development and foreign direct investment, he drives strategies that accelerate ecosystem growth across DIEZ’s zones, including the Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA), Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), and Dubai CommerCity.

At DIEZ, Dr. Al Matrooshi aligns investments and partnerships with Dubai’s strategic priorities, including the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and the Urban Master Plan 2040. His leadership focuses on driving high-value investment opportunities, advancing emerging technologies, and strengthening ecosystem governance, positioning DIEZ’s zones as world-class destinations for startups, SMEs, and multinational corporations.

Beyond his executive responsibilities, Dr. Al Matrooshi represents the Dubai Government at the general assemblies and committees. He is the Assistant to the Secretary General of the Dubai Free Zone Council, Board Member of Oraseya Capital, and is a member of the UAE Economic Acceleration Unit. Dr. Juma Almatrooshi is the former Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis; he is also a former Board Member of the World Free Zones Organization; He has previously contributed to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce’s Trademark Committee, the Dubai Marketing & Tourism Development Board, and the UAE Banking Institute’s Insurance Brokerage Committee.

Dr. Al Matrooshi joined Dubai Silicon Oasis in December 2006, where he was instrumental in transforming the zone into Dubai’s leading knowledge and innovation district. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at the Dubai Economic Department (DED), managing commercial licensing operations and developing regulatory frameworks that strengthened Dubai’s business environment.

He holds a Doctorate in General Management from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, and an MBA in Business Development from Western University, Michigan, USA.

Justin B. Smith is the Founder & CEO of Semafor. Prior to starting Semafor, Justin was the CEO of Bloomberg Media.

After joining Bloomberg Media in 2013, Justin led an aggressive transformation of Bloomberg Media's business and built a modern media company driven by innovation-led growth. Under his leadership, Bloomberg Media achieved record revenue results. Justin and his team led the launch and expansion of major global initiatives including: Bloomberg Quicktake, a 24/7 premium global streaming video news network; the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, an annual convening of over 500 of the most influential public and private sector leaders from around the world; a digital subscription business which continues to outpace expectations; and new global media brands including Bloomberg Green, Bloomberg CityLab, and Bloomberg Wealth.

Prior to Bloomberg, Justin was President of Atlantic Media, where he led a dramatic revitalization of The Atlantic and founded the award-winning global digital brand, Quartz. Previously, Justin served as President and Publisher of The Week magazine, and prior to that led corporate strategy at The Economist Group. He received his B.S from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He is also co-founder of the Bali Purnati Center for the Arts, a member of the 2013 class of Henry Crown Fellows, and a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation.

In 2022, The Hollywood Reporter named Justin one of “Most Powerful People in New York Media” alongside Semafor Editor-in-Chief, Ben Smith.

Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni is a leading figure in emerging technologies, serving as CEO of AI for Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC). His appointment is part of Dubai's ambitious 'Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence', which aims to position the city as a global leader in AI innovation and implementation.

In his role at DET, Dr. Al Zarouni works closely with both the public and private sector to roll out policies and initiatives to harness AI to enhance the quality of life for Dubai's residents and enrich visitor experiences. As the CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC), he has been instrumental in driving blockchain adoption in the region. With over two decades of experience in technology, information security, digital forensics, and AI, he has driven significant advancements in blockchain adoption and AI innovation.

As a founding member of the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) and the Artificial Intelligence Ethical Committee (AIEC), Dr. Al Zarouni is recognized globally, including being named one of the top 100 influential figures in blockchain and cryptocurrencies by CoinTelegraph in 2022. His contributions to the field have also earned him a place as a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Cryptocurrencies from 2020 to 2021.

Matt Higgins is one of the preeminent venture investors in next-generation technology companies and beloved consumer brands. Created alongside Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, RSE Ventures has built an expansive multibillion-dollar investment portfolio of over 100 leading brands and unicorns across sports and entertainment, media and marketing, consumer, and technology industries – including VaynerMedia, Momofuku, and Magnolia Bakery.

Higgins became the first Shark to appear on the U.S. and Dubai versions of iconic TV series Shark Tank. Higgins serves as an Executive Fellow at the Harvard Business School, co-teaching the course Moving Beyond Direct-to-Consumer, the leading course on direct-to-consumer brands in the United States.

May Nasrallah is the Chairwoman of PJT Partners (MENA) and Partner at PJT Partners. Prior to fully integrating deNovo Partners into PJT Partners on October 1, 2024, Ms. Nasrallah was the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of deNovo Partners, a financial advisory firm she established in 2010, with offices in Dubai and Riyadh. Under her leadership, deNovo Partners became a premier boutique advisory firm in the Middle East, serving a broad range of clients including SWFs, GREs, PEs, multinationals, corporates and family groups, advising on over 100 transactions, including the region’s two largest private sector M&A transactions in 2024.

Before founding deNovo, Ms. Nasrallah spent over 15 years at Morgan Stanley in New York, Hong Kong, London and finally Dubai, where she established and led the firm’s investment banking efforts in the MENA region. Ms. Nasrallah previously served as Non-Executive Chairwoman to BlackRock in the Middle East from 2020 to 2022. Ms. Nasrallah also serves as Independent Board Member of The Dubai International Chamber, DMCC, YBA Kanoo Holding and other non-profit organizations such as ABANA, LIFE and MEI.

Ms. Nasrallah is a recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including being ranked one of the Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen in 2023 and 2024 by Forbes Magazine.

Ms. Nasrallah holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a Master's in Finance from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

Mr. Koester is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of 5C Investment Partners.  Based in New York City, 5C is a private credit investing firm that commenced operations in 2024 with over $1.4 billion of long-term capital for investment. With an initial focus on direct lending, 5C is growing quickly, scaling its platform and private credit investment activities. 5C takes a long-term approach to working with our partners, including with our announced partnerships with Michael Dell’s family office (Dell Family Office), Liberty Mutual Investments, among other leading investors.  Mr. Koester founded 5C with his long-time colleague, Tom Connolly, former Partner and Global Head of Private Credit in the Merchant Banking Division at Goldman Sachs.  

Prior to founding 5C, Mr. Koester was a Partner and the Co-President of Alternatives in the Asset Management business of Goldman Sachs, where he oversaw the firm's direct Private Credit, Private Equity, Growth Equity, Infrastructure, Real Estate and Sustainability investing strategies, which collectively had over $200 billion of assets under management. During his 25 years at Goldman Sachs, Mr. Koester held numerous other senior leadership roles, including Co-Founder and Co-Head of Alternatives Capital Markets and Strategy, which oversaw the distribution of alternative investment products firmwide, and Chief Commercial Officer, Co-Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of the Merchant Banking Division, and served on the Merchant Banking Division Investment Committee since 2006. Mr. Koester was an investment professional in the Merchant Banking Division from 2000 to 2006.

Mr. Koester received a B.A. in Economics from Colby College, where he is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, where he is a member of the Board of Advisors. Mr. Koester lives in New York with his wife and four children.

Mohamad Ballout is the co-founder and CEO of Kitopi, the region's largest operator of fast casual restaurants. Founded in the UAE, in 2018, Kitopi’s purpose is to satisfy the world’s appetite to create joy.

Mona is a serial visionary entrepreneur, transformational leader, Investor, Board member, UN advocate and ecosystem builder. Mona has spent over two decades pioneering category-defining businesses across the MENA region.

She is best known as the Founder of Mumzworld, the Middle East’s leading mother & child e-commerce platform. Under her leadership, Mumzworld scaled rapidly to become the #1 trusted, platform for millions of mothers across MENA.
 
Mumzworld secured six funding rounds, becoming the #1 funded women-led tech business in the region and achieved a successful exit in 2024. Mona is also Co-founder at Bayt.com, the Arab world’s largest jobs board, and established Digitise360, a platform for Public and private sector strategic advisory and scalable business growth. 

Her passion for enabling innovation extends beyond her businesses. She is a board member at the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and the Young Arab Leaders, a UN advocate and mentor/ investor across the region’s startup ecosystem. She is also a highly sought-after global speaker.

Her legacy is one of building from the ground up with a relentless commitment to impact and sustainable value creation, repeatedly ranked on Forbes’ top 10 lists, named among Most Powerful Arab Women.

Monica Brand Engel is an entrepreneur and investor who has dedicated her career to broadening financial inclusion. She is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Quona Capital, a $790 million venture firm focused on fintech for inclusion in emerging markets.

Monica started her career in Silicon Valley, launching a $50 million multi-bank lending intermediary to finance small businesses. She then worked at Calvert Ventures and Anthuri Ventures before joining Accion to lead product innovation. While at Accion, Monica worked in Mexico with Gentera (née Compartamos) Bank, which went public in 2007. With the IPO proceeds, she founded Accion’s Frontier Investments Group, the predecessor to Quona.

Monica holds an MBA and an MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA in Economics from Williams College. She serves on the boards of Khazna, Maxsoko, Verto, and Twinco, and is a founding member of the EMPEA Impact Council. She is half Peruvian and blessed with a fantastic husband and twins.

Ola Doudin is the co-founder & CEO of BitOasis, the first and largest digital asset platform in the Middle East. She has an engineering background and has worked in tech consulting in a Big4 firm in London and engineering research prior to her move back to the region where she got involved in tech entrepreneurship and later started BitOasis in 2015. Most recently, Forbes Middle East featured Ola among the ‘Top 10 Women Behind Middle Eastern Tech Brands 2021’. She has also been selected as a ‘Young Global Leader 2022’ – An initiative by the World Economic Forum.

Rabea Ataya is the founder and CEO of Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leading job site and longest running internet company, which now serves over 55,500,000 professionals and over 60,000 employers from its 11 regional offices.  He also founded and leads vFairs - a global leader in virtual events, YallaMotor - the most visited auto portal in the UAE, and Talentera - the leading Applicant Tracking System in the MENA Region. Previously, he co-founded and exited: Gonabit.com - the region’s first group purchasing site, InfoFort - the Middle East's first and leading records management company, and Mumzworld - the region’s leading mother and child e-commerce site. Today he continues to serve on the board of several Middle Eastern technology companies.  He also plays an active role in nonprofit and charitable organizations across the Middle East including serving as the Chairman of the Advisory Council of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. Rabea graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Electrical Engineering and MS in Engineering Economic Systems.

Rami Tabbara brings over 19 years of experience in the Dubai real estate market. Rami was one of the first employees at The First Group in 2006, where he helped grow the company from a 5-man team to over 800 people, primarily reporting to him as Head of Sales. He later served as Senior Vice President at Damac Properties, where he oversaw all direct sales operations for the company, reporting directly to the Chairman. Throughout his career, Rami has been responsible for over AED 28 billion worth of property sales. Rami holds a BA in Business as a graduate of the American University of Beirut.

Sonali Basak is the Chief Investment Strategist at iCapital®, a global fintech leader transforming access to alternative investments. In her role, Sonali leads the firm’s strategic thought leadership across public and private markets, delivering data-driven insights and actionable content to financial advisors, investors, and asset managers. She plays a pivotal role in shaping iCapital’s investment outlook and strengthening its position as a trusted voice in the global investment ecosystem.

Prior to joining iCapital, Sonali was Bloomberg Television’s lead global finance correspondent and anchor. She covered major financial institutions, hosted the flagship morning show Open Interest, and led Bloomberg’s premier annual conference Bloomberg Invest. Her newsletter, Wall Street, By Basak., earned acclaim for its sharp commentary on market trends and industry shifts. She also created and hosted Bullish, a docuseries spotlighting influential voices in finance.

Renowned for securing exclusive interviews with top Wall Street CEOs and breaking news on market-moving deals, Sonali has built a reputation as one of the most insightful voices in financial journalism. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University, a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School, and an MBA in Quantitative and Corporate Finance from NYU’s Stern School of Business. She is based in New York City.

In his role as Chief Retail Officer at talabat, Wassim Makarem is at the forefront of driving talabat's regional quick commerce initiatives, leading our Grocery & Retail business across the MENA region. With a keen focus on building and scaling businesses, Wassim fosters strategic thinking, innovation and adaptation across various markets.

Previously serving as SVP of Grocery & Retail, Wassim played a pivotal role in building high-performing teams that significantly enhanced sustainable growth, profitability, and customer experience. His earlier tenure leading talabat Kuwait also showcased his strategic acumen in fostering accelerated growth.

Wassim holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the American University of Beirut and an MBA from Maastricht University.