Dubai: The ninth session of the Arab Strategy Forum opened in Dubai this morning with participation from leading global, regional and international thought leaders, decision-makers, academics, economists and political analysts.
Opening the Forum, Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and the Future said the Forum is an opportunity to look at the future on the region and exchange views with global experts in the context massive political and economic changes happening around the world.
The Forum kicked off with an overview of the regional economic outlook from Natalia Tamirisa of the IMF followed by the global economic and financial markets outlook by Dr Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at Allianz and Chair of President Obama’s Global Development Council.
The discussions were focused on key strategic issues and challenges and opportunities that will face the world economically and politically in 2017.
"The forum’s approach to political and economic forecasting works to support sound decision-making around various geopolitical and economic trends, and it has followed this approach since its inception," Abdulla Bin Touq, Deputy chairman of the Arab Strategy Forum.
The Arab Strategy Forum’s highlight for this year is a session featuring the former UK prime minister David Cameron, and former CIA chief Leon Panetta, where they will discuss the main global political forecasts for 2017 in a session moderated by Becky Anderson of CNN.
Another session hosts former Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Fahmy and political thinker Professor Ghassan Salam will discuss the political state of the Arab world in 2017, in a panel moderated by Mohannad Khatib of Sky News Arabia.
In a separate keynote, political scientist Dr Ian Bremmer, president and founder of political risk and research consultancy Eurasia Group, will present the "State of the World 2017" report.
The Arab Strategy Forum will conclude with a presentation from the National Defence College about the potential impact of Trump presidency on the Middle East in 2017, and how the region can approach the new environment that will take hold as of next January.
