The inaugural Abu Dhabi Business Week (ADBW) concluded its first day successfully with the active participation of over 10,000 policymakers, officials, and international business executives. ADBW also witnessed several key announcements and discussions taking place across several events including the Abu Dhabi Business Summit, Marketing Lab, Innovation XChange, and the Business Exhibition Ecosystem.
Organized by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the first day of ADBW has witnessed prominent business leaders delivering keynote presentations and panel discussions that provide new insights for firms across the emirate.
Building business empires and strong economic partnerships
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, delivered a keynote address at ADBW where he discussed the importance of building economic partnerships for prosperity. Shamis Ali Al Dhaheri, second vice chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, introduced attendees to the services provided by ADCCI while Dr. Sara Sabry, the first female Arab astronaut to go to space, delivered a presentation about “Achieving an Impossible Dream”.
Discussing the means that lead to winning ways, a fireside chat titled ‘The Arts, Sciences & Sacrifices of Winning’ took place, where Formula 1 legend David Coulthard was accompanied by Dutch football star Clarence Seedorf.
Business leaders Magnus Olsson, co-founder & managing director of Careem, and Elie Habib, co-founder and CEO of Anghami, discussed their journey of building billion-dollar businesses during the “How to Take Your Company to the Moon” panel discussion at ADBW. Meanwhile, retail icon Jo Malone, founder of Jo Malone and Jo Loves, talked about building business empires during a fireside chat moderated by seasoned journalist and communications expert Louisa Preston.
For their part, HSBC’s Manal Awad and Annex Investments’ Ahmed Al Nowais provided entrepreneurs at ADBW with insight on starting their businesses in a panel discussion titled “The First 100 Days: Executing Your Business Plan to Win”.
Reshaping the future with AI
During a keynote speech titled “Artificial Intelligence & How You Can Save Our World” at ADBW, Mo Gawdat, author and former chief business officer at Google X, discussed the importance of AI and the role it can play in reshaping the future, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s eagerness to adopt the latest innovations.
In addition, Randi Zuckerberg, former Facebook CMO and founder of Zuckerberg Media delivered a speech called “How to Tell a Story & Attract Customers”, highlighting the pivotal importance of storytelling in businesses.
Senior officials from Microsoft, Khalifa University, Vanar and Analog also discussed the importance of technology in enhancing decision-making in a panel discussion titled “Edge Computing: Accelerating Real-Time Decision-Making”.
Setting businesses for growth
During the Marketing Lab event, business leaders tackled fundamental marketing topics that help businesses set up and grow. Other sessions taking place at ADBW also covered a wide array of topics, including how to build a brand, digital transformation and redefining brand narratives, with leading speakers from the public and private sectors.
ADBW also hosted Innovation xChange, a platform dedicated to sharing the latest innovative ideas, learning, and taking insights from leading business figures.
Read| Abu Dhabi Business Week launches: Four major initiatives to boost business unveiled
What to expect on day 2
Abu Dhabi Business Week will deliver more insightful sessions during its remaining days, allowing participants to drive sustainable development and partner with key public and private stakeholders.
On its second day, ADBW will host the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS), with sessions covering industrial safety, crisis and risk management, and cyber security.
Furthermore, the Family Business Summit will include keynote speeches and panel discussions covering the pivotal role of family-owned businesses in Abu Dhabi. Shamis Ali Al Dhaheri, second vice chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber will lead the conversation, with several speakers from leading organizations, including arbitrationAD, J.P. Morgan, PwC, Abu Dhabi Youth Council and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).
The second day of ADBW will also host the Procurement Forum where industry leaders from the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, AD Customs and ADNOC will share key insights into their sectors’ growth prospects.
