GCC 2035 Conference

Keynote 1: Qatar Minister of Finance
Overview: The Qatar Minister of Finance His Excellency Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari emphasized the GCC’s strengths, highlighting the region’s world-class infrastructure, abundant capital, and strategic leadership, which together position it well for harnessing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Acknowledging the challenges posed by the pandemic, climate change, and regional conflicts, the Minister noted the importance of strengthening partnerships within the GCC, which will be essential for overcoming obstacles in the coming decade. The GCC is focused on learning from each country’s national visions and strategies, fostering an environment that engages investors and maximizes the potential for unified regional and international growth. Beyond its borders, the GCC also aims to support broader regional stability and prosperity, underscored by the coordinated efforts of the GCC Secretariat.

Panel 1: GCC Ministers of Finance/Economy
Speakers: H.E. Kristalina Georgieva (IMF MD), H.E. Al-Kuwari (Qatari Minister of Finance), H.E. Al-Jadaan (Saudi Minister of Finance), HE Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa (Bahrain Minister of Economy)
Moderator: Raj Desai (Professor of International Development)

Overview: The GCC Finance and Economy Ministers discussed the importance of strengthening internal cooperation to address global trade shifts, regional conflicts, and the rise of nationalism, all while balancing national priorities with broader regional integration. With the GCC’s GDP projected to reach $5 trillion by 2050, the region is gradually shifting from oil dependency to a diversified economy, with a growing emphasis on manufacturing and services to drive sustainable, long-term growth. Major investments in renewable energy, including solar and hydrogen, are positioning the GCC as a global leader in sustainable energy and data-driven exports. Governments across the region are creating a business-friendly environment to foster private-led growth, with a special focus on supporting SMEs, startups, and strategic projects. Additionally, new visa policies aim to attract global talent, creating a skilled and mobile workforce within the GCC. Investments in sports, such as Formula One and football, are also boosting regional infrastructure, tourism, and economic activity, further cementing the GCC’s position as a global sports hub. Strengthening capital markets and forming partnerships with international bodies like the IMF supports the region’s diversification and resilience, making the GCC a global leader in economic strategy and competitiveness.

Welcome remarks: Dean Safwan Masri, Georgetown University in Qatar

Overview: Dean Safwan Masri discussed how the GCC’s transformation since 1981 reflects its evolution from a region defined by geopolitical positioning and natural resources into a global hub for innovation, culture, and progress. Qatar’s commitment to advancement, along with Georgetown University in Qatar, plays a pivotal role in driving discussions and solutions for complex issues with both local and global impact. Collaboration across government and the private sector ensures the region remains at the forefront of meaningful development. With its diverse economies and unified vision, the GCC is well-positioned to build resilient systems, address global challenges, and shape the future through strategic investments and influential partnerships.

Keynote 2: Fireside Chat with H.E. Hassan Al-Thawadi
Moderators: Anil Khurana & Gerd Nonneman (Georgetown University)

Overview: H.E. Hassan Al-Thawadi spoke about the profound impact of hosting the FIFA World Cup on Qatar’s Vision 2030. The event served as a catalyst for development across tourism, infrastructure, economic diversification, and social progress, accelerating key initiatives in each area. The World Cup endowed Qatar with top-tier infrastructure and operational capabilities, solidifying its reputation as a hub for hosting complex, large-scale international events. This accomplishment showcased the Arab world’s capacity for excellence, bringing regional pride and fostering a sense of unity among the GCC countries. The tournament not only boosted tourism and other sectors, leading to a notable increase in economic activity but also aligned with Qatar’s broader economic goals. Building on this momentum, Qatar aims to leverage its expertise and infrastructure from the World Cup to attract and organize more international events that support long-term national and regional strategies. The GCC is also investing in content creation to develop a unique cultural brand that will resonate globally, positioning the region as a player in the entertainment industry and creating opportunities for sharing regional stories with the world.

Panel 2: Industries of the Future and Models of Collaboration
Speakers: Ebubekir Koyuncu (Chief Executive Officer, Air Products Qudra), Aamir Rehan (CEO, Humania Capital (DIFC) Limited), Said Murad (Senior Partner at Global Ventures), Amna Al-Thani (Chief Executive Officer, Strategy Hub), Abdulaziz Khalid A M Al-Ali (Doctor of Philosophy & Professor, Qatar University)
Moderator: Salman Khalid (Managing Director, BNP Paribas)

Overview: The GCC is committed to a diversified approach to future industries, with a key focus on decarbonization, developing knowledge economies, and people development. The region’s energy-rich environment lends itself well to exporting energy-intensive services, such as data and computing power, rather than just raw energy, maximizing economic efficiency and environmental impact. The panel discussed the role of emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence, driven largely by the UAE’s strategies, which are paving the way for greater technology integration across the region. New growth areas in health tech, like synthetic biology and DNA synthesis, are being explored, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency to mitigate potential future pandemics. Governments are shifting from public-led to private-led growth by investing in skills development, entrepreneurship, and attracting international talent, supported by visa reforms to welcome top talent worldwide. Health-tech investments, such as digital stethoscopes, aim to improve healthcare access in underserved regions like EMEA, positioning the GCC as a center for healthcare innovation and tourism. Efforts are being made to adapt traditional funding models to better support innovative industries, with a push for more accessible capital to nurture diverse startups. While GCC nations are enhancing local talent pools, particularly with policies like Saudi Arabia’s initiatives to increase women’s workforce participation, attracting global talent remains crucial to sustaining the region’s growth. AI is a game-changer in healthcare, presenting opportunities for early partnerships in digital health solutions and AI-driven diagnostics, which can improve service delivery across the region.

Panel 3: Investors from GCC and Outside
Speakers: Shane Shin (Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Shorooq Partners), Rishi Kapoor (Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, Investcorp), Simon Penney (MD, Incrementum ME), Hamad Mohammed Al Nasr (Director of Trade Development and Investment Promotion), Hamad Mubarak Al-Hajri (Founder and CEO, Snoonu)
Moderator: Nader Kabbani (Senior Fellow and Director of Research at ME Council)

Overview: The GCC region offers promising opportunities for investors, yet faces challenges that require coordinated action to unlock its full potential. One of the primary concerns is market size; while the GCC has a population of about 52 million with significant purchasing power, it is often viewed as too small when compared to markets like China or India. To counter this, regional integration is essential, enabling companies to expand more easily across GCC countries and into neighbouring markets like Egypt and Pakistan. Additionally, the GCC’s venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) landscape remains underdeveloped, with far fewer active investors compared to other regions. Boosting local VC and PE ecosystems is critical to support the growth of startups and innovative sectors, which will ultimately help diversify the economy away from oil dependency. Exit strategies, including more avenues for IPOs and mergers, are also vital to attracting global investment interest. While some progress has been made, more flexible and streamlined exit options are necessary to enhance the appeal of the GCC as an investment destination. Government support, in the form of investment incentives, clear regulatory frameworks, and talent retention policies, will play a pivotal role in creating a conducive environment for both domestic and foreign investors. Additionally, focusing on high-potential sectors, such as advanced technology, logistics, and green energy, can position the GCC as a global hub for innovation. By fostering collaboration between governments, private sector players, and international investors, the GCC can build a sustainable and competitive investment ecosystem that drives economic growth and positions the region as a significant global player by 2035.

Keynote 3: Conversation between Mr. Tarik Yousef, Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, and Anil Khurana, Executive Director at the Baratta Centre for Global Business

Overview: Diversification 2.0 for the GCC shifts from infrastructure to a knowledge-driven economy, focusing on high-value, export-oriented sectors like advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and digital services to reduce oil dependency. This model emphasizes private sector-led growth, with governments supporting targeted incentives and industrial policies in areas like green tech and AI. Regional integration is essential for achieving scale and competitiveness, while sustainability forms a core focus, aligning economic development with global environmental goals. Additionally, investing in workforce skills and talent development will ensure a robust foundation for long-term, resilient growth in these new industries.

Closing remarks by Anil Khurana, Executive Director at the Baratta Centre for Global Business

Overview: Anil reiterated how the current situation and trends – geopolitics, energy transition, global industries transformation, GCC demographics – create a window of opportunity for the GCC to “overtake at the curve”. Industries and sectors such as manufacturing, green hydrogen and renewables, data centres and AI, media, fintech, healthcare, education, and others are all possible – with an emphasis on being globally competitive, and accompanied by the appropriate investments in skills and entrepreneurial activities in these sectors. However, this will only be possible if the GCC countries are able to create a “single market” and collaborate (even if there is some competition). The GCC Secretariat and the GCC countries’ leaders, working with the IMF – and Georgetown University’s continued support – can potentially solve the constraints for the GCC customs union, help emphasize the role of the private sector and entrepreneurs, and create a degree of alignment across the national visions and plans, to enable regional economic diversification and development.

8:50 a.m. – Keynote 1: Opening Speech by Qatar Minister of Finance — His Excellency Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari

Speakers: His Excellency Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari

9:00 a.m. – Panel 1: GCC Ministers of Finance/ Economy

Speakers: H.E. Kristalina Georgieva (IMF MD), H.E. Al-Kuwari (Qatari Minister of Finance), H.E. Al-Jadaan (Saudi Minister of Finance), HE Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa (Bahrain Minister of Economy) H.E. Al-Badawi (GCC General Secretary)
Moderator: Raj Desai (Professor of International Development), Anil Khurana (Executive Director of the Baratta Center for Global Business)

This panel will discuss how GCC countries can leverage regional cooperation to enhance economic resilience amidst global geopolitical shifts and balance regional economic priorities against global demands. Key topics will include creating a unified economic strategy that balances national and regional goals, managing geopolitical risks, and strengthening regional cooperation to create a competitive advantage. The panel also will explore policies to diversify economies beyond hydrocarbons, considering social and cultural development to attract more people to the region and lessons from other regional economic integration efforts.

10:00 a.m. – Welcome remarks: Dean Safwan Masri, Georgetown University in Qatar

10:10 a.m. – Keynote 2: Fireside chat with H.E. Hassan Al-Thawadi  — Secretary General of Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy

Speakers:  H.E. Hassan Al-Thawadi (Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy)
Moderator: Gerd Nonneman, Professor of International Relations & Gulf Studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar (GU-Q) & Anil Khurana

10:40 a.m. – Panel 2: Industries of the Future and Models of Collaboration 

Speakers: Ebubekir Koyuncu (Chief Executive Officer, Air Products Qudra), Aamir Rehan (CEO, Humania Capital (DIFC) Limited), Said Murad (Senior Partner at Global Ventures), Amna Al-Thani (Chief Executive Officer, Strategy Hub), Abdulaziz Khalid A M Al-Ali (Doctor of Philosophy & Professor, Qatar University)
Moderator: Managing Director of a major financial institution

This panel will explore the current and future needs of the GCC region that create regional investment opportunities, focusing on key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, food, education, healthcare, tourism, manufacturing, media & technology, downstream petrochemicals and energy-intensive industries. Discussions will delve into future industries and value chains globally, such as renewables, decarbonisation, EV, AI, and media, and how the GCC can leverage its core capabilities to become a leader in these areas. The panel also will address the potential for GCC countries to “overtake at the curve” by enhancing skills development and job creation, particularly in the context of AI and big tech. Additionally, the panel will examine how GCC players can collaborate to create synergies and opportunities, drawing lessons from recent successes in economic development across various sectors.

11:40 a.m. – Panel 3: Investors from GCC and Outside 

Speakers: Shane Shin (Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Shorooq Partners), Rishi Kapoor (Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, Investcorp), Simon Penney (MD, Incrementum ME), H.E. Saleh Al-Kulaifi (Deputy Undersecretary for Industry & Business Affairs), Hamad Mubarak Al-Hajri (Founder and CEO, Snoonu)
Moderator: Nader Kabbani (Senior Fellow and Director of Research at ME Council)

This panel will focus on the role of foreign direct investment in driving regional economic development in the GCC and strategies to attract and retain global investors and strategic partners. Discussions will highlight the role of GCC sovereign wealth funds in technology transfer and economic diversification, lessons learned from past investments, and best practices for building a robust regional investment ecosystem that supports sustainable development. The panel also will address the creation of stronger local public markets to attract capital and know-how, complementing U.S. and European exchanges

12:40 p.m. – Keynote 3: Speech Mr. Tarik Yousef, Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs

Speakers: Tarik Yousef (Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs)

1:20 p.m. – Closing remarks by the Baratta Center, the Qatar Minister of Finance, and the GCC Secretariat

Speakers: Anil Khurana (Executive Director of the Baratta Center for Global Business) + Saud Al Attiyah (Deputy Undersecretary @ Ministry of Finance Qatar)

1:40 p.m. – Conclusion, Lunch & Networking