Reuters today announced the initial lineup of speakers for its premier Reuters NEXT Gulf event in Abu Dhabi on October 22, 2025. The unmatched agenda is set to deliver insights from 40+ experts. Reuters NEXT Gulf, a collaboration between Reuters Events and Reuters’ global newsroom, will convene more than 350 global leaders, innovators and CEOs in Abu Dhabi to examine the challenges defining business, society and the world. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development is the host city partner of Reuters NEXT Gulf.
In a world marked by rapid political, financial, social and technological transformation, staying ahead requires insight and foresight. Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for innovation and business means that nowhere is more relevant for global leaders in business and policy to chart the path forward. Among the first set of speakers announced are:
Sinan Ulgen, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe and Director, EDAM; Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman, Damac Group;
HE Khalfan Belhoul, CEO, Dubai Future Foundation; Mohammed Alabbar, Founder and Chairman, Emaar;
Luigo Di Maio, Special Representative for the Gulf Region, European Union;
Giorgos Gerapetritis, Foreign Minister, Greece;
Abdulaziz Al Sager, Head, Gulf Research Institute;
Deng Chao, CEO, HashKey Capital: Speaking on the ‘Deep tech at scale’ panel;
Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department, International Monetary Fund: From modernizing Lebanon’s tax and customs systems in his role as Finance Minister in 2005-08 to now overseeing the IMF’s work in the Middle East, North Africa, central Asia and Caucasus;
Nasser Saidi, Politician and Economist, Former Minister of Economy and Industry, Former Vice Governor, Lebanese Central Bank, Lebanon;
Yusuff Ali, Chairman and Managing Director, Lulu Group; John Pagano, Group CEO, Red Sea Global;
Yusuf Maitama Tuggar OON, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
Abdulrahman Tarabzouni, CEO, Saudi Technology Ventures: The largest technology-focused venture capital firm in the Middle East and North Africa region manages a US$800 million fund;
HE Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE and Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (2008 – 2021).
The agenda covers six main themes:
Geopolitics: The Gulf, like every region in the world, finds itself adapting to significant changes on the world political stage after the “global year of elections.” Shifting trade patterns are also leading to new financial and diplomatic alliances, amid a broader shift toward deglobalization.
Economy & Markets: The Gulf is experiencing a renaissance, bucking global economic trends and growing fast – with growth expected to surge to around 4.4% in 2025, more than doubling 2024 projections.
Banking & Finance: The financial services industry in the Gulf is undergoing a significant transformation, fueled by the advances of digital technology. The Middle East public cloud market is expected to reach almost $10 billion by 2027, but challenges remain in the form of data security and privacy concerns.
Technology & AI: A focus on developing technology and AI has been a key plank of the region’s concerted push to diversify beyond oil and gas. Alongside heavy AI investment, there have been significant efforts to develop Arab-language models trained on local datasets.
Climate & Sustainability: The Gulf is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with rising temperatures, water scarcity, and environmental degradation posing significant challenges. The spotlight is on the region, and its diversification away from oil, with the UAE hosting COP28
Business Leadership: Social, political, and economic upheaval have been a constant theme around the world, and with it has come an increased need for leaders to steer a steady course and rebuild trust.
