World Economic Forum 2016: Who will be attending from the GCC?

The World Economic Forum in Davos has become the annual gathering hub for the world’s top leaders as they discuss and debate the biggest issues we face today.

As it enters its 46^th session, here’s a quick overview of the agenda and who’s attending this year.

When and where: January 20-23, 2016 at Davos- Klosters, Switzerland

Theme: Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Main questions covered:

• How can technology be deployed in ways that contribute to inclusive growth rather than exacerbate unemployment and income inequality?
• How will it transform industry sectors, including health, mobility, financial services and education?
• How can breakthroughs in science and technology help in solving problems of the global commons from climate change to public health?
• How will emerging technologies transform the global security landscape?
• How can governments build institutions capable of making decisions when the challenges they face are more complex, fast-moving and interconnected than ever before?

Founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab on the theme: “There are many challenges in the world today, and I feel that one of the most intense and impactful will be shaping the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ – driven by the speed, the breadth and the complete ‘systems innovation’ of technological change underway.

“The challenges are as daunting as the opportunities are compelling. We must have a comprehensive and globally shared understanding of how technology is changing our lives and that of future generations, transforming the economic, social, ecological and cultural contexts in which we live. This is critical, in order to shape our collective future to reflect our common objectives and values.”

Who’s attending? Over 2,500 leaders from business, government, international organisations, civil society, academia, media and the arts.

High-profile regional attendees

The Middle East will have 180 participants including 163 men and 17 women. That includes 48 representatives from the United Arab Emirates, 35 from Saudi Arabia, 11 from Kuwait, 10 from Qatar and four from Oman.

Saudi Arabia will have the largest high-profile government contingent present at Davos this year, with six public figures expected to attend.

They include –

* Minister of Finance Ibrahim Abdul Aziz Assaf

* Minister of Health Khalid A. Falih

* Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Jubeir

* Minister of Commerce and Industry Tawfig bin Fawzan Rabiah

* Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) Fahad Almubarak

The UAE will also have four senior government officials in attendance at WEF.

* Minister of Economy Sultan Saeed Nasser AlMansoori

* Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Abdullah Gergawi

* Minister of Energy Suhail Bin Mohammed Mazrouei

* Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Humaid Tayer

Qatar will be represented by Minister of Finance Ali Shareef Emadi and Minister of Economy and Commerce Ahmed Bin Jassim Bin Mohamed Thani.

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister; Minister of Finance and Acting Oil Minister of KuwaitAnas Khalid Saleh will be joined by managing director of Kuwait Investment Authority Bader M. Sa’ad in Davos.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Zayed Zayani will represent Bahrain while special envoy to the government of Oman Salem Ben Nasser Ismaily will also be present.

Looking at the wider Middle East region, from Iran, Minister of Foreign Affairs Javad Zarif and chief of the Cabinet of Ministers Mohammad Nahavandian will be in attendance at WEF.

Iraq will also have a strong presence with Prime Minister Haïdar Abadi, Deputy Prime Minister Rowsch N. Shaways, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim Jaafari and Minister of Planning for the Kurdistan regional government Ali Sindi expected to attend.

Head of the Constitution of Fifty in Egypt and former secretary-general of the League of Arab States Amre Moussa will also be present in Davos this year.