Join our tech panel event on April 23 in Dubai

The Gulf Business Business Breakfast is back this April: this time with a sharp focus on the technologies powering the next wave of digital innovation across the region. Taking place on 23 April 2025 at the Metropolitan Hotel Dubai, the high-level panel event will bring together senior voices from telecoms, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and e-mobility.

Register here: https://bit.ly/3FFCYMg

Agenda: https://bit.ly/3XNfPOb

As the region accelerates towards a digital-first future, the event will explore how emerging technologies are transforming industries, reshaping business models, and influencing regulatory frameworks. Attendees can expect dynamic conversations with a cross-section of tech leaders, policymakers and innovators—delving into how the UAE and wider GCC can position themselves at the forefront of global innovation.

Big names, bold ideas

Among the confirmed speakers are:

• Rifad Mahasneh, General Manager, OKX MENA

• Iwan Stella, Head of Strategy and Commercial Management, Ericsson Middle East and Africa

• Cherian Varghese, Senior Vice President, Technology – Middle East and Africa, Oracle

• Samar Mittal, Vice President and MEA Head of Cloud & Network Services, Nokia

• Dr. Mohamed Madkour, VP, ICT Strategy & Marketing, Huawei Middle East & Central Asia

• Vasudha Khandeparkar, AI, Analytics and Data Practice Lead, Grant Thornton UAE

• Mark Dymock, Operating Partner, SC Ventures

• Andreas Hassellof, CEO and Founder, Ombori

Additional top panellists will represent companies including e&, Tahaluf, and more.

The agenda includes keynote speeches, four sector-specific panels, and plenty of opportunities for networking and audience Q&A.

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Agenda: Gulf Business Business Breakfast

Date: 23 April 2025
Time: From 8:00am
Venue: Metropolitan Hotel Dubai

08:00am – Registration & Breakfast
09:00am – Welcome by Manish Chopra, Publisher, Gulf Business
09:05am – Chair’s Opening Remarks by Gareth van Zyl, Group Editor, Gulf Business

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09:15am – Keynote Speech

09:30am – Panel: Telecoms & Cloud – The Next Frontier

• • The impact of 5G Advanced and the roadmap to 6G

  • The shift from telco to techco

  • Sovereign cloud, data security, and the future of telecom innovation

Key panellists:

• Iwan Stella, Ericsson

• Cherian Varghese, Oracle

• Dr. Mohamed Madkour, Huawei

• Samar Mittal, Vice President and MEA Head of Cloud & Network Services, Nokia

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10:00am – Keynote Speech

10:15am – Panel: Artificial Intelligence – A Regional Powerhouse

• • The UAE’s rise as an AI innovation hub

  • AI’s impact on finance, healthcare, and logistics

  • International partnerships and regulatory outlook

Key panellists:

• Vasudha Khandeparkar, Grant Thornton

• Andreas Hassellof, Ombori

• Mark Dymock, Operating Partner, SC Ventures

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10:45am – Panel: Blockchain Evolution – From Pilots to Pioneers

• From proof-of-concept to full-scale deployments

• How UAE regulations are attracting blockchain leaders

• The role of tokenisation, DeFi, and CBDCs

Key panellists:

• Rifad Mahasneh, General Manager, OKX MENA

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11:15am – Keynote Speech

11:30am – Panel: The State of E-Mobility

• UAE’s roadmap for EV adoption and infrastructure

• Connected mobility through telecom and cloud

• EV subscription models, battery tech, and sustainability policies

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12:00pm – Closing Remarks

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Registration is now open. Join us for a morning of strategic insight, meaningful connections, and forward-thinking dialogue.