Abu Dhabi: The sixth Asian Business Leadership Forum will be held at the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, on 29th November with leadership icons of Asia gathering in Dubai in a series of succinct, well-crafted panels moderated by prominent journalists and presenters of international media.

The ABLF has been hosting successful editions since 2007, promoting the UAE as the business capital of Asia.

An illuminating session on technology and disruptive innovation and the changing global marketplace will be led by Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports; Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon Limited, India and Dr Hayat bint Sulaiman bin Hassan Sindi, Member, Shura Council, KSA. Other leaders who will bring their knowledge and experience to the Forum are Abdulla Nasser Al Suwaidi, Director General, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC); Elham Yousry Mahfouz, CEO, Commercial Bank of Kuwait; Mohammed Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil and Gas, Oman; Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO, Dubai FDI, UAE; Kamal Nath, MP, Government of India; G.M. Rao, Group Chairman, GMR Group, India; Gopichand P Hinduja, Co-Chairman, Hinduja Group, India; Yusuf Ali MA, Board Member, Abu Dhabi Chamber and Chairman, Emke Group; Mustafa Abdel Wadood, Partner at Abraaj Group; Ma Zehua, Chairman, China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO Group).

Most anticipated sessions feature P Chidambaram, a leading global lawyer and former Union Cabinet Minister in the Government of India, the ‘thinking economist’, who brings his keen understanding of the unique marriage between law and economics to the discussions at the ABL Forum and Sunil Vaswani, Chairman, Stallion Group who speaks on Africa, as the new frontier for Asia’s continued economic development.

The annual ABLF Summit has the unique distinction of being a non-political platform, focused entirely on creating a vibrant, more positive sociocultural and economic narrative through which critical intra-Asia businesses and commercial enterprise can flourish.

A greatly anticipated presence at this knowledge congress is that of Dr Shashi Tharoor, who straddles several worlds of experience as an author, politician, and former international civil servant. A recognised authority in Asia, Dr Tharoor understands its economic transformation, future prospects, sociocultural and economic issues, and brings to this global Forum, an understanding of how Asia works, especially in its contemporary avatar.

The Royal Patron of the influential ABLF series, Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, emphasises the need for intra-Asia relationships and partnerships and has commented that Asia’s leaders must come together with humility, humanity and sincerity to ensure sustainable leadership across all areas of enterprise.

In a special showcase dedicated to Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, GWU, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation, FDF, and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Mother of the Nation, UAE, who has long been a champion of women’s empowerment in West Asia, this year’s Forum presents a session on Women in Leadership.

Leaders like Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan; Badr Jafar, CEO, Crescent Enterprises, UAE; Umran Beba, Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer, PepsiCo AMEA; and JJ Valaya, Creative Designer, House of Valaya, India, will participate in this key session. Globally, women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions and gender seems to matter more than ability. The session participants will discuss these challenges and express their support for sustainable business practices towards a more equitable future. The ABLForum will address the social impact of women in leadership and their influence on economic growth and development through this key showcase, which has the support of Dr Maitha Salem Alshamsi, Minister of State, UAE and Mariam Mohamed Al Rumaithi, Chairperson, Abu Dhabi Businesswomen’s Council.

The ABLF Series 2015 will also receive representation from the leaders of the prestigious Government Summit from the UAE Prime Minister’s Office.

The ABLF in association with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry is honoured to welcome these iconic leaders to an event that celebrates the spirit of the UAE in a cascade of ideas, an initiation of partnerships, and a congress of Asia’s most dynamic and articulate leaders.