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May 1, 2009

Wharton Hosts Alumni Forum in Dubai

Middle East Forum Focuses on the Region’s Changing Economic Role

Wharton’s first Global Alumni Forum in the Middle East focused on the region’s increasingly important role in the global economy, as well as the challenges it faces in light of the current financial crisis. Held March 11–12, the Forum attracted more than 500 alumni and friends, including His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Organized by Mohammed Abdul Aziz Alshaya, WG’84, Executive Chairman of M.H. Alshaya Co., the Forum featured senior Wharton faculty and a range of prominent business and government leaders. Among them were His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology; Donald Humphreys, WG’76, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, Exxon Mobil Corporation; Najla Al-Awadhi, Member of the UAE Federal National Council; Deputy CEO, Dubai Media Incorporated; and Joe Saadi, Chairman, Booz & Company.

Wharton faculty who attended included Raffi Amit, Bulent Gultekin, Witold Henisz, Steven Kobrin, Len Lodish, Richard Marston, and Jeremy Siegel.

Panel discussions addressed such issues as: the development and growth of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) multi-nationals; entrepreneurship and emerging markets; the future of education and media in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries; and energy and change in the global economy. Wharton faculty led five master classes on topics including wealth preservation, managing global policy risks, and valuation and governance of family businesses.

Describing Wharton’s goals for the event, Dean Robertson said, “We want to develop a Middle East perspective on the global financial crisis and its aftermath. The new global economic order will be an era of stronger collaboration and the Wharton Global Alumni Forum will assist in strengthening the partnerships.”

Read the Knowledge@Wharton special report, "The Middle East: Life After the Oil Bust," produced in partnership with The Khaleej Times and distributed at the Forum.