PARTNERS IN PROGRESS Faisal Alatig, CEO of channels by stc, on why the group is the first partner of choice by major companies in the region UAE AED 20 KSA SAR 20 BAHRAIN BHD 2 KUWAIT KWD 2 OMAN OMR 2 QATAR QAR 20 16-31 DECEMBER 2023 # 200Conferences at COP28 3-12 December 2023 at Expo City Dubai Fostering Tomorrow’s Leaders Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi takes center stage at COP28, showcasing high-impact collaborative research events as a cornerstone of its visionary commitment to climate action and groundbreaking initiatives. In its contribution to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it nurtures industrial and socio-economic synergies and develops cutting-edge, transnational, and interdisciplinary research providing tangible solutions to decision makers and policy makers. SUAD's research positively shapes the UAE, and the world, not just making an impact but actively propelling and sustaining socio-economic progress. REGISTER HERE:DECEMBER 2023 CEO MIDDLE EAST 3 CONTENTS DECEMBER 2023 # 200 PARTNERS IN PROGRESS Faisal Alatig, CEO of channels by stc, on why the group is the first partner of choice by major companies in the region KUWAIT KWD 2 OMAN OMR 2 QATAR QAR 20 DECEMBER 2023 # 200 10 MARKETS What do the latest trends in GCC public markets mean for the economy and entrepreneurs 14 TOURISM The truth is that there is much more to do and see in Dubai than simply go up to the top of the Burj Khalifa – and this is a testament to the emirate’s tourism success story 18 SUSTAINABILITY Businesses need to introduce mechanisms to ensure their suppliers understand and adhere to sound behaviours and business practices 24 LEADERSHIP When it comes to seeking inspiration for running a business, you’d be hard-pushed to find a better source than the UAE 10 1418 244 CEO MIDDLE EAST DECEMBER 2023 CONTENTS 30 SUSTAINABILITY With only a few days to go until COP28 convenes in Dubai, pressures mount on leaders to turn intentions into impact after ‘disappointing’ COP27 outcome 34 SUSTAINABILITY Exploring the connection between ageing and climate change 38 TECHNOLOGY Ideas are being spawned from all company corners and it’s a hugely influential factor in the products hitting the market today 30 34 38 As the CEO of channels by STC, the sales and distribution arm of STC group, Faisal Alatig is playing a key role in the Kingdom’s vision for the future COVER STORY 20 PARTNERS IN PROGRESSJoin the number one: difc.ae/make-enquiry Join the #1 financial centre for a sustainable future When you join the number one financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, you will work with us to drive a more sustainable future. Our industry leading approach includes powering the Dubai Sustainable Finance Working Group, which is the first initiative of its kind in the UAE. We also have an active year-long Path to COP28 campaign with the Global Ethical Finance Initiative which has led the industry towards supporting a sustainable future. We are proud that more than 80 per cent of our clients already include environmental, social and governance principles in their decision making. Sustainability is incorporated into everything we do, and we are committed to being a catalyst for good.6 CEOMIDDLE EASTDECEMBER 2023 To receive your copy delivered directly to your door, subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions The most important business people and CEOs talk to the most important magazine NOVEMBER 2023 # 198 Arnaud Leclercq, Partner and Head of New Markets at Lombard Odier and Amer Malik, Head of Middle East International at the Swiss private bank, reveal the firm’s Middle East expansion plans CENTURIES IN THE MAKING UAEAED 20 KSASAR 20 BAHRAINBHD 2 KUWAITKWD 2 OMANOMR 2 QATAR QAR 20 OCTOBER 2OCTOBER 2023023 #### 1971971979 KUWAITKWD 2 OMANOMR 2 QATAR QAR 20 Shaji UShaji Ul Mulk,l Mulk,ChairmChairmrman, an, an, Mulk InMulkInternatiernationalsonal sits downs downownto to to discussscusshis johiurney aurney s a leaa leader,der,der,e entrepreneur ar nd visid visionaryonary IIINNNNDDDDDUUUUUUSSSSSTTTTTRRRRYYYYY TTTTIIIITTTTTAAAAAANNNNN The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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MEDIAatlas by Etihad Airways, home to award-winning content and read by over 1.3 million engaged readers a month Michael Underdown Commercial Director michael.underdown@itp.com +971 50 396 2115 +971 4 444 3566 To elevate your brand and connect with Etihad Airways’ passengers, contact: November 2023 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | 3332 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | November 2023 10.1632° N, 76.6413° E10.1632° N, 76.6413° E he image of palm-lined beaches and verdant rolling grasslands sloping towards the Arabian Sea is seared into my mind after a four-hour flight with Etihad Airways into Cochin International Airport, situated in the Indian state of Kerala. As we descend, I peer out of the window to the scene beneath and I’m filled with anticipation to discover a land I’ve already heard so much about. Away from the busy streets of Mumbai and crowded Delhi, Kerala offers a more laidback atmosphere, but one that is every bit as memorable. It’s known as God’s Own Country, thanks to its vast emerald valleys and lush landscapes. The term has a mythological origin, too, tied to the belief that Parashurama, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu, a principal deity in Hinduism, threw his axe into the sea to create a home in which his followers could live peacefully. If ever a story epitomises a place, it’s this one: Kerala, born at the hands of a God for the purpose of people living in harmony. Kerala is world-famous for its houseboats that plough the glistening backwaters, a labyrinthine 900-kilometre network of brackish canals, lakes Beaches Backwaters & Kerala, India’s tropical coastal jewel, has much to offer curious travellers By Francesca Kirby November 2023 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | 2524 | ATLAS BY ETIHAD | November 2023 suitcase Smooth skin The Barbiere multi-action face cream for men from Acqua Di Parma combines moisturing, smoothing, and revitalising properties to combat exposure to blue light from digital screens and environmental elements. It also comes in eco-friendly packaging ($120, acquadiparma.com). Wild ocean Enriched with almond, hazelnut, and prickly pear oils, this Wildocean beard oil is designed for medium to long facial hair that needs softening ($21, beautyethic.com). Red gold Acqua Di Parma’s new fragrance, Zafferano, is a celebration of saffron, with citrus and floral notes brought by orange blossom, jasmine sambac, and geranium, and a woodiness from tonka bean and vanilla ($284, acquadiparma.com). All smiles Apa White Toothpaste uses ultrapolish technology to help clean stains, alongside hydroxyapatite to rebuild enamel. It’s formulated to tackle plaque and tartar build-up without fluoride, while still leaving your mouth feeling fresh ($25, apabeauty.com). High performance The new Homme collection from Ritual Cosmetics is a range of grooming essentials for body, face, and beard. It’s tough on sweat and gentle on shaving rashes, with an uplifting essence as its base. It’s also infused with vitamins E, C, and B3, plus peptides, ginseng, argan oil, and aloe vera (rituals.com). Groom yourself Men, look your best with this selection of personal care products suitcase The stylish way to travel THIS PAGE: ACQUA DI PARMA; OPPOSITE PAGE: RITUALS; ACQUA DI PARMA; APA BEAUTY; BEAUTY ETHIC 7.8804° N, 98.3923° E7.8804° N, 98.3923° E 2023 ﺮﺒﻤﻓﻮﻧ | ناﺮﻴﻄﻠﻟ دﺎﺤﺗﻻا ﻦﻣ ﺲﻠﻃأ | 2627 | ناﺮﻴﻄﻠﻟ دﺎﺤﺗﻻا ﻦﻣ ﺲﻠﻃأ | 2023 ﺮﺒﻤﻓﻮﻧ ﺔﻀﺑﺎﻨﻟا ﺔﻨﻳﺪﻤﻟا هﺬﻫ ﻒﺸﺘﻛا لﺎﻣﺮﻟاو ﺲﻤﺸﻟا ﺮﻴﺛأ ﻰﻠﻋ ةﺎﻴﺤﻟﺎﺑ ناﺮﻴﻄﻠﻟ دﺎﺤﺗﻻا ﻊﻣ ﺔﻨﻴﻜﺴﻟاو ﺰﻧارﺎﻤﻟو ﻦﻴﻟ ﺖﻴﻛ ΙήΘϟΔϗήϋϦϴΑΎϣϊϤΠΗϲΘϟϥΎϣΪϧήΤΑΓΆϟΆϟˬΖϴϛϮΑ ϦπΘΤΗΚϴΣˬΔϘϠτϤϟήμόϟΔϴϫΎϓέϭˬϲϨϐϟϱΪϨϠϳΎΘϟ ϳΰϳϦϣέΎψΘϧΎΑΓΪϳήϔϟΏέΎΠΘϟϦϣΔϋϮϨΘϣΔϋϮϤΠϣΖϴϛϮΑ ˬΔϤΣΩΰϤϟΎϬϗϮγϰΘΣήϜΒϟΎϬΌσϮηϦϣ˱˯ΪΑˬΎϬϨϋέΎΘδϟ ϩάϫϲϓΎϨϘϓέΔΒΧΎμϟΔϴϠϴϠϟΎϬΗΎϴΣϰϟ·ΔΩΎϬϟΎϫΪΑΎόϣϦϣϭ ίϮϨϛϭέήγϰϠϋϑήόΘΗϲϛΔϋΎγ 72 έΪϣϰϠϋΔϟϮΠϟ ΔϴϮΘγϻΔϨΠϟϩάϫ ﺦﻳرﺎﺘﻟا ﻖﺒﻌﺑ ﺔﻗرﺎﻏ ﺔﻨﻳﺪﻣ ˬ˱ΔϴΒόηΎϫήΜϛϭΖϴϛϮΑΪΑΎόϣήΒϛΪΣˬ³ώϧϮϟΎθΗΕϭ´ ˱ΎΣΎΑλ ΔϋϮϤΠϣϰϠϋϭˬΫϮΑϦϣΕΎϓέϰϠϋήϴΒϜϟΪΒόϤϟάϫϱϮΘΤϳ ϲΘϟϞϴΛΎϤΘϟϭˬΕΎΣϮϠϟϭˬΔϠΧΪΘϤϟϢϴϣΎμΘϟωϭέϦϣΓήΣΎγ ˯ΪΗέΓέϭήοϰϟ·ΎϨϫήϴθϧϭΫϮΑΓΎϴΣϦϣΕΎϔτΘϘϣέϮμ˵Η ϲϓΪΟϮΘϟΪϨϋϦϴΘΒϛήϟϭϦϴϔΘϜϟϲτϐΗϲΘϟΔϤθΘΤϤϟΏΎϴΜϟ αΪϘϤϟϥΎϜϤϟάϫ ϞϜθΗϲΘϟΔϴΨϳέΎΘϟΔϨϳΪϤϟϲϫϭˬΔϤϳΪϘϟΖϴϛϮΑΔϨϳΪϣ ˱ έϬυ ΔϴϨϴμϟΓέΎϤόϟϥϮϨϓΔϨοΎΣϭˬΖϴϛϮΑΔϨϳΪϣ˯ΰΟΪΣ ήμϋάϨϣΔϨϳΪϤϟϩάϫέΎϫΩίϭϖϟϰϠϋΓΪϫΎθϟˬΔϴϟΎϐΗήΒϟ ΔϴϫΰϟΎϬϧϮϟ΄ΑϙϮΗϙϮΘϟΕΎΑήϋΪό ˵ ΗϭήϳΪμϘϟϦϳΪόΗ ϡΎότϟϕΎθϋΎϣΔϨϳΪϤϟϑΎθϜΘγϻΔόΘϣήΜϛϷϞϘϨϟΔϠϴγϭ ϮϫϭˬϲΗϭήϟΎϬγέϰϠϋϭˬΔϴϠΤϤϟΕϻϮϛ΄ϤϟΔΑήΠΗϢϬϴϠόϓ ΰϛήϤϟΐϴϠΤϟϊϣϡΪϘ˵ϳΎϣ˱ΓΩΎϋϱήσϭϖϴϗέτδϣΰΒΧ ˬϲϬθϟϦϴϛϮϫϲϤϟΔϧϭήϜόϣϖΒσϭˬάϳάϠϟϱέΎϜϟϭϰϠΤϤϟ ΕϻϮϛ΄ϤϟϊϣΔϴϠϘϤϟ˯ήϔμϟ ϝΩϮϨϟ ΔϧϭήϜόϤϟϦϣϒϟΆϤϟ άϳάϠϟϕήϤϟϭˬΔϳήΤΒϟ ˬ³ϱΎϜϳήΗΖϴϛϮΑ´ϒΤΘϣϞΧΪΗΖϧϭϚγϮΣϒϫέ ˱˯Ύγϣ ΔϴΛϼΛϭΔϴϠϋΎϔΘϟΔϴϨϔϟϝΎϤϋϸϟϞϫάϣνήόϣϦϋΓέΎΒϋϮϫϭ ΎϫΪόΑϚΗίΎΟ·έϮλϦϴϳΰΘϟΓΰϴϤϣΕΎϴϔϠΧήϓϮϳϪϧΎϤϛˬΩΎόΑϷ ϱΪϧϼϳΎΗϲϨϴλϊΑΎτΑϢϳΪϗϢότϣϮϫϭˬ³Ύϳέ´Ϣότϣϰϟ·ϪΟϮΗ ϱέΎϜϟΎΑϥϮότϠδϟΎϬϨϣϭˬΔϳΪϴϠϘΘϟϕΎΒσϷϒϠΘΨϣϡ˷ΪϘϳ ϲϬϨϨγϢΛϦϣϭάϳάϠϟϱΪϧϼϳΎΘϟήπΧϷϱέΎϜϟϭˬΎϤϳήϜϟϭ ϰϠϋΔϣϭΎδϤϟΪόΗϲΘϟϭˬΔΒΧΎμϟϕϮγϷϲϓϝϮΠΘϟΎΑΔϠϴϠϟ ΔΒΒΤϤϟΔϴϠΤϤϟΔϓΎϘΜϟϦϣϭΎϫΪϴϟΎϘΗϦϣ ˱ ˯ΰΟέΎόγϷ لوﻷا مﻮﻴﻟا تاو” ﺪﺒﻌﻣ :ﻦﻴﻤﻴﻟا ﻰﻟإ رﺎﺴﻴﻟا ﻦﻣ ﺔﻨﻳﺪﻣ ﻲﻓ “ﻎﻧﻻﺎﺗ” ﻖﻳﺮﻃ ؛“ﻎﻧﻮﻟﺎﺸﺗ .ﺔﻤﻳﺪﻘﻟا ﺖﻴﻛﻮﺑ مﺎﻳأ ﺔﺛﻼﺛ ﺖﻴﻛﻮﺑ ﻲﻓ ﺔﻳﺎﻜﺤﻟا ﺔﻳﺪﻧﻼﻳﺎﺘﻟا KENZIE KRAFTA / UNSPLASH; SHUTTERSTOCK8 CEO MIDDLE EAST DECEMBER 2023 competitive edge by leveraging AI to fore- cast trends and anticipate market changes. Cost Reduction: AI can substantially reduce operational costs by automating labour-intensive tasks. Companies can de- crease their reliance on human resources for routine, mundane work, resulting in significant cost savings. The role of AI in the workplace is a topic that generates heated debates and discussions. While some view AI as a powerful asset that enhances productiv- ity, decision-making and cost reduction, others are concerned about the potential negative consequences, such as job dis- placement, privacy issues, and algorithmic bias. The question of whether AI has been judged guilty of a pre-crime was recently raised by the former All-In Podcast by the former advisor to Elon Musk and venture capitalist, David Sacks. He outlined the complexity and multifaceted nature of the technology and how we all will need to adapt to survive and thrive. The present role of AI in the workplace is marked by its integration into various industries and the significant benefits it brings. However, its future role promises even more profound changes, including enhanced collaboration, skill development and the need for robust ethical and regula- tory frameworks. Ultimately, the impact of AI in the workplace will depend on how organisa- tions and society as a whole navigate these challenges and opportunities. It is essen- tial to strike a balance between harnessing the power of AI for progress and ensuring that its integration is ethical, equitable and sustainable. The future of AI in the workplace is yet to be fully realised and, as we move forward, it will be crucial to re- main vigilant, adaptable and committed to addressing the concerns that surround it. It is my opinion, however, that it will be overwhelmingly positive unlocking tril- lions of dollars in economic growth across the globe to those willing to embrace and leverage it for good. Has all the doom saying and talk of us all quitting our jobs, and becoming slaves to the machine, driven us to see only the potential downsides of AI? HAS AI IN THE WORKPLACE BEEN JUDGED GUILTY OF A PRE-CRIME? TECHNOLOGY I BY TOM WOOLF, FOUNDER AND CEO OF EDAID n the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the role of Ar- tificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace is a topic of significant debate and discussion. As AI systems continue to advance and become more integrated into various sectors, the question arises: Has AI in the workplace been judged guilty of a pre-crime? Have we succumbed to mass media hysteria, whilst failing to recognise the existing role AI is already playing in enhancing the workplace? Has all the doom saying and talk of us all quitting our jobs, and becoming slaves to the machine, driven us to see only the potential down- sides of AI and not the Moore’s law paced, positive impact on the workplace? Proponents of AI in the workplace argue that its integration has been over- whelmingly positive. The ability of AI to process vast amounts of data quickly and efficiently has led to increased productiv- ity, more informed decision-making and cost reduction. The automation of repeti- tive tasks can free up employees to focus on more creative and strategic aspects of their roles, thus increasing job satisfaction. Enhanced Productivity: AI tools have the potential to significantly boost productivity in the workplace. They can handle routine tasks, data analysis and administrative work, allowing human employees to focus more on higher-value, creative tasks. As a result, work processes become more streamlined and businesses can accomplish more in less time. Informed Decision-Making: AI systems can analyse data at a scale that humans cannot match. This leads to better decision-making based on accurate and real-time insights. Businesses can gain a We create lasting memories which continue to inspire www.skddrone.com info@skddrone.com +971 4 873 31 32 Tell your story in the sky with a state of the art drone light show, performed by double Guinness World Record holdersNext >