MAY 2024 #208 THE MEDICINE MAN Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of American Hospital Dubai, shares his vision of the future of healthcare in the Middle East UAE AED 20 KSA SAR 20 BAHRAIN BHD 2 KUWAIT KWD 2 OMAN OMR 2 QATAR QAR 20Scan the QR Code to book your ticket now Platinum SponsorGold Sponsors Hear from legends who have successfully navigated the global business and economic landscape May 22, 2024 8am — 5 pm Armani Hotel Downtown Dubai Josef Kleindienst Founder & Chairman Kleindienst Group Sahar Cooper CEO Aldar Education Marie-Louise Ek Vice President - HR Middle East and Africa Hilton Easa Al Gurg Group CEO Easa Saleh Al Gurg Raki Phillips CEO Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Shamsheer Vayalil Founder and Chairman Burjeel Holdings Amnah Ajmal Executive VP, Market Development Mastercard EEMEA Marloes Knippenberg CEO Kerten Hospitality Eddy Tannous COO Rotana Vineet Shukla Business Head - Middle East HCL TechMAY 2024 CEO MIDDLE EAST 3 14 BANKING Banks play a pivotal role in driving the UAE’s transition towards a sustainable energy mix, says Badar Chaudhry, Head of Energy Sector at Mashreq 16 COVER STORY Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of American Hospital Dubai, shares his vision of the future of healthcare in the Middle East 26 EDUCATION Higher education is the primary channel for preparing students to thrive professionally and participate in the global economy, believes Mohammad Abdullah, President of the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation 48 TIMEPIECES The Manero Tourbillon Double Peripheral from Swiss luxury watchmaker Carl F. Bucherer is a timepiece for enthusiasts who seek uncompromising technical mastery, confidence, and bold self-expression 16 26 14 48 MAY 2024 #208 CONTENTSTHE BIG PICTURE 4 CEO MIDDLE EAST MAY 2024 olls-Royce Motor Cars is proud to unveil ‘Spirit of Expression’ – three magnificent Bespoke commissions of Ghost Extended, Phantom Extended and Spectre, the first-ever crea- tions to emerge from the Private Office Shanghai, opened last year. These striking Bespoke creations will make their public debut at the 18th Beijing International Au- tomotive Exhibition (Auto China 2024). The ‘Spirit of Expression’ commis- sions perfectly embody the tastes of the younger progressive Chinese clients – global trendsetters who commission super-luxury products on their own terms and in their own image. Each exterior colourway captures a fleeting moment in time from a number of remarkable destinations around the world frequented by clients from the Greater China region. These range from the vivid bloom of the Lantana flower in South America to the stunning sands of Sicily’s Cala Luna beach and the expansive sunsets witnessed on Boracay Island in the Western Visayas in the Philippines. Inside each ‘Spirit of Expression’ motor car, a recur- ring celestial motif celebrates the night sky THE SPIRIT OF EXPRESSION THE BIG PICTURE Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a true luxury house, creating the world’s most recognised, revered and desirable handcrafted bespoke products for its international clientele R Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended ‘Magnetism’ Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended ‘Expressionism’THE BIG PICTURE MAY 2024 CEO MIDDLE EAST 5 The front and rear reclining seats are trimmed in Blue Grey, Navy Blue and Arc- tic White leather with Arctic White contrast stitching, seat piping and headrest mono- grams. The door veneer is open-pore Obsid- ian Ayous – a contemporary, tactile finish that celebrates the wood’s natural grain. Rolls-Royce Spectre ‘Escapism’ The bold colourway of Spectre ‘Escap- ism’ recalls the tropics of South America, whence the inspiration for this motor car is drawn. The two-tone exterior is finished in celebratory Lantana Red, referencing the vivid red tones of the Lantana Flower, whose vibrant bloom is believed to bring good luck. The upper section and coachline are rendered in a more subdued Tempest Grey. The 23” seven-spoke part-polished wheels have centres painted in Lantana Red, matching the surface above. The exterior coach- work treatment concludes with a softly illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. Inside, the interior is presented in Selby Grey, Purple Silk and Sunset leath- ers. Sunset is also selected for the seat piping, contrast stitching and headrest monograms. Above, the Starlight Head- liner features 960 fibre-optic ‘stars’ in the Sunset hue, completed with eight white ‘shooting stars’, formed with 192 fibre- optic lights. The Obsidian Ayous veneer extends to the spokes of the Purple Silk steering-wheel, which is complemented by purple instrument dials. ‘Expressionism’ Rolls-Royce Ghost provides the purest blank canvas for Bespoke personalisation. The expressive nature of Ghost is unleashed with the ‘Boracay Blue’ exterior colour of the ‘Expressionism’ commission, evok- ing the sunsets over Boracay Island. This vivid Bespoke colour captures unique hues witnessed during the transition from sunset to twilight, when the sky appears to become one with the Sulu Sea. This is accentuated with a single hand-painted Lime Green Coachline, subtly referencing Boracay Island’s rich, tropical flora and fauna. The exterior is resolved with part-polished 21- inch alloy wheels incorporating Orbit Grey centres and Lime Green pinstripes, shod in White pinstripe tyres. Inside, the seats are trimmed with Black and Arctic White leather with Lime Green accents. The latter hue also appears in the seat and door piping, contrast stitching and headrest monograms. The inner door pockets are embroi- dered with a celestial motif, rendered in Lime Green. To add texture and depth to this elegant expression of contem- porary craft, the marque’s artisans used two different, contrasting stitching techniques. By carefully alternating the direction and angle of the stitch, the embroidery accentuates the curve of the pocket, creating a subtle three-dimen- sional effect. A total of 104,268 stitches are used across all four doors. Above, the Starlight Headliner is presented in a vivid, abstract wave pat- tern, like silk in the wind, mimicking the embroidered pattern on the doors. The design is created with 520 Lime Green and 520 White ‘stars’ with eight White ‘shooting stars’ that follow the curvature of the design. above these extraordinary locations and the inspirational power of the stars. Each of these one-of-one commis- sions has been envisioned as part of a global creative collaboration between the marque’s designers in Goodwood and the Bespoke designer based perma- nently in the Rolls-Royce Private Office Shanghai. Through the growing Private Office network – currently operating in Goodwood, Dubai and Shanghai, with further international launches planned for 2024 – Rolls Royce is immersing its tal- ented creatives in luxury hubs around the world. Here, they can engage with the clients on an even deeper level, thereby elevating the marque’s Bespoke offering and experience still further, whilst also bringing essential regional insights back to the global headquarters at Goodwood. Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended ‘Magnetism’ Representing a modern interpretation of Rolls Royce’s pinnacle model, the Phantom Extended ‘Magnetism’ commission reflects the magnetic ambiance of a beach bay under the night sky. The two-tone exterior coachwork is finished in Cala Luna Sand, inspired by the hue of the moonlit beach sands, and Kabira Blue, reminiscent of the profound intensity of the horizon when the vast sea meets the midnight sky. The exterior is completed with a double coachline hand- painted in Arctic White and Cala Luna Sand. Inside, the celestial concept is brought into technicolour with a complex Starlight Headliner: 768 Galileo Blue and 576 White hand-placed ‘stars’ make up the motif, which becomes animated by a further eight ‘shooting stars’. The rear waterfall is adorned with an intricate expression of the celestial motif in- laid in stainless steel. The motif also appears on the exquisite Gallery artwork, which is embroidered in Arctic White thread on a Navy Blue canvas using satin stitch tech- nique. In total, the Gallery piece comprises 43,096 stitches, carefully placed to make the most of the interplay between light and shadow on the textured surface. The motif is also referenced on the passenger panel. THE BIG PICTURE Rolls-Royce Spectre Escapism6 CEO MIDDLE EAST MAY 2024 ello and welcome to the May issue of CEO Middle East. This month we feature an absolute trailblazer in healthcare – Sherif Beshara, the Group CEO of American Hospital Dubai on the front cover. On page 16, Beshara shares his vision for delivering world-class healthcare through a patient-centric approach and harnessing the power of technology, data and partnerships. His leadership philosophy of balanc- ing purpose, people and performance has guided American Hospital Dubai’s growth into one of the top hospitals in the region. Beshara also discusses the top challenges facing the healthcare sector from keeping pace with innovations to developing skilled talent pools. Ameri- can Hospital Dubai is at the forefront of addressing these challenges through initiatives like their new AI research centre and strategic collaborations. “Healthcare must integrate predic- tive analytics, data forecasting and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with perfor- mance. These advancements align with the region’s commitment to embracing QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? Share your views on thought leadership and innovation by getting in touch: matthew.amlot@itp.com MATTHEW AMLÔT, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR @MATTHEWAMLOT BANKING ON A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Healthcare, education and finance take centre stage this month H EDITOR’S LETTER innovation for enhanced patient care,” Beshara commented – I recommend you check out the interview in full. The banking sector will play a pivotal role in driving the UAE’s future economy. On page 14, we examine how banks are adapting to stay relevant in a rapidly chang- ing financial services landscape. New players are entering the market with digital-only business models while traditional banks work to offer more personalised customer experiences. As project financing needs grow with the country’s diversification agenda, banks must also find innovative ways to fuel sustainable growth across sectors. With government support, the sector is well- positioned to act as a key enabler of the UAE’s economic vision. Securing funding is crucial for startups and young companies to realise their potential. On page 24, we provide tips for entrepreneurs on iden- tifying the right funding partners. It’s important for investors to back prom- ising ideas and teams, and for founders to feel aligned with those investing in their venture. Our insights aim to help matchmakers on both sides find the most synergistic relationships. Higher education has had to transform dramatically with the new world of work. On page 26, we explore how universities are reinvent- ing curriculum, focusing on skills like critical thinking, creativity and social-emotional skills. Partnerships with industries are also growing to ensure graduates emerge job-ready. As the UAE builds a knowledge-based economy, its education sector will play a defining role in nurturing talent and fuelling innovation nationwide. Mobility has become the defining force of our hyper-connected world. On page 30, we discuss how educa- tion now unlocks global opportunities like never before. With online and blended learning gaining ground, students can more easily study abroad or gain international exposure with- out having to leave home. This results in a culturally-diverse, multi-skilled workforce that the UAE needs for sustained competitiveness. With that I’ll let you get to reading. Until next time. 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