DBWC & AUB: Reading the Region and Shaping What’s Next

September 26^th, 2026

The DBWC brought together senior members of Dubai’s business community on 24 September 2026 for an exclusive breakfast briefing examining the economic and global shifts set to influence business, investment and leadership decisions across the Gulf in 2026–27.

Hosted in collaboration with the AUB Academic & Executive Hub, DIFC, and the Lebanese Business Council in Dubai, the session combined regional market intelligence, executive perspectives and high-level business networking.

The programme opened with a warm welcome from H.E. Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Founder and President of the Board of the Dubai Business Women Council, who welcomed members and guests and highlighted the importance of creating platforms that bring together business leaders, share knowledge and strengthen meaningful connections across the region’s business communities. This was followed by remarks from Charles Jeha, President of the Lebanese Business Council, before Professor Yusuf Sidani, Dean of the Suliman Olayan School of Business at AUB, introduced AUB’s newly established Academic & Executive Hub in DIFC and its Executive MBA programme.

At the centre of the morning was a keynote by Dr. Henry Azzam, Director of the AUB Academic & Executive Hub, titled “Reading the Region: Gulf Markets, Global Shifts, and What It Means for Business Leaders in 2026–27.” His analysis of regional markets and wider global developments prompted an engaging exchange with attendees, extending into a substantive Q&A on the issues shaping the current business environment.

A significant outcome of the collaboration was the announcement of an exclusive 50% Dean’s Scholarship, jointly introduced by DBWC and the AUB Academic & Executive Hub for eligible DBWC members and invited business council guests.

The briefing concluded with an extended networking session, creating new connections between AUB leadership and Dubai’s business community and opening further avenues for executive development, knowledge exchange and cross-community collaboration.