ROUNDTABLE SUMMIT 2014

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ROUNDTABLE SUMMITREPORT

2014

INTRODUCTION

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AMCHAM ABU DHABI

Since 1996, AmCham Abu Dhabi has worked to

increase trade, investment, and goodwill between

the United States of America and the Emirate of Abu

Dhabi. AmCham Abu Dhabi is an independent, not-

for-profit trade association comprised of Fortune 500®

corporations, small and medium sized companies, and

prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs. Through

the support of our 600 members, AmCham Abu Dhabi is

the recognized voice of US business in Abu Dhabi.

In furtherance of our mission, AmCham Abu Dhabi

has organized and hosted its annual Roundtable

Summit since 2009. The Summit brings together business

and government leaders from across Abu Dhabi’s

commercial spectrum to discuss business opportunities

and challenges in Abu Dhabi and identify key concerns

and issues for those doing business in the Emirate. This

dialogue allows for the identification of specific business

practices, laws, and government policies that can

realistically be improved in order to further the goals

of increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the UAE,

promoting US exports to the region, enhancing US-

UAE commercial relations, and assisting the Emirate in

achieving the ambitious development plans set forth in

The Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.

THE 2014 ROUNDTABLE SUMMIT

On October 29, 2014, over 150 leading business

executives, entrepreneurs, academics and government

officials gathered at the Yas Viceroy for AmCham Abu

Dhabi’s 6th Annual Roundtable Summit. The Summit

featured a keynote address by UAE Minister of Economy,

HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori.

Other highlights of the Summit included remarks by The

Honorable Michael Corbin, US Ambassador to the UAE;

a presentation by Osman Sultan, CEO of Du, on the

new digital world; and a panel discussion on the results

of the nine industry roundtable sessions led by Timothy

J. Richards, Managing Director of General Electric’s

Government Affairs and Policy in the MENAT region.

The following nine sectors were covered at the Summit:

• Banking & Finance

• Communication, Arts & Culture

• Defense, Aerospace & Security

• Education & Professional Training

• Energy, Water, Oil & Gas

• Engineering, Construction & Project Management

• Healthcare & Insurance

• Hospitality & Tourism

• Information Technology

The issues and recommendations identified in each of the

nine industry sectors can be found in the following pages.

INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEW

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DEVELOPING THE US-UAE COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP

During his keynote address at 2014 Roundtable Summit,

UAE Minister of Economy, His Excellency Sultan bin

Saeed Al Mansoori, celebrated the successes of the US

and UAE’s relationship to date. “The UAE-US bilateral

relationship has evolved over the years to include

partnerships in key areas of mutual interest, such

as trade, commerce, education, financial services,

aviation, and many others. US-UAE trade reached

$26 billion in 2013, and UAE is the top destination for

American exports in the entire MENA region.”

He went on to reiterate the important role that

the business communities in both countries play

in promoting economic cooperation. “The UAE’s

advanced economic structure and business-friendly

environment make our country an ideal economic

partner for US based businesses looking to accelerate

investment and forge symbiotic ties in the region.”

His Excellency further expanded on the vision the UAE

has for its economic future. “The UAE today boasts one

of the most dynamic and diversified economies in the

world. We have successfully reduced the country’s

dependency on oil with the sector’s contribution to the

nation’s GDP standing at just 31 percent. A strategy

to bring this down to 20 percent has already been

set in motion with the country aspiring to become a

knowledge-based sustainable economy. The UAE is

keen to ensure a five percent contribution from the

innovation and knowledge sector to the GDP by 2021.”

THE 2014 ROUNDTABLE SUMMIT REPORT

This Report provides a summary of the Roundtable

discussions held on October 29, 2014, and the top

recommendations of each industry sector group. The

Report is intended to serve as a resource for the Abu

Dhabi – United States Economic Council, US and UAE

government officials, as well as other business leaders,

regulators, academics, policy makers, and concerned

individuals who share AmCham Abu Dhabi’s goal of

increasing FDI and US exports and enhancing strong

commercial, political and cultural ties between the

United Arab Emirates and the United States.

AmCham Abu Dhabi and the Roundtable delegates

recognize that the issues addressed at the Roundtable

Summit and in this Report concern complex economic,

legal, and commercial policy matters that may require

further analysis and deliberation. This Report is summary

in nature and cannot address all of the considerations

relevant to the issues raised. The Report is intended

to highlight those areas of greatest concern to the

delegates at the Summit and is offered as a tool for

private and public sector leaders as they face the

challenges of rapid economic development and

diversification goals in a challenging and competitive

global marketplace. AmCham Abu Dhabi respectfully

offers this Report in the spirit of partnership with the UAE

and welcomes the opportunity to work collaboratively

with our US and UAE stakeholders to address these

challenges.

OVERVIEW

BANKING & FINANCEFacilitator: Declan Hegarty, JPMorgan

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NEW AND UNCONVENTIONAL PAYMENT CHANNELS

“Our collective global experience of current changes

can benefit Abu Dhabi”

Payment platforms are evolving rapidly, with mobile

phones and other channels supplementing traditional

bank platforms. The consensus of delegates, which

includes a broad cross section of financial institutions,

technology companies and legal firms, is that this

evolution presents an important opportunity for the UAE.

Proposed Action: Encourage the UAE Central Bank to canvass opinions from a wider group of relevant players

in new and unconventional banking and payment

channels. The delegates of the Finance Roundtable

would be pleased to provide input.

INCREASE ENGAGEMENT WITH KEY UAE ENTITIES

“Enhance efficiency to be competitive globally”

Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE market are currently

enjoying a return to good levels of liquidity and

improved access to capital. Increased engagement

with entities such as the UAE Central Bank, Abu

Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and the Securities

and Commodities Authority will lead to continued

development of regulation, investor protection, and

clarity on certainty of financial transactions. This will

ensure that Abu Dhabi enhances its standing in the

competitive global environment.

Proposed Action: To offer our service as a sounding board to the new financial zone at ADGM in order

to share experiences of global best practice. Key

to this would be ensuring that the developments

onshore and offshore are complimentary and are

looked at holistically between the UAE Central Bank,

Dubai International Financial Centre, Securities &

Commodities Authority and the ADGM.

SME ACCESS TO FINANCE

“There are more similarities than differences between

the US and the UAE on core issues of when and how to

fund a growing company”

Notwithstanding the general improvement in liquidity

levels, the SME sector still appears to be experiencing

varied results in the ability to borrow due to different

compliances and credit requirements.

Proposed Action: Continue the education of SME entrepreneurs on appropriate sources of finance,

engagement, and the right way to approach potential

sources of debt and equity capital, including various

initiatives such as the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise

Development.

BANKING & FINANCE

COMMUNICATION, ARTS & CULTUREFacilitator: Sana Bagersh, BrandMoxieRapporteur: Omar Al Busaidy, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

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ENGAGING KEY PLAYERS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATION, ARTS & CULTURE

“Streamline and encourage collaboration”

Many of the entities* in Abu Dhabi that are involved in

communication, arts and culture work independently

of each other, and are unaware of the projects and

actions of their peers. Establishing communication

between artists will result in powerful collaborations,

the streamlining of activities, and the leveraging of

partnership opportunities.

Proposed Action: To have delegates map the players in the communication, arts, and culture industry. Create

a working group to begin dialogue, and develop a plan

to work together and achieve common goals.

FOCUS ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION TO FACILITATE CREATIVITY

“Enable artists to produce more and sustain themselves”

Intellectual property (IP) protection is a major issue

facing artists in the UAE. Lack of IP protection in artistic

fields stifles creativity and output, as artists fear that

their rights will be compromised and they will not be

fairly compensated. This also discourages international

companies from initiating, and investing in projects in

the UAE.

Proposed Action: Create an IP White Paper that will explore IP policy in the UAE, introduce best practices,

and spur innovation and investments.

ESTABLISH MORE SUPPORTIVE PLATFORMS FOR ARTISTS AND MAKE ART ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE

“Expand access to the arts”

Currently, locally based artists find it challenging to

source platforms and spaces to show, promote, and sell

their work. At the same time, those who attend these

events are ‘the same people’ who are educated and

‘art-savvy’. Much of the population is still not exposed

to the arts.

Proposed Action: Create opportunities and provide better support for artists to receive exposure. Facilitate

access to the arts to a broader segment of the

population, through communication, education, and

the sharing of these works in more public places.

*Important note: the words ‘art’ and ‘artists’ are used to refer to those working in the communication, arts and culture industry, including artists, musicians, performers, film-makers, designers, cultural storytellers, etc.

COMMUNICATION, ARTS & CULTURE

DEFENSE, AEROSPACE & SECURITYFacilitator: Dr. Roy Panzarella, PhD, Lockheed Martin Global Inc.Rapporteur: Philomena Perera, Lockheed Martin Global Inc.

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WORKING TOWARDS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTRACTORS AND CLIENTS

“Build dialogue between legal teams”

The Directorate of General Purchasing (DGP) has

introduced new draft contract language to be

used in all future defense contracts which may have

unintended consequences. Key areas to be addressed

are: Firstly, the increased confidentiality obligations on

contractors, which may inhibit effective partnerships.

Secondly, the new burden of responsibility placed

on contractors securing government export licenses,

which could result in a company who fails to gain

export approval from the US Government being held

in breach. Finally, the replenishment of unlimited

performance bonds will also affect the competitiveness

of companies in the region.

Proposed Action: Attempt to discover the motivation behind introducing the new language, and if it has

been put into action yet. Work with the new Emirates

Defense Industry Company to bring about changes

to contractual terms and conditions, focusing on

an enterprise-wide solution. Collectively propose

alternative contractual language to the DGP in order to

find mutually agreeable terms, working with US Embassy

to have message engaged with at a government-to-

government level.

RAISING AWARENESS OF EXPORT ISSUES IN WASHINGTON, DC

“Create an environment of trust”

A lack of trust in the US administration, and a failure to

understand the importance of the UAE as a trading

partner to the US, has led to exporting issues. This is a

major deterrent for US companies interested in doing

business in the UAE, and a roadblock to those already

in the region.

Proposed Action: Create a testimonial aimed at educating influencers in Washington, DC and

integrate efforts to change perspectives on the UAE in

collaboration with AmCham’s Annual Advocacy Week

in Washington, DC.

DEFENSE, AEROSPACE & SECURITY

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL TRAININGFacilitator: Mary Corrado, AMIDEAST Rapporteur: Jodi Sanger-Weaver, AMIDEAST

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IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO BENEFIT ACADEMIC STANDARDS & ACCREDITATION

“Streamline information sharing and clarity”

A more cohesive portal for communication between

educators and the UAE government could vastly

benefit academic standards and accreditation.

Progress is currently hindered by a lack of consistency

between governmental agencies in deciding and

enforcing standards. This is made more difficult by

the inability to get suggestions or complaints to the

correct government representatives. Further, the

non-recognition of accredited online degrees and

home-schooling (which also suffers from a lack of

guidelines) creates obstacles for local talent and the

recruitment of expat families. The current requirements

for accreditation are overly focused on operational

minutia, to the detriment of an open framework.

Proposed Action: Develop standards for, and recognition of, home-schooling programs. Change

the focus of standards to a more open framework

that promotes creativity in thought and allows for

accreditation and recognition of different educational

programs and degrees.

OPEN UP SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT TO NON-PROFITS

“Allow non-profit schools to flourish and create space

for learning”

Current requirements for financial viability create a

huge barrier for non-profits to develop new schools

in Abu Dhabi. These schools could provide much

needed lower-end capacity, which is vital for

attracting professionals with families to work in Abu

Dhabi. They would also contribute to the desired

educational diversification, capacity growth, and

quality improvement in line with Abu Dhabi Vision

2030.

Proposed Action: Highlight to government that it is in the interest of everyone to encourage SME, non-profit

schools through providing low-interest loans for land and

assisted financing to help with fees. Tying this financial

aid to standards would also ensure quality control.

ARABIC AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS IN THE CLASSROOM

“Encouraging bilingual development”

Both languages are important to the UAE’s progress -

English is necessary for the UAE’s competitiveness on the

global market, while Arabic is key to cultural heritage

and identity. There is a scarcity of professionals who are

both fluent Arabic speakers, and trained teachers, with

the methodology and training to teach both native

and non-native speakers. Poor grammar and writing

skills are the key areas of weakness in both languages.

The rigidity and dullness of the current Arabic curriculum

hinders student engagement.

Proposed Action: As suggested for accreditation, the Arabic curriculum could be vastly improved by allowing

for flexibility of content. Countries with successful

bilingual education programs (Lebanon, for example)

should be studied. Further, exchanges with Arabic

language programs in the US should be encouraged

and incentivized as professional development to

advance language-teaching skills in Abu Dhabi.

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

ENERGY, WATER, OIL & GASFacilitator: Sami Kamel, GE Power & Water Rapporteur: Sarah Lea Safarian, GE Power & Water

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OPTIMIZATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

“The region has the highest energy consumption in the

world”

Fossil fuel dependency is a global issue, and one

that is becoming increasingly worrisome given the

scarcity of natural resources. In the face of these

developments, the optimization of energy efficiency

is paramount. The delegates of the Roundtable have

a wealth of global experience in energy efficiency,

and must look for, and create, ways to share this

knowledge with policymakers.

Proposed Action: Delegates will collaborate with Abu Dhabi and UAE policymakers to discuss energy

efficiency policy, including new pricing systems

to reduce natural resource subsidies, global best

practices, and available technologies. Specific

examples include: pricing of resources to reflect

underlying costs, time of day pricing, promoting the

integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) in new buildings,

incentivizing power plant operators to invest in fuel

saving/output optimization technology, and water

reuse solutions in the broader community.

INCREASE TRANSPARENCY OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK

“Greater clarity and transparency will lead to a more

efficient industry”

There currently exists a lack of clarity and transparency

on legal matters involving the energy sector. Sector

participants are unsure of existing laws, procurement

guidelines, and government procurement laws,

including the issuing of tenders and the evaluation

process. There is an over-emphasis on the cheapest

investment, rather than the life-cycle cost of technology.

Proposed Action: Delegates will develop a model contract to facilitate transparency within the

bidding process. Request the AmCham Legal Affairs

Committee to hold a seminar on the benefits of life-

cycle cost evaluation. Further, arrange a meeting

between AmCham members and Abu Dhabi and

UAE Energy sector ministries to provide clarity on how

to write Requests for Proposals, the tendering and

evaluation process, and procurement laws, as well as

raise concerns and answer questions regarding existing

laws, and those which need to be built.

US-UAE INNOVATION PLATFORM

“There is an opportunity to transfer knowledge and

experience from the US to the UAE within the innovation

space”

As of April 2014, the UAE government implemented new

law to support the establishment and development of

SMEs, which will be key to the UAE’s continued growth.

However, without a local authority to ensure the law is

being implemented, opportunities are being missed.

Proposed Action: Create a local authority to facilitate SME pre-qualification, and ensure SME law is being

enforced. Create a US-UAE innovation platform to

allow for, and encourage, collaboration and facilitate

the sharing of expertise and knowledge from US SMEs

to those in the UAE.

ENERGY, WATER, OIL & GAS

ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENTFacilitator: David Welch, International Bechtel Company Ltd. Rapporteur: David Muirhead, Parsons International Ltd.

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STRENGTHENING AND FEDERALIZING ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION LAWS

“Transparency of laws and consistency of their application

is key”

Concerns were raised about the depth and breadth

of contracts within the sector, and their application

within the UAE. Currently there is an uneven application

of law between the different Emirates, depending

on whether they are enforced by the local courts or

not. Examples were given of arbitrary changes being

made, without explanation, after the pre-qualification

and selection process of designers for high profile

projects, or inconclusive results of dispute arbitration.

Development of a well-accepted Arbitration Clause

(for FDIC contracts), and the development of a Federal

Authority for Dispute Resolution, would be the best way

to ensure transparency of laws, and consistency in

application and enforcement.

Proposed Action: Develop a White Paper addressing key issues facing the sector, including the federalization

of dispute resolution within the UAE, to be presented to

the Economic Policy Dialogue, inclusive of AmCham

board members and the Ministry of Economy.

Collaborate with other recognized business groups

(i.e. British, French, BeNeLux, Canadian) to establish a

collective voice.

LICENSING AND REGISTRATION OF ENGINEERS AND DESIGN FIRMS

“Streamline licensing requirements to increase efficiency”

Registration requirements vary from year to year, and

there are inconsistencies and variations between local

government agencies for work in utilities, transportation,

and buildings, which would normally be uniform.

Classification of engineer’s with the UAE Society of

Engineering is also inconsistent.

Proposed Action: Include suggestions of how to streamline the registration process to the proposed

White Paper, to be presented to Abu Dhabi Municipality,

Musanada, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Dubai

Municipality, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority,

and Dubai World Central. Apply for World Trade

Organization norms for pre-qualification requirements.

BUILDING UP THE UAE SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS

“Provide a platform to develop young talent”

Registration and development of an internationally

recognized UAE Society of Engineers, modeled on the

US American Society of Engineers, is needed to assist

with the registration of professional engineers and the

development of young engineers. This would provide

a platform for the structured training, and testing, of

graduates and help identify and classify qualified

engineers, which would be very useful to the ongoing

Emiratization process.

Proposed Action: Establish a task force to help the sector partner with UAE universities with strong

engineering programs (the American University of

Sharjah, Petroleum Institute), and forge connections

with internationally recognized civil society type

technical groups, American Society of Civil

Engineers (ASCE), Association of Communication

Engineers (ACE), etc.

ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

HEALTHCARE& INSURANCEFacilitator: Manaf Afyouni, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Facilitator: Dr. Sami Alom, Al Noor Hospitals GroupRapporteur: Benedikt Mitis, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

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LICENSING OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

“Streamline and expedite the licensing process”

There are currently a number of licensing requirements

for healthcare professionals in the UAE that create

difficulties in recruiting clinical staff from the US. These

include the level of documentation required (e.g

high school certificates, case logs of the previous two

years); board certified practitioners require years of

experience before being able to obtain a UAE license;

there are inconsistent requirements between Emirates;

and the lack of recognition of other necessary medical

titles (Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Nurse

Anesthetists etc.)

Proposed Action: Advocate for the recognition of American credentials and thus reduce documentation

requirements, allow board certified practitioners

to become licensed by removing the prohibitive

experience requirements and centralize and unify the

UAE’s licensing agencies.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

“Differentiating between civil and criminal medical

malpractice complaints in the UAE”

There are serious concerns regarding the potential

for criminal liability arising from medical malpractice

claims, particularly claims based on an incident that

does not have the level of culpability attached to give

rise to criminal liability in other jurisdictions. The potential

of imprisonment while claims are investigated is also

of concern to healthcare providers, practitioners, and

institutions.

Proposed Action: An administrative order that requests police and prosecutors refer criminal

complaints brought before them to a medical

complaint review board at the appropriate

healthcare authority (Ministry of Health, Heath

Authority Abu Dhabi or the Dubai Health Authority).

The medical complaint review board should then

review the incident and provide its opinion on the

culpability of the relevant healthcare provider,

practitioner or institutions prior to police and

prosecutors pressing criminal charges.

ABU DHABI BASIC PLAN

“Update basic coverage to better protect the workforce

of Abu Dhabi”

The basic insurance coverage, introduced six to seven

years ago, has not been overhauled since then, and

no longer reflects the current market, particularly with

regards to inflation and premiums. A majority of the UAE

workforce is low income, and covered by basic plans.

Re-evaluating the plans would lead to better and more

efficient coverage.

Proposed Action: Revise the existing basic coverage, taking into consideration the following: inflation

multiplier, premiums, caps for expenditures, impact on

industry (providers, governments and employers), and

experiences and innovations from the US market.

HEALTHCARE & INSURANCE

HOSPITALITY & TOURISMFacilitator: Oliver Key, St. Regis Abu Dhabi Rapporteur: Antoine Nassrallah, St. Regis Abu Dhabi

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MODERNIZING ABU DHABI AS A TOURIST DESTINATION

“Destinations must embrace the digital revolution”

The marketing of a destination is key to the survival of

any city trying to hold its place in the tourism sector.

Abu Dhabi is facing strong competition from both

regional and international competitors, which makes

a comprehensive digital marketing strategy vital. The

industry needs to present Abu Dhabi as the destination

of choice for the next generation of travelers.

Proposed Action: Work with the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and relevant government bodies

to formulate a digital marketing strategy for Abu

Dhabi as a destination. Suggestions include a YouTube

campaign, or free Wi-Fi throughout the city.

EMIRATIZATION

“The integration of Emiratis is key to the success of the

industry”

Currently a very small percentage of Emirati nationals

work within the hospitality sector. If the industry is able to

attract more Emiratis, it will further diversify and enhance

the workforce, as well as making for a more authentic,

and culturally connected experience for our guests.

Proposed Action: Request assistance from the local government to make hiring Emiratis more viable, in

order to diversify the workforce and enhance guests’

cultural experience and connection while in hotels.

STAFF WELL-BEING

“Staff members deserve proper recognition”

We propose mounting an effort to reclassify hospitality

employees from ‘workers’ to ‘skilled employees’, in order

to open up accommodation possibilities. This will relieve

pressure on the industry to source adequate housing for

staff, and increase team member’s quality of life during

their time in Abu Dhabi. This will also greatly enhance

recruitment efforts and staff retention throughout the

industry.

Proposed Action: Increase the classification of hospitality employee from worker to skilled employee.

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYFacilitator: Mazen Farraj, Intel Corporation Rapporteur: Hadi Mitri, Intel Corporation

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RE-ENGINEERING HUMAN CAPITAL BASICS

“Skilled Emiratis are earmarked for the government

sector”

The IT sector is currently facing several challenges in

managing, attracting and retaining human capital

capable of developing innovation in the UAE. The

usual incentives that attract expat employees do not

resonate in this sector and would require a more tailored

approach to be successful. This is compounded by a

lack of engagement within the industry amongst young,

skilled, Emirati graduates.

Proposed Action: Create a committee to supervise a seeding exercise of UAE nationals into the private

sector in order to ensure proper knowledge transfer

and to create interest within the sector. Suggest

restructuring incentives to recruit and retain skilled

expat employees and to facilitate the visa entry and

employment process.

DEVELOPING A CULTURE OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

“We need to build an international culture and brand

for R&D in the UAE”

Abu Dhabi is in the infancy stage of becoming a

research and development hub. Articulating a value

proposition that resonates both locally and globally will

encourage this development. A culture of transparency

and openness that is complimented by basic regulation

around intellectual property rights will encourage

engagement with Abu Dhabi as a R&D hub.

Proposed Action: Invest in brand awareness and communication to ensure that the right culture for

research and development is fostered within the

Emirate. The AmCham Legal Affairs Committee is

available to advise on best practices for intellectual

property rights, and retention and management, with

a specific focus on encouraging academia.

BRIDGING THE GAP IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

“There is still an opportunity to create a large scale

impact with increased investment”

There is a continued need for government investment

in information technology and innovation, which at

the moment is comparatively shallow. Information

and communication technology is an integral part of

our personal and professional lives and it is therefore

necessary to fuel innovative research and development

projects within the UAE, throughout the IT sector, and to

support further education and training.

Proposed Action: The UAE ICT Fund has a unique opportunity to accelerate investment, and unparalleled

access to funds that can both create and increase

impact. Delegates will develop and propose actionable

ideas and suggestions for the ICT Fund.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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2014 ROUNDTABLE SUMMIT SPONSORS

• Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi• General Electric• Lockheed Martin Global Inc.• Gulf Alliance Company – A Perot Company • Louis Berger• United Airlines, Inc.

ABU DHABI GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

• HE Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES

• The Honorable Michael H. Corbin, United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

• John Simmons, Regional Senior Commercial Officer for the Gulf and Counselor for Commercial Affairs, US Embassy Abu Dhabi

• Fred Aziz, Commercial Officer, US Embassy Abu Dhabi

2014 ROUNDTABLE COMMITTEE

• Timothy J. Richards (Chair), General Electric • Omar Al Busaidy, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture

Authority• Dr. Qaiser Anis, PhD, Alliot Hadi Shahid • Matthew E. Byrd, Gulf Alliance Company – A Perot Company • Manal El Masry, US Embassy• John Habib, Qasimi Law Partners MENA• Chloe Hartwell, General Electric• Sandra Helayel, General Electric• Diony Koyess, Reach Group• Christopher O’Neill, Abu Dhabi Department of

Economic Development

• Dr. Kate O’Neill, PhD, Zayed University • Dr. Roy Panzarella, PhD, Lockheed Martin Global, Inc. • Beth Hopkins Rodabaugh, Cleveland Clinic Abu

Dhabi• Dr. Elias Sayah, PhD, Sayah Engineering MENA• Christina Struller, AmCham Abu Dhabi• Theresa F. Weber, AmCham Abu Dhabi

ROUNDTABLE SUMMIT FACILITATORS

• Manaf Afyouni, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

• Dr. Sami Alom, Al Noor Hospitals Group

• Sana Bagersh, BrandMoxie

• Mary Corrado, AMIDEAST

• Mazen Farraj, Intel Corporation

• Declan Hegarty, JPMorgan

• Sami Kamel, GE Power & Water

• Oliver Key, St. Regis Abu Dhabi

• Dr. Roy Panzarella, PhD, Lockheed Martin Global Inc.

• David Welch, International Bechtel Company

Limited

ROUNDTABLE SUMMIT REPORT PRODUCTION

• Amigos Advertising and Publishing

• Iris Media

AMCHAM ABU DHABI STAFF

• Theresa F. Weber, Executive Director

• Christina Struller, Membership Director

• Noor Barghouti, Events Manager

• Christina Villaluz, Accounts & Membership Manager

• Natasha Consolati, Communications Coordinator

• Muhammed Ali NPK, Office Administrator

• Zenaida Carpio, Administrative Coordinator

• Hesham Abdullah, Intern

• John Gunnison, Intern

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

AmCham Abu Dhabi expresses its deep appreciation to the following individuals, companies and institutions for their

generous contributions to the organization of the 2014 Roundtable Summit.

AmCham Abu Dhabi

Trademark of the American Business Group of Abu Dhabi

P.O Box 43710, Abu Dhabi, UAE

T: +971 2 631 3604

F: +971 2 633 0489

E: inquiries@amchamabudhabi.org

www.AmChamAbuDhabi.org

©Copyright 2014 – American Business Group of Abu Dhabi

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غرفة التجارة األمريكية في أبوظبيالعالمة التجارية لمجموعة األعمال األمريكية في أبوظبي

صندوق بريد 43710، أبو ظبي، اإلمارات العربية المتحدةT: +971 2 631 3604

F: +971 2 633 0489

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www.AmChamAbuDhabi.org

© جميع الحقوق محفوظة 2014 - مجموعة األعمال األمريكية في أبو ظبيوعلى خالف ذلك، تعود الملكية وجميع الحقوق مضمون هذا التقرير الذي أعدته مجموعة األعمال األمريكية في أبوظبي )لغرفة التجارة

األمريكية أبوظبي(. مضمون هذا التقرير، وال يجوز نسخه أو إعادة كتابته أو نشره أو تحميله أو بثه أو نقله بأي شكل من األشكال دون الحصول أوال على إذن صريح من مجموعة األعمال األمريكية في أبوظبي.

تهدف غرفة التجارة األمريكية إلى تعزيز التجارة واالستثمار وتقوية العالقات بين الواليات المتحدة األمريكية وإمارة أبوظبي بدولة اإلمارات العربية المتحدة.

غرفة التجارة األمريكية في أبوظبي، العالمة التجارية لمجموعة األعمال األمريكية في أبوظبي، العضو في الشبكة العالمية لغرف التجارة األمريكية

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