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October 2026

THE FULL PROGRAMME

Day 1, Thursday 30 October

Stay tuned for updates on the agenda & speakers!

09:00 - 10:05
Opening
Registration & Networking
10:05 - 10:10
Welcome remarks from Emcee
Welcome Remarks

 

Richard Dean, Journalist, Broadcaster    

10:10 - 10:15
Address
Informa Markets’ Address
10:15 - 10:35
International Keynote Address
Navigating The New World Order: Investing in Uncertain Times
  • A new world order is emerging: tariffs, trade wars, market tumbles, growing uncertainty — so the question everyone’s asking: are we in for an economic downturn?
  • And investors — how can they best navigate these rough seas? Sit tight or react?
  • And the region, should it brace for a shift as well
 

Rajeev Sibal, Deputy Chief Global Economist, Morgan Stanley

10:35 - 11:15
Investment Talks (Panel)
Real Estate as an Engine of Economic Recovery and Growth
  • Impact of inflation and interest rates.
  • Cross-border investments, evolving capital flows.
  • Opportunities in emerging markets.

 

Moderator:

  • Steve Bramley Jackson, Global Head of Real Estate Research, HSBC

 

Panellists:

  • Jason Kow, Founder and CEO, Queensgate Investments
  • Joseph Sitt, Founder and CEO, Thor Equities
11:15 - 11:55
Investment Talks (Panel)
Middle East Real Estate Boom: Region’s Growing Appeal
  • Mega projects transforming the Gulf.
  • FDI, regulatory frameworks, policies, incentives.
  • Multi-investment opportunities across asset classes.
  • Diversifying for better ROI.
     

Moderator:

  • Richard Dean, Journalist, Broadcaster

 

Panellists:

  • Ramy Zaghoul, Chief Development Officer-Aldar Investments, Aldar
  • James Joughin, Executive Director, Colliers
  • Saeed Mohamed Al Qatami, Chief Executive Officer, Deyaar
11:55 - 12:35
Break
Coffee and Networking Break
12:35 - 12:50
Keynote
The next chapter of ultra-luxury investment and tourism

Mahdi Amjad, Founder and Executive, OMNIYAT Group

12:50 - 13:10
Presentation + Rapid Fire Q&A
Rewriting the RAK Investment Story
  • Short video
  • An overview of economic growth in RAK
  • The value of ESG
  • Market transparency
  • Global partnerships

 

Sameh Muhtadi, Chief Executive Officer, RAK Properties

13:10 - 13:40
Leaders’ Dialogue
Leaders’ Dialogue: Tourism, Regional Economic Driver
  • Tourism-driven investments, major giga projects.
  • Culture and heritage tourism.
  • Major sporting events as drivers: FIFA, Olympics, etc.
  • Cornering the MICE market (meetings, incentives, conferences, events).

Moderator:

  • Aaron Goldring, Senior Economist, Oxford Economics

Panellists:

  • Souhilla Taarabit, Group Head of Corporate Travel Services, Al Futtaim
  • Brent Anderson, Chief Commercial Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism and Development Authority (RAKTDA)
13:40 - 14:40
Break
Networking & lunch

    

14:40 - 15:20
Hospitality Champions (Panel)
Hospitality: New Wave of Growth
  • Changing hospitality trends, aligning development with post-pandemic travel demands.
  • Opportunities in RAK’s luxury hospitality market.
  • Opportunities for international institutional investors.
  • New hospitality deals.

Moderator:

  • Tatiana Veller, Managing Director, Stirling Hospitality Advisors

Panellists: 

  • Khalid Anib, Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company
  • Christopher Hewett, Senior Vice President, Hospitality & Leisure, Al Hamra
  • George Saad, Chief Executive Officer, Al Zorah Development
15:20 - 16:10
The Gamechangers’ Forum
Gamechanger: Integrated resorts with gaming, what do they mean for RAK and wider region?
  • Presentation — Impact study
  • Macau, Singapore and Vegas as case studies Economic impact, tourist influx
  • Investment opportunities

Speaker

  • Tariq Bsharat, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer, Marjan

Panel Discussion 

  • Moderator: Nishchint Vaid, Senior Director, EY

  • Abdulla Al Abdouli, CEO, Marjan

  • Alison Grinell, COO, Marjan

  • Max Tappeiner, President, Wynn Al Marjan Island

16:10 - 16:40
Panel
Digital Innovation: Tokenization and fintech solutions transforming real estate access
  • Democratizing premium property investment - How is real estate being made accessible through fractional ownership and innovative investment structures

  • Fintech infrastructure and payment solutions - Advanced payment technologies and digital financial services enabling seamless property tokenization and investor transactions
  • Regulatory landscape and compliance frameworks - Navigating the region’s evolving digital asset regulations and ensuring robust investor protection in tokenized real estate investments

Moderator:

  • Silvia Eldawi, Founder, PROPOLOGI

Panellists:

  • Manar Mahmassani, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Stake
  • Richard Crook, CEO, Deus X Pay
16:40 - 17:00
End of day 1
Closing remarks
17:00 - 20:00
End of Day
Networking drinks followed by dinner