Young Arab Leaders (YAL) holds Board of Directors Meeting and Leadership Retreat in Dubai
Executive Leadership gauges progress and formulates strategy for the future
Young Arab Leaders (YAL), the region’s foremost development platform for business, public sector and civil society leaders, recently held the first meeting of its newly-elected Board of Directors in Dubai, along with a Leadership Retreat for the Board Members and Executive Management of the eight YAL National Chapters.
Chaired by H.E. Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Chairman of YAL, the Board of Directors is YAL’s highest executive entity. Apart from leading the organisation, the Board of Directors devises strategic plans and works to ensure the financial sustainability of the organization.
The Leadership Retreat was aimed at setting the tone for YAL’s future activities and laying a strong framework for the organization’s development in the coming five years. During the Retreat, members agreed that the way forward for the organization is to be a partner and facilitator in enhancing education, employment and entrepreneurship across the Arab region through initiatives and programs that empower and develop youth.
Commenting on the event, H.E. Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Chairman, YAL, said: ” YAL’s members come from across the Arab region but they are united by their spirit of leadership and their commitment to the vision of a strong and prosperous Arab region. The first meeting of the Board of Directors and the Leadership Retreat provided us opportunities to develop a new coherent strategy for promoting further positive change in the region. These meetings, that will form an integral part of YAL’s Annual Events Calendar, not only ensure that YAL functions according to the highest standards of corporate governance, but also ensure the uniformity of our goals and objectives.”
Speaking at the close of the meeting, Assem O. Kabesh, Chief Executive Officer, YAL, said: “The meeting was a great opportunity for the executive leadership to gauge progress against previously set objectives and discuss ways to maximize YAL’s impact in the Arab World. While we are proud of what YAL has achieved so far, the meeting enabled us to chart a new way forward that will make YAL’s programmes even more effective. The results of these meetings will be cascaded to YAL’s chapters across the Arab world to ensure that all members are well-informed and closely involved in implementing the organization’s strategic plans”.
YAL’s Board of Directors is composed of the Chairman, six members and a non-voting Director. The first Board was elected in August 2008, to oversee YAL operations until December 2010, when its tenure comes to an end according to YAL’s by-laws.
YAL has so far established National Chapters in eight Arab countries - Bahrain, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, UAE. More Chapters are in the process of being established. National Chapters are incorporated as independent, not-for-profit entities and are aimed at realizing the organization’s mission and expanding its membership base. Elections are held for all leadership positions in the National Chapters as well as for membership of the Chapters’ Boards of Directors.
1 - YAL Board of Directors who attended the Leadership Retreat:
H.E. Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman,
Chairman of YAL Board of Directors, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Mr. Assem O. Kabesh,
Chief Executive Officer, Young Arab Leaders, Non Voting Director
Dr. Abdul-Malik Ahmad Al-Jaber,
YAL Palestine Chapter, Vice Chairman & CEO, The PalTel Group
Ms. Najla Al Awadhi,
YAL UAE Chapter, member of the UAE Parliament (Federal National Council)
Dr. Nada S. Al Mutawa,
YAL Kuwait Chapter, Researcher and GCC Specialist Center for Strategic and Future Studies, Kuwait University
Mr. Louis Georges Hakim,
YAL UAE Chapter, VP Royal Philips Electronics / CEO, Philips ME
Mr. Rami Makhzoumi,
YAL UAE Chapter, President and CEO, Future Pipe Industries
Mr. Mustafa Abdel-Wadood,
YAL UAE Chapter, Managing Director, Abraaj Capital
2 - YAL National Chapters Chairmen who attended the Leadership Retreat:
Bahrain: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa
Jordan: Ala’ Khalifeh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Sheikh Salah AL Kahtani
Kuwait: Farid Al Fozan
Lebanon: Emile Khoury
Palestine: Odeh Shehadeh
Qatar: Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani
UAE: Sheikh Sultan Sooud Khalid Al Qassemi
