The 17th Arab Economic Forum was held on 2 and 3 April 2009 in Beirut, under the patronage of HE President of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon H.E. Fuad Siniora, and with the attendance of key Arab and international figures.

HE Nader AL Dahabi, Prime Minister of Jordan was the guest of honor at the forum, and high profile attendees included the Former Lebanese Prime Minister, HE Najib Mikati, HE Abdullah Bin Ahmad Zeinal Alireza, Minister of Trade and Industry in KSA, H.E. Adnan Kassar, President, General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries, H.E. Riad Salamé, Governor, Central Bank of Lebanon, HE Salem Abdulaziz Al Sabah, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait, HE Sheikh Khaled Bin Saud AL Thani, Deputy Governor of Qatar Central Bank, H.E. Sheikh Saad Hariri, Member, Lebanese Parliament and HE Sheikh Saleh Kamel, President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in addition to over 600 delegates that included Arab ministers, former ministers, leading officials, high level speakers, and a large numbers of business, finance and investment leaders and economic personalities.

The Forum contained 6 sessions in addition to the opening ceremony. The sessions discussed the following topics:

• Facing the Crisis
• Investing in Education and Human Resources
• How the Crisis is Likely to Impact FDI and Economic Reform
• The New Fundamentals of Real Estate Markets
• The Financing Gap and the Future of Banking Industry
• Impact of the Crisis on Arab Industries

The forum also presented the “Life Time Achievement Award” to H.E. Fuad Siniora, President of the Council of Ministers, H.E. Eng. Nader Al Dahabi, Prime Minister of Jordan, and H.E. Sheikh Salem Abdul Aziz Al Sabah, Governor, Central Bank of Kuwait. As well, “The Rafic Hariri Leadership Award” was granted to H.E. Abdullah Bahamdan, Chairman, The National Commercial Bank, Saudi Arabia, and “The Bassel Fleihan Young Leaders Award” was presented to Dr. Khater Massaad, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority, UAE.

The Arab Economic Forum 2009 was organized by Al Iktissad Wal Aamal Group in cooperation with the Central Bank of Lebanon, the Association of Banks in Lebanon, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank.