More than 500 senior government and business leaders, alongside sustainability experts from around the region and world, are expected to gather today and tomorrow for the fourth edition of the Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME).
The two-day event will kick off today at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, under the theme ‘Advancing Alignment, Innovation and Implementation for Energy and Climate Transformation’, in the presence of Oil and Environment Minister and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs Dr Mohammed Bin Daina.
SFME will also feature high-level discussions between more than 50 experts, as well as workshops delivered by top firms.
The forum will begin with a special address by GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, followed by a welcome address by Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) chief executive Amna Hamad Al Rumaihi and an opening keynote delivered by UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin.
“As Sustainability Forum Middle East enters its fourth edition, the focus is firmly on moving from ambition to execution,” SFME founder and organiser Laila Danesh added.
Laila Danesh
“The region has made significant commitments on energy transition and climate action; the priority now is alignment across policy, finance and industry, and the practical implementation needed to deliver real economic and environmental outcomes.
“SFME has become a convening platform where decision-makers, capital providers and solution leaders come together to translate strategy into action – supporting competitiveness, resilience and long-term value creation as the region accelerates its transition to a low-carbon future.”
Today’s first panel will be titled ‘National Vision Panel: Sustainability Strategies for Competitiveness and Growth’ and will feature comments by Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro and Bahrain Bourse chief executive officer Shaikh Khalifa bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa. The discussion will be moderated by Boston Consulting Group managing director and partner Giuseppe Bonaccorsi.
Experts from Middle East and North Africa, Europe, the UK, US and beyond will share insights and strategies in the remaining eight panel sessions today, ranging in topics from sustainability investment to climate diplomacy and artificial intelligence (AI).
Among the speakers are senior representatives from Aramco and Aramco Ventures, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, UN Development Programme, International Finance Corporation, Alshaya Group, Bank ABC, Aluminium Bahrain, National Bank of Bahrain, Central Bank of Bahrain, Oman’s Environment Authority, Türkiye’s climate change directorate, Bahrain’s SCE and more.
Tomorrow’s agenda will focus on hands-on learning, with workshops hosted by KPMG Bahrain, the United Nations Development Programme and Anthesis Group.
The sessions will cover future-proofing business through climate action and responsible sourcing for the GCC, navigating carbon markets across the Arab states for public and private sector stakeholders, and delivering measurable value through sustainability, reputation, and growth.
During this year’s forum, SFME will also launch its inaugural Sustainability Future Lab, a new initiative designed to deepen SFME’s role in advancing human capital development and strengthening the region’s sustainability ecosystem. Built on engaging young people, the challenge will focus on helping Bahrain’s university students to develop innovative solutions inspired by its agenda.
More than 60 university students from across Bahrain will be taking part.
Visit sustainmideast.com for more information.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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