DSG Home

DSG Upcoming Events

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 08:46:40 GMT

The Economics of Transparency •

Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith
Lecturer of International Economic Law
La Sorbonne - Abu Dhabi

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Monday, June 7, 2010
06:00 pm - 06:30 pm Reception
06:30 pm - 07:00 pm Lecture
07:00 pm - 07:30 pm Q&A

Moderator: Mishaal Al Gergawi

RSVP
E-mail: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: +971-4-329-3290
Fax: +971-4-329-3291

Please click here for the parking map

About the Lecture
In this lecture, Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith will discuss the economic implications of transparency in terms of its effects on the most important economic institutions (markets) and political institutions (governments). The lecture will focus particularly on good governance, market efficiencies, smooth business cycles and the efficient allocation of resources, and the effect that transparency has on each of these.

About the Speaker
Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith is an Emirati financial analyst specializing in economic trading blocs. He is regularly quoted in the financial press and has participated in discussion programmes for Al Jazeera English and MBC. Since 2006, Dr. bin Ghaith has served as the legal advisor for the UAE Armed Forces/Directorate of General Purchasing, where he is responsible for negotiating contracts with major defense contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Northrop Grumann Corporation and others.

DSG Upcoming Events

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:18:13 GMT

World Bank Report Launch and Workshop on Spatial Disparities in the MENA Region •

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

June 15 - 16, 2010

About the Event
The purpose of this two-day workshop is to exchange experience on the challenge of lagging areas and geographic disparities in living standards in the Middle East and North Africa. During the workshop, the World Bank’s Regional Vice-President, Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, will launch the new World Bank report entitled Poor Places, Thriving People: How the Middle East and North Africa can Rise Above Spatial Disparities.

The event is by invitation only.

For more information, contact Selma Nagbou at selma.nagbou@dsg.ac.ae , Tel: +971-4-329-3290, Fax: +971-4-329-3291

Full Program (Download PDF)

•

DSG Upcoming Events

Wed, 26 May 2010 07:18:26 GMT

Youth Development in Yemen: Challenges and Opportunities •

Oliver Wilcox
Senior Development Advisor,
Middle East Bureau, U.S. Agency for USAID

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Sunday, May 30, 2010
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm Reception
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm Lecture
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Q&A

RSVP: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: +971-4-329-3290
Fax: +971-4-329-3291
Please click here for the parking map

About the Lecture
Mr. Wilcox will present Yemeni youth's development challenges and opportunities in the context of the country's conflict situations. Drawing on youth focus groups and consultations with youth actors in Yemen, he will broaden the discussion beyond the education-employment nexus. Finally, he will reflect on some current youth initiatives in Yemen and offer ideas for how international actors can contribute to turning the youth bulge into a boom.

About the Speaker
Oliver Wilcox is Senior Development Advisor, Middle East Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where he develops strategies and programs on democratic governance, peace-building and youth for countries in the region. Previously, Mr. Wilcox was Adjunct Instructor at the University of Virginia and Trinity College; Fellow at the American Center for Oriental Research; Senior Editor at the Arab Studies Journal; and Fulbright Scholar at the Autonomous University of Madrid. He completed Ph.D. studies and earned an M.A. in political science from the University of Virginia, as well as an M.A. with a distinction in Arab studies from Georgetown University. Mr. Wilcox received his B.A. wit

DSG Upcoming Events

Tue, 11 May 2010 08:35:39 GMT

Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Arab and Islamic Banks •

Adnan A. Yousif
President and CEO, Al Baraka Banking Group

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Tuesday, May 18, 2010
06:00 - 6:30 Reception
06:30 - 07:00 Lecture
07:00 - 07:30 Q&A
RSVP
E-mail: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: +971-4-329-3290
Fax: +971-4-329-3291
Please click here for the parking map

About the Lecture
In this presentation, Mr. Adnan Yousif will provide perspective on the causes and global imbalances (particularly in capital flows) which led to the financial crisis, the negative impact of structured debt instruments, and the overall impact of the crisis on the Arab and Islamic banking sectors.

About the Speaker
Mr. Adnan Ahmed Yousif is a prolific international banker with over 30 years of experience in international banking. He was recently received, for the second time, the Islamic Bank of the Year award from the World Islamic Banking Conference. He is the President & Chief Executive of Al Baraka Banking Group (ABG), one of the largest and most widespread Islamic banks in the world. ABG is headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with a presence in 12 countries in the form of subsidiaries with a total of over 300 branches. Mr. Yousif is also Chairman of Albaraka Turk Participation Bank, Banque Al Baraka D'Algerie, Al Baraka Bank Ltd. South Africa, Al baraka Bank Lebanon, Jordan Islamic Bank, Al Baraka Bank Egypt, Al Baraka Bank Syria and Vice Chairman o

DSG Upcoming Events

Mon, 03 May 2010 11:31:15 GMT

Nation Building - Malaysia's Experience •

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Former Prime Minister of Malaysia

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Thursday, May 6, 2010
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Reception
7:30 pm - 8:00 pm Lecture
8:00 pm - 8:30 pm Q&A
Please click here for the parking map

RSVP
E-mail: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: +971-4-329-3290
Fax: +971-4-329-3291

About the Speaker
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad opened Malaysia to foreign investment, reformed taxation, reduced trade barriers, oversaw the privatization of numerous state-owned enterprise, and created a world-class physical infrastructure. He also sought to bridge Malaysia’s ethnic divides by increasing general prosperity. In 1991, he launched the New Development Policy, which emphasized industrial and commercial development and the elimination of poverty. Under Tun Dr. Mahathir’s leadership, Malaysia developed into one of the most prosperous and dynamic economies in southeast Asia, with a burgeoning industrial sector, an expanding middle class and an enhanced quality of life. Malaysia also played a more active role in the international arena, acting as the voice for developing nations in Asia and Africa. Always with one eye on the future, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad unveiled Vision 2020 in 1991, a blueprint for Malaysia’s journey to becoming a developed economy and a mature democracy by the year 2020.

•

DSG Upcoming Events

Sun, 02 May 2010 11:59:20 GMT

Lord Charles Falconer at DSG •

Lord Charles Falconer
Senior Counsel, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
Former Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (UK)

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Tuesday, May 4, 2010
6:00 - 6:30 Reception
6:30 - 7:00 Lecture
7:00 - 7:30 Q&A

RSVP
E-mail: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: +971-4-329-3290
Fax: +971-4-329-3291
Please click here for the parking map

About the Lecture
Lord Falconer will discuss his impressions of the forthcoming election, its potential repercussions on the British economy and on investment into the UK, and, most importantly, its impact on foreign policy, in particular as it relates to the Middle East.

About the Speaker
Lord Charles Falconer is an English qualified barrister and Senior Counsel based in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher's London office. The former UK Lord Chancellor and first Secretary of State for Justice spent 25 years as a commercial barrister, becoming a QC in 1991. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, international arbitration and investigations. In June 2003, he became the Lord Chancellor and the first Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs. He was called to the Bar in 1974,

DSG Upcoming Events

Sun, 02 May 2010 05:53:51 GMT

The Second Oliver Wyman / Zogby Barometer Poll •

James Zogby
Founder and President,
The Arab American Institute
Senior Advisor, Zogby International

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

6:00 - 6:30 Reception
6:30 - 7:00 Presentation
7:00 - 7:30 Q&A

RSVP: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: +971-4-329-3290
Fax: +971-4-329-3291

Please click here for the parking map

About the Lecture
Dr. James Zogby will review the results of the Second Oliver Wyman / Zogby Barometer Poll. Feedback from senior business leaders can help government officials make better informed decisions. In an effort to assist government leaders, Oliver Wyman (OW), the international management consulting firm, and Dr. James Zogby, Chairman of Zogby International and President of the Arab-American Institute (AAI), have partnered to conduct a powerful poll of Chief Executive Officers in the UAE and the wider GCC. The first poll, which was released at the Dubai School of Government in December 2009, was very well received by senior government and private sector leaders and garnered significant global press. The results of our second poll have illuminated issues such as:

What government issues are most important for economic development?
What are the greatest obstacles to economic development?
What is business confidence in the GCC region?
What are th

DSG Upcoming Events

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 06:25:00 GMT

Social Networking Technologies for Better e-Governance and Fostering a Knowledge Society in the UAE Policy Forum • •

DSG Upcoming Events

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 06:14:47 GMT

6th Meeting of Working Group 2 on E-Government and Administrative Simplification and Joint Learning Activity • •

DSG Upcoming Events

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:47:42 GMT

“Fayyadism” and Palestine: Can Good Governance End the Occupation? •

Husam Zomlot
Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative, Belfer Center
Harvard Kennedy School

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Sunday, April 11, 2010
06:00 - 6:30 Reception
06:30 - 07:00 Lecture
07:00 - 07:30 Q&A
RSVP
E-mail: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: Kito de Boer
Director of McKinsey &
Company in the Middle East

Moderator: Nabil Alyousuf

Chairman, Nabil Alyousuf and Associates

Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees, DSG

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Tuesday, April 6, 2010
06:30 - 7:00 Reception
07:00 - 07:30 Lecture
07:30 - 08:00 Q&A
RSVP
E-mail: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: +971-4-329-3290
Fax: +971-4-329-3291

Please click here for the parking map

About the Lecture
Kito de Boer will discuss how the global business and economic landscape has changed fundamentally, with a 'new normal' emerging. He will examine how this paradigm shift in the global economic balance presents unique challenges for businesses and organizations, both in the region and globally.

About the Speaker
Kito de Boer is a Director of McKinsey & Company in the Middle East. Kito joined McKinsey in London in 1985 and in 1993 moved to New Delhi to help launch the India practice. In 2000 he moved to Dubai to lead the formation of the Middle East practice, which he was Managing Director of till 2008.

Since founding the Middle East office, Kito has served clien

DSG Upcoming Events

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:26:10 GMT

Policy Cycles and the Diffusion of Global Reforms in Education •

Gita Steiner-Khamsi
Professor of Comparative and International Education at Columbia University

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Monday, April 5, 2010
06:00 - 6:30 Reception
06:30 - 07:30 Lecture and Q&A
RSVP
E-mail: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: Social Networking Technologies for Better e-Governance and Fostering a Knowledge Society in the UAE • •

DSG Upcoming Events

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 05:03:20 GMT

Dollar Weaknesses, Euro Doubts and Multi-Currency System Hopes •

Miguel Otero-Iglesias
Dept. of International Relations,
Oxford Brookes University

Dubai School of Government
Convention Tower, 13th Floor

Sunday, April 4, 2010
06:00 - 6:30 Reception
06:30 - 07:00 Lecture
07:00 - 07:30 Q&A
RSVP
E-mail: policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel:

Speakers will include Mariam Al Ali, UAE Ministry of Education; Kathryn Bindon, The University of Bahrain; Munir Bashuur, American University of Beirut; Fatma Belrehif, KHDA; Nada Eissa, Georgetown University; Ali Ibrahim, UAE University; Dorothy Harnish, University of Georgia; Wyatt Hume, UAE University; Samir Jarrar, Educational Development Group International; Daniel Kirk, American University of Sharjah; Natasha Ridge, Dubai School of Government; Ralph Tabberer, GEMS; Hanada Taha-Thomure, San Diego State University; Ken Volk, Masdar; Earle Warnica, AURAK; Alex Wiseman, Lehigh University, and many others.

For more information and to register, please log onto policyforum@dsg.ac.ae
Tel: +971-4-329-3290
Fax: +971-4-329-3291

Please click here for the parking map

About the Lecture
Starting in the late 1990s, Saudi Arabia embarked on an ambitious reform campaign to remedy its long-term economic stagnation. The results have been puzzling for both area specialists and political economists: Saudi institutions have not failed across the board, as theorists of "rentier state" or “resource curse” would predict, nor have they achieved the all-encompassing modernization the government has propagated. Instead, the kingdom has witnessed a bewildering mélange of thorough failures and surprising successes.

In this talk, Steffen Hertog will investigate how the history of the Saudi state explains its uneven reform capacities. Oil rents since World War II have shaped Saudi state institutions in ways that are far from uniform. Oil money has given regime elites unusual leeway for various institutional experiments in different parts of the state: in some cases creating massive rent-seeking networks deeply interwoven with local society; in others, large but passive bureaucracies; in yet others,

DSG Upcoming Events

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:53:00 GMT

Advanced Corporate Financial Modeling •

Date: 1st quarter of 2010
Venue: Dubai School of Government
Faculty: Dr. Eskandar Tooma, American University in Cairo

Serious financial decision making requires refined financial modeling especially during current uncertain and turbulent times. Managers need detailed financial control in this environment. Consequently, modern financial management requires precise models allow scenarios development and stress testing.

This course will work with financial representation of businesses using Excel spreadsheet, and will develop analyses for better financial, strategic and risk management.

Learning Objectives
This course focuses on providing participants with hands-on modeling experience covering the construction of a full-scale forecasted model with valuation components. The participants will use a spreadsheet models to address many financial topics like valuation, capital budgeting, financial analysis and forecasting. Melding technical spreadsheet modeling with financial analysis and commercial applications is the main theme of the course. Key learning objectives include

Learning Different Modeling Techniques
Develop hands-on Excel Modeling skills
Understanding and Selecting appropriate value drivers
Building and Forecasting integrated Financial Statements
Analyzing Different Valuation Approaches
Developing complete DCF Valuation Models
Incorporating elements, such as risk and sensitivity, into financial models
Fixing Modeling Problems, such as circular references
Producing High Quality Accurate Financial Reports

Methodology
An intuitive, step-by-step teaching approach will be employed. Participants will learn how to build model