DUBAI – The Pearl Initiative commemorated fifteen years of transformative work in corporate governance excellence with a landmark forum that assembled over 150 senior executives, including more than thirty chief executives, from across the Gulf region. The high-level gathering, titled “Governance in Focus: Powering Gulf Economies Through Integrity and Innovation,” served as a strategic platform for cross-sector dialogue on strengthening governance frameworks to drive economic diversification and enhance regional competitiveness.
The forum marked a significant milestone for the non-profit organization, reflecting on its decade-and-a-half contribution to fostering cultures of accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership throughout Gulf corporations. Participants engaged in robust discussions examining how robust governance mechanisms have accelerated enterprise growth, reinforced market trust, and positioned regional economies for their next phase of transformation.
Strategic partnerships with leading regional corporations provided substantial backing for the event. Saudi Arabia’s premier digital enabler, stc group, served as strategic partner, while Chalhoub Group, the region’s dominant luxury retail conglomerate, provided supporting partnership – demonstrating sustained corporate commitment to governance advancement.
Badr Jafar, Founder of Pearl Initiative, emphasized the organization’s pioneering role: “Since 2010, we have championed corporate governance conversations across the Gulf, inspiring ethical leadership that builds trust and delivers long-term value. This forum not only celebrates our progress but reinforces that strong governance remains the engine of competitiveness and innovation.”
The agenda featured a powerful panel discussion with H.E. Ghassan Al-Sulaiman, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s National Family Business Center, exploring governance frameworks for building resilient, investment-ready enterprises. Eng. Khalid Al Hussan, CEO of Saudi Tadawul Group, addressed unlocking growth through public-private collaboration, while Nabeel Al Mansour of Saudi Aramco highlighted governance’s critical role in enabling Vision 2030 economic transformation.
Mathad Alajmi of stc group commented: “As the Middle East’s leading digital enabler, strong governance underpins our growth, allowing responsible scaling and market impact. We strengthen leadership in governance by supporting best practices and initiatives like Pearl Initiative.”
Patrick Chalhoub, Executive Chairman of Chalhoub Group, noted: “Our collaboration reflects the shared belief that good governance and ethical leadership are essential foundations. Sustainability is central to how we think, operate, and grow.”
Ralph Choueiri, Executive Director of Pearl Initiative, concluded: “This forum strengthened momentum for collective action, highlighting governance’s role in preparing for a next-generation Gulf economy. We will deepen programs and partnerships supporting progress toward a resilient, innovation-led regional economy.”