Global Islamic Economy Summit rescheduled to November 2021

Global Islamic Economy Summit (GIES), the largest convention of Islamic economy stakeholders, has been rescheduled to November 1-2, 2021, on the sidelines of Expo 2020 Dubai.

The decision to reschedule the annual GIES event follows in-depth consultations with the strategic partners of Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) and GIES to support measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, and enable a larger international audience to attend.

The organisers will host a series of virtual sessions, including workshops, panel discussions, webinars, and more, through leveraging best in-class video conferencing tools. The series will continue until end-2020.

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of DIEDC, said: "Rescheduling this landmark event for the Islamic economy presents participants with an exceptional opportunity to collaborate in addressing the potential challenges the sector faces in the post-Covid-19 era, and in ensuring sustainable growth. It will also allow visitors to gather in large numbers in 2021, after carefully assessing and addressing the health impacts associated with the coronavirus pandemic."

Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber and Board Member of DIEDC, pointed out that the postponement of GIES to 2021 was the appropriate decision, as organising the summit during Dubai's Expo will ensure a distinguished and receptive global audience and a platform to highlight how the Islamic economy contributes to supporting sustainable growth amongst the world's economies. He pointed out that the postponement will enable stakeholders to prepare a clear agenda that prioritises the requirements for the next era, and the role that the Islamic economy can play in the future.

Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of DIEDC, said: "Through the GIES Virtual Series, organised in collaboration with our strategic partners, we aim to explore new ideas and exchange knowledge on ways to optimise the development of key Islamic economy sectors. We also intend to keep regional and international stakeholders updated on the latest developments, further strengthening Dubai's reputation for hosting international events of a high calibre."

The previous edition of GIES in 2018 attracted more than 3,000 participants.

waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com