The 20th Arab International Aluminium Conference (Arabal), scheduled to take place in Dubai, UAE, from November 22 to 24 is all set to put the spotlight on value creation through energy efficiency, job creation and economic output.

This year’s event is being hosted by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) for the sixth time and will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance. More than 2,000 participants from 20 countries are expected to attend the event. 

The conference will outline the direction of the market in a volatile oil price environment by examining the immediate and long-term impact of increased economic pressure on the Middle East, assessing the continued efforts in diversifying the economy, and looking at alternatives to increase efficiency, productivity and opportunities for investment. As a rapidly growing hub in the global aluminium industry, the region and its dynamics are of keen interest to players from across the world, a statement said.
 

Arabal 2016 will focus on the implications of fluctuating energy prices

In 2015, the Middle East primary aluminium industry’s combined production was 5.59 million tonnes – almost 10 per cent of the total world production. As a result, all six primary aluminium producers generate substantial contributions to their respective nation’s GDP. By 2020, EGA’s contribution to the UAE GDP is forecast at about $3 billion direct and $5 billion indirect with gross exports of about $7 billion. 

In the GCC, the aluminium industry provides direct employment to about 12,000 people and indirect employment to another 30,000 people. Efforts are focused on nationalisation by consciously recruiting nationals, providing training and skills development opportunities, and fast-tracking talented nationals into management positions.

In keeping with the conference theme of “Global Challenges – Seeking Solutions”, the industry keynote panel at Arabal 2016 will focus on the implications of fluctuating energy prices and corresponding policy changes, and delve deeper into the downstream industry including expansions, product mix dynamics, financial elements, raw materials and upstream integration. The panelists will include Abdulla Kalban (MD and CEO: EGA); Tim Murray (CEO: Aluminium Bahrain); Abdelzaher Abdelsattar Hassan (chairman and CEO: Egyptalum); Abdulaziz Al Harbi (president: Ma’aden Aluminium); Khalid Mohammed Laram (CEO: Qatalum); Said Mohamed Al Masoudi (CEO: Sohar Aluminium) with Jorge Vazquez (founder: Harbor Intelligence) as the moderator.

According to Abdulla Kalban, MD and CEO, EGA: “The UAE’s primary aluminium smelters – EGA Jebel Ali and EGA Al Taweelah – are the anchor of industrial economic growth in the UAE. Together with the five other Middle East smelters in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the primary aluminium industry is the genesis of the broader industrialisation of the wider region. Arabal provides a perfect platform to examine the historical influence of the sector in creating value for the economy through technology innovation, job creation and economic output, as well as how to move forward and maintain GDP growth in a volatile economic climate.”