On 22nd January at the Crowne Plaza, Dubai Marina, over 80 IBBC members and business contacts addended an afternoon of discussion, panels and networking. The seminar was sponsored by the Khudairi Group and Basra Gateway Terminal.

Following IBBC’s successful pivot to Basrah and Iraq for large conferences, a Dubai event was seen as important to members based in the UAE. An additional seminar event was created by IBBC to address the Gulf members wider constituency that Iraq now finds itself in and to understand how the elections and wider geopolitical situation affect Iraq while the Government of Iraq is in transition.

Mr Christophe Michels addressed the audience and welcomed the members and principal guest and keynote speaker H.E. Mr Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism.  The UAE had 33 billion Trade with Iraq in 2024 and trade is up to 40 billion in 2025 which makes Iraq one of the most important export markets for the Emirates.

The context of the seminar is important, as its important to address the uncertainty in the region ; the government formation in Iraq takes place against a difficult economic outlook due to a low oil price, unrest and violent repression in Iran, and with Iraq seen as the last standing domino in Iran’s ‘access of resistance’. The Syrian conflict with the Syrian Kurds is impacting Iraq, while Trump undermines western alliances with his Greenland threats and alignment with Russia. The seminar was held under the Chatham House rule.

The afternoon began with chairman Mr Jon Wilks CMG, Senior Adviser, IBBC and a distinguished panel discussing Iraq and the wider region ; Mr Edward Oakden CMG Vice Chairman, International Development Bank; Dr Norman Ricklefs, Chief Executive Officer and Chair, Namea Group; Professor Frank Gunter, Lehigh University.

The second panel discussed Energy chaired by Mr Vikas Handa, GCC Representative, IBBC and panellists: Dr Luay Al Khateeb, Former Minister of Electricity, Republic of Iraq; Mr Robin Mills, Chief Executive, Qamar Energy. Delegates then continued discussion at an evening reception.

Attendees, including Iraq’s Consul General in Dubai, Mr Amad Alazzawi, also heard from Ms Lara Hampshir, Director of Trade, at the British Embassy in Baghdad, and former Deputy Oil Minister, Mr Laith Al Shaher.

Mr Christophe Michels, IBBC MD said ‘ We are very grateful to our two sponsors (Khudairi Group and Basra Gateway) in supporting this new initiative at a time when there is a vacuum in Iraq, prior to the new Government formation, while the current geopolitical and government uncertainty means we all need to understand what may coming and how we can navigate current affairs effectively.’