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The Arabian Business Think Tank (ABTT) is intended as pulse of expert opinion on the big issues of the day. The panel consists of experts from a variety of industries, including property, aviation, media, finance and leisure. It is in effect, our own Bank of England style monetary policy committee.
Each month, the ABTT is asked a question to which they give a simple yes or no answer. How each member voted will not be revealed, but the overall result published - for example, the ABTT may vote 5-3 that house prices will rise, or 6-2 that interest rates will fall..etc.
The results are purely a guide to how the experts are thinking, and intended to initiate debates and comment on key issues.
Each quarter, Arabian Business will also host a special ABTT lunch, during which a wide range of issues discussed and opinions canvassed, which will again be reported on this site.
Do you UAE think house prices will rise in Q4?
No: 7 Yes: 2
OUR PANELISTS
Elie Khouri
Regional Managing Director, Omnicom Media Group
Khouri has been a frontrunner in the Middle East's media industry since being appointed regional managing director OMG in 2007.
Mishal Kanoo
Deputy Chairman, Kanoo Group
With much experience in regional economic affairs and financial markets, Mishal Kanoo is a key speaker at various conferences in the Gulf.
Philip Barnes
Regional Vice President, Fairmont Hotels
Barnes has been in Dubai since 2007, when he was appointed regional vice president of Fairmont Hotels — he added the Fairmont Dubai to his portfolio in May this year, re-locating to the actual hotel where he is now based.
Karam Awad
Managing Director, ITP Executive
Karam Awad heads up ITP Executive, publishers of Arabian Business and CEO Middle East magazines.
Eckart Woertz
Chief Economist, Gulf Research Centre
Dr Eckart Woertz is the program manager in economics at the Gulf Research Center, and a much respected voice on Middle East economic issues — so much so that when he speaks, Gulf policymakers listen.
Sunil John
CEO, Asda’a Burson-Marsteller
Having played a key role in building the corporate image of Emaar and handling the personal PR of chairman Mohammed Alabbar, John has also found himself in demand with the upper echelons of the Dubai government.
Ziad Makhzoumi
CFO, Arabtec
As chief financial officer of Arabtec, Makhzoumi has his hands right on the pulse of the financial world.
Badr Jafar
CEO Crescent Investments
Just 29 years old, Badr Jafar was voted Young CEO of the Year in this year’s CEO Middle East Awards.
Markus Giebel
CEO, Deyaar
Markus Giebel serves as Chief Executive Officer at Deyaar Development PJSC, the regions fastest growing real estate company. In this capacity, he is responsible for the firm’s operations across all its business units.
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