THE AL AIN DIALOGUE

Times are good in the Gulf. Oil prices are up, production is at full capacity, and business is booming. The Gulf States are flush with capital, and their economies are soaring.

We have, of course, been here before. How long can the expansion last this time? How can it be sustained?

There is a growing realization in the region that oil alone cannot secure economic growth over the long term. The GCC economies are seeking to create new sources of revenue and growth, investing in new infrastructure for their industries and in new capabilities for their people. The focus is on sustainable development—new approaches that secure the long term economic, social, and environmental well-being of our communities.

A major conference was held BY THE Gulf Society for Organizational Learning (Gulf SoL) to address this issue on December 11-12, 2006 in Al Ain, UAE. The event was facilitated by Dr. Peter Senge, the renowned business strategist and architect of the learning organization, with keynote presentations by local leaders, including HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Tourism in Saudi Arabia, Gulf SoL is a community of regional businesses and institutions who share an interest in learning, innovation, and change.

The Event

The event engaged leading figures from across the region, including corporate CEOs, local business owners, academics, and other thought leaders in an exploration of some core questions that are critical to our shared future:

• What can we do, as businessmen, educators, and policy advisors, do to develop the full potential of our people, and to ensure their contribution in creating economic value?
• What are the environment factors necessary to promote continuous learning, innovation, and commercialization?
• How can we participate in the global economy in a way that strengthens our communities and reinforces our local traditions and values?