ICSI Hosts Prestigious Middle East Conference 2025 in Dubai, UAE

Dubai, UAE, 27 April : The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) successfully organized its Middle East Conference 2025 from April 24 to 26 in Dubai, hosted by ICSI Middle East (DIFC) NPIO. The high-profile event was graced by Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Hon’ble Former President of India, as the Chief Guest.

The Conference witnessed the participation of prominent dignitaries from both India and the UAE. Among the Guests of Honour were Mr. Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai; H.E. Dr. Maria Hanif Al Qassim, Assistant Undersecretary of Economic Policies & Studies, Ministry of Economy, UAE; H.E. Mirza Hussain Al Sayegh, Director, Office of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and H.E. Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Former UAE Minister for Environment & Water. Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, Managing Partner at Ibrahim Partners, delivered the keynote address.

Themed “Good Governance: Empowering Capital Markets,” the Conference focused on key financial topics including IPOs in emerging markets, AI in governance, anti-money laundering, public-private equity convergence, climate finance, and India-UAE economic ties. A Study Tour of the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) on the first day set the tone for the three-day event.

Shri Kovind lauded ICSI's role in fostering ethical governance, stating, “Company Secretary professionals nurtured by ICSI ensure the highest standards of transparency and promote ethical wealth creation.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Sivan highlighted the growing India-UAE ties, noting that the UAE provides a platform for Indian professionals to thrive. H.E. Dr. Al Qassim hailed the Conference as a catalyst for global collaboration and economic progress, while H.E. Al Sayegh emphasized the strength of India-UAE bilateral relations built on mutual support. H.E. Dr. Al Kindi praised the Conference for encouraging dialogue among leaders, regulators, and policymakers.

A major highlight was the launch of a specialized Certificate Course on UAE Business Manager by Shri Kovind, which saw participation from over 150 in-person delegates and around 2,000 virtual attendees.

CS Dhananjay Shukla, President, ICSI, emphasized the evolving responsibilities of Company Secretaries in modern capital markets. CS Raghvendra Kumar Verma, Chairman, ICSI Middle East, underlined the importance of governance in strengthening UAE’s capital market ecosystem.

The Conference marked a significant step toward enhancing Indo-UAE financial cooperation and governance frameworks.