Gulf business leaders convene in Riyadh for the Annual Pearl Initiative CEO Council Meeting

Gulf business leaders convene in Riyadh for the Annual Pearl Initiative CEO Council Meeting

The Pearl Initiative, a business-led non-profit organisation promoting corporate accountability in the Gulf region’s private sector, convened 23 CEOs of leading Saudi, regional and international corporations at its annual CEO Council meeting at the Chalhoub Group offices in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss challenges, priorities and strategies to promote corporate governance as a necessary driving force in building sustainable and resilient economies in the Gulf region.

Under the theme of 'Building Resilience Through Corporate Governance', the distinguished gathering of the Pearl Initiative’s network of corporate partners included senior executives from SABIC, Saudi Exchange, stc, Chalhoub Group, KPMG Bahrain, Crescent Enterprises, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), PwC Middle East, Leading Point, Marsh, Nesma, TONOMUS.NEOM, and the Bank of Sharjah.

The convening reviewed the current progress related to corporate governance in the Gulf region and identified key trends and priorities for 2023 and beyond. The discussion also highlighted the opportunities created by Saudi Arabia’s emergence as an investment and tech hub in the Middle East, accelerating economic and digital transformation in the region.

Jamal Fakhro, Managing Partner of KPMG Bahrain and the Chairman of the Pearl Initiative Board of Governors, added, "Corporate governance continues