The Russell Bedford Middle East & Africa Conference took place this February at the Radisson Blu, Dubai, bringing together colleagues from across the region for a valuable reunion.

The conference kicked off with an enjoyable welcome dinner at the Dubai International Finance Centre on the first night. Attendees had the opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces as well as meet new members who had since joined the network.

Sessions began with an opening address by Stephen Banks, Global Board Director of Russell Bedford International and Director of local Russell Bedford firm, Russell Bedford (Dubai) Limited, followed by a comprehensive update on global network developments by Stephen Hamlet, CEO of Russell Bedford International.

The agenda featured an engaging schedule of talks, including insights on regional investments by Fawad Tariq Khan, former CEO of Shuaa Capital, and discussions on emerging trends in anti-money laundering in the region led by Lee Thompson from Reg Wise Partners.

Firms shared updates on developments within their organisation and jurisdiction, followed by roundtable discussions delving into the specific challenges they were facing and how we could work together to overcome them.

The final session emphasised the importance of enhancing collaboration to create greater opportunities in the Middle East and Africa.

A final evening dinner at The Tap House in Downtown Dubai concluded the conference and delegates were able to reflect on the day’s highlights, discuss actionable takeaways to implement in their own firms, and strengthen their relationships with peers.

Stephen Hamlet, CEO of Russell Bedford, expressed gratitude, stating that this conference "signifies continuous growth and collaboration in the region. We are thankful to our partners and teams for their amazing contributions and look forward to further expansion and the delivery of high-quality services.”

Stephen Banks, Global Board Director of Russell Bedford International and Director of Russell Bedford Dubai, added that "it’s important that we keep up the momentum and ensure that the communication channels remain open, and that ideas on collaboration and working together continue to flow in order to create more opportunities for members in the region.”