Delegates requiring visas should contact the hotel directly as soon as possible. Visas for non-GCC nationals may take several weeks to process, so avoid delay by ensuring your booking is confirmed by registering today. Informa accepts no responsibility for denials or delays in the processing of visas.

You will receive a refund of your fees paid to us (if any): (i) if you cancel your registration 57 days or more before the event (Course/Conference), subject to an administration charge equivalent to 10% of the total amount of your fees (plus VAT where applicable). The Company regrets that the full amount of your fee remains payable in the event that your cancellation is 56 days or less before the event or if you fail to attend the event. If a cancellation changes the entitlement to a multi-registration discount, the lowest value registration will be cancelled first.

No cancellations are accepted once any part of a single or multi registration party has accessed the pre-event or partnering facilities if applicable. All cancellations must be sent by email to [email protected] marked for the attention of Customer Services Cancellation and must be received by us. You acknowledge that the refund of your fees is your sole remedy in respect of any cancellation of your registration by you and all other liability is expressly excluded.

For LIVE Online

If you are unable to attend and cancel 5 days prior to the course start date, a replacement delegate will be welcomed in your place, or a 20% charge will be applied in case the participant is a no-show.

Cancellation within 5 days of the course start date or if you fail to attend the event will be 100% payable. All cancellations must be sent by email to [email protected] marked for the attention of Customer Services Cancellation.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Informa Connect reserves the right to cancel the course, change the programme, alter the venue, speaker or topics.

Event brochures are available to download on the event website. Alternatively you can email [email protected] with the name of the event

If you are receiving multiple mailings, have updated contact information, or would like to be added or removed from our database, contact Jeanne Dias by email at [email protected] or by phone at +971 (0) 4 407 2547. Please keep in mind that amendments, removals, and additions can take up to six weeks to complete as brochures and letters may already be in the mail. You may also send correspondence to: Jeanne Dias Database Manager P O Box 9428 Dubai, UAE

We take privacy seriously and we are committed to protecting your personal information. Our privacy policy is designed to tell you what information is being collected about you, how personal information is being used, to whom personal data is being disclosed and how this personal information is stored and protected so that you can make an informed choice about using this site. This privacy policy has been developed in accordance with our legal obligations. To view our privacy policy please click here

The benefits to being a speaker include:

• Direct access to peers and new business contacts: Speaking at our events gives you complimentary registration, to all elements of the conference you are speaking at
• Personal and corporate exposure: Taking part at our conferences positions your name and company at the forefront of the industry, through our extensive pre-event and on-site marketing and branding campaign
• Thought leadership: Participating offers you the chance to influence your peers and industry colleagues, and be seen as a driver of innovation and change within your market

There are four different session formats. They are:

• Presentations – 30 – 45 minutes: Presentations are speeches (usually accompanied by Powerpoint slides) that include examples, are issue-oriented, and contain both practical and theoretical information.
• Panel Discussions – 45 minutes: Panels take many different viewpoints on a topic or issue and combine them in one venue. Debate among panelists is welcome in this format and audience participation should be accounted for. Issues should be presented and placed in their proper historical context with an eye towards its future resolution.
• Roundtables – 45 minutes: Roundtables are small peer discussion groups limited to up to 35 people. When you choose to moderate a roundtable, you must facilitate conversation and keep the flow of discussion moving. Do not lecture or dictate. Constructive controversy and debate are welcome in roundtables. Topics that are open-ended in nature and promote an exchange of ideas generally work best in this format.
• Workshops – 2 hours – 5 days: Workshops are meetings for intensive discussion with an emphasis on problem-solving. Interactive discussion, exchange of ideas, demonstration of methods of practical application of skills and principles is actively encouraged.

Based on our Mission, Vision and Values, we expect honesty in our internal and external relationships. We offer the following tips to all our speakers. Whether you are an experienced or novice speaker in the Middle East region, we ask that you take the time to read the following guidelines and hope they will be of assistance.

Write your abstract so that it is easily understood. Get to your point as quickly as possible. What is the presentation about? Why is this interesting? How is this important to our delegates? What will delegates get out of the session? Concise language goes a long way towards achieving this goal. Use of conventional writing standards such as topic and supporting sentences also help. Please write in third person present tense. For example, “This lecture focuses on 3D graphics.” Not, “I want to talk about 3D graphics.” Ensure that your PowerPoint can be deciphered from the back of the room, highlighting the salient points with an effective use of colour.

TIME-KEEPING IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE Conversely please ensure you fill the time allocated. The best speakers finish on time, leaving the audience wanting more. There is no leeway in most conference schedules to allow for over-running, and audiences get restless and tired if they don’t get their Question and Answer sessions or if they lose part of their breaks because of over-running. The first speaker in each session needs to set the standard on delivery and time-keeping, and the others will be more likely to follow his/her lead. As soon as one speaker breaks this pattern, all the others feel they can. Put yourself in the position of the last speaker; if everyone over-runs, he or she may have to be omitted by the Chair. All speakers must time their speeches carefully while using their visuals. Skilled speakers are always meticulous about this. Trim the speech to fit the visuals while practising; such trimming will not be possible once you are on your feet.

Be selective – remember that the majority of the audience will be from the Middle East region. It is therefore prudent to assume that images of nudity or alcohol will cause offence. Too many images confuse, rather than illuminate. If you find your visuals duplicating that of a former speaker, leave them out. Also, do not use colour schemes, small text or packed graphics which will be impossible to see from the back of the conference hall.

Audience: remember who you are speaking to. Tailor your presentation to meet their interests and don’t be afraid to invite feedback and questions during your presentation. It is always better to clarify a point than cause confusion or offence. For a large percentage of the audience, English is not the mother tongue. Speaking fast in order to say more is not advisable. The audience will find it difficult to hear and absorb the text. Please note we are ALWAYS here to help you.