More than 3,000 global business leaders, politicians, experts from 110 countries will attend the world’s largest gathering of internal auditors at the International Internal Audit Conference in May 2018 in Dubai, UAE.

The region’s first global conference from May 6 to 9, 2018 under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), along with the UAE Internal Auditors Association (IAA), will hold the high profile global conference with the theme "Connecting the World Through Innovation," at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre featuring more than 100 world-renowned speakers in over 70 sessions and more than 3,000 professionals from 110 countries.

Announcing the conference on the sideline of the 7th Chief Audit Executive Conference in Dubai, IIA-UAE CEO Abdulqader Obaid Ali said: "The UAE is very proud to host this conference, the first of its kind in the Middle East, which we worked on from 2010. We are honoured to hold such a prestigious and anticipated event. It will surely be a programme that delves into timely issues impacting the profession, rich with insights for internal auditors at every level."

IIA president and CEO Richard Chambers said: “We are truly honoured to bring the conference to the Middle East for the first time. We believe there is no affiliate of the IIA anywhere in the world which has been more successful, innovative and progressive in serving the internal audit profession than the UAE Internal Audit Association, which has more than 3,000 members, considered one of the largest in the Middle East.”

The event will feature internationally known trailblazers, such as Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE's Minister of Economy, who will examine global issues impacting business.

Mohamed Ali Rashed Alabbar, founder and chairman of Emaar Properties, one of the largest real estate development companies in the world, and a pioneer in positioning Dubai as a world-class city, will speak on reaching new heights through innovation.

Abdullah Al-Rowais, chief audit executive of Etihad Etisalat Co. (Mobily), will speak on internal audit in action.

“We are honoured to have this conference in the UAE and want to send out this message that we do believe good governance is very important. This conference came to Dubai as a testimony of what the region has recently achieved. We see the region in terms of growth and look at governance really very hard. We are bringing important people, including ministers, to talk about what are the challenges around us which really affected the internal audit. We are looking at IT and how IT and internal audit can actually work together,” Abdulqader Obaid Ali said.

The event will emphasise innovation and tackle emerging technology issues and other relevant topics facing organisations and the internal audit profession worldwide.

"The IIA's International Conference showcases the best and brightest in the profession and provides participants with insights, tips, and guidance from an array of thought leaders and industry experts from leading corporations, organizations, and government institutions.

“The role of internal auditor is very important. He should have the courage to look at other people. The internal auditor's job is not easy; he sees things, he has to report them, in that way he can make change in the organisation,” Abdulqader said.

Attendees will have access to a number of educational sessions on current and emerging issues and trends, ranging from business sustainability, information security, and governance to risk, fraud, and corruption. It will also present industry best practices in addressing common challenges, as well as knowledge-sharing opportunities.

“We have ten tracks in the conference, with more than 60-70 international speakers to share their experience and knowledge with the rest of the world,  and for the first time we are allowed to have an Arabic track in the international conference to cater for the people of this area,” he noted. – TradeArabia News Service