More than 2,000 participants from over 20 countries will attend the 20th Arab International Aluminium Conference (Arabal), scheduled to take place in Dubai, UAE, in November.

The event will take place from November 22 to 24, at the Madinat Jumeirah.

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, has granted his patronage to the event, said a statement.

The conference will be hosted by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) for the sixth time, the two-day event and associated exhibition will enable industry leaders to network, conduct business, discuss global challenges and identify suitable solutions, it said.

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was chairman of EGA subsidiary Dubai Aluminium (Dubal), also known as Jebel Ali Operations from 1979 to 2013, spearheaded the rise of industrial economy in the UAE and specifically the aluminium industry, it added.

Abdulla Kalban, managing director and CEO of EGA, said: “All our achievements are testament to the vision, leadership and courage of HH Sheikh Hamdan and we are honoured to receive his patronage and support for this event.”

“Determined that the UAE’s aluminium industry would be a leading example, he played a vital role in the rapid growth of the Middle East into a major hub in the global aluminium industry. His influence is equally evident in the operating efficiencies in the UAE’s smelters, which are world renowned for their low-cost operations, development of advanced proprietary technologies and reduced environmental impact compared to the industry as whole,” he said.

Arabal is the only event of its kind in the region staged by all the primary aluminium producers in the GCC, this unique positioning providing a strong draw card, said a statement.

Under the theme “Global Challenges – Seeking Solutions”, the conference will provide opportunities for delegates to learn more about the implications of fluctuating energy prices and corresponding policy changes, and delve deeper into the downstream industry including expansions, product mix dynamics, financial elements, raw materials and upstream integration, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service