The first session of Dubai Partnership Agenda (DPA) was held today to produce policy recommendations to further the sustainable growth of Dubai’s tourism sector.

Organised by the General Secretariat of Dubai’s Executive Council under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and the chairman of the Executive Council, the DPA is a strategic government initiative meant to facilitate collaboration and increase synergy between the public and private sectors. It is an open dialogue and an interactive platform whose purpose is to produce policy recommendations that can support the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.

The panel which assembled the emirate’s key public and private stakeholders in the tourism industry discussed the legislative and regulatory environment and the current state of the sector, with a view to boosting demand and identifying challenges restraining development.

The session was attended by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman of the Economic Development Committee; Abdulla Al Shaibani, the secretary general of the Executive Council; Gerald Lawless, the executive chairman of the Jumeirah Group; Hans Haensel, the divisional senior vice president of  Emirates airlines destination and leisure management; Majid Saif Al Ghurair, the chairman of Shopping Malls Group; Peter Payet, the vice president of Arabian Adventure; Dr BelEid Ratab, the head of economic studies and sustainable development business of  Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Khalid Bin Sulayem, the director general, of Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing; Matar Al Tayer, the chairman and director general of Roads and Transport Authority; Sami Al Qamzi, the director general  of Department of Economic Development and Major General Mohamed Al Marri, the director, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

The discussion was moderated by the Tarik Yousef, the dean of Dubai School of Government. A summary report that would include discussion’s insights and specific recommendations of the panelists will be written according to Chatham House rules within one week and presented to the Executive Council.

Sheikh Hamdan said the Government of Dubai welcomed consultative policy recommendations that would support the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 and the UAE Vision 2021, and open dialogue between public and private sectors would support the sustainable growth and increase the competitiveness of the nation and Dubai.

He said: “Dubai Partnership Agenda is a national creative initiative supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE  Vice President, Prime Minister and the Ruler of Dubai. With his encouragement, we are proud to launch this  interaction platform and we have complete trust in the capability of public and private sectors to have open and constructive dialogue for the development of different  sectors. We are looking forward to the first outcomes of DPA on tourism industry.  We will review and initiate action on appropriate recommendations.”  - TradeArabia News Service