Event Agenda

The MENA region is home to many of the world’s largest projects currently under construction, from NEOM in Saudi Arabia to the North Field East LNG expansion in Qatar, and the Hyport Duqm facility in Oman. In addition to this, the increased focus on sustainability is providing a wealth of renewable and green energy project opportunities. This session will provide a snapshot of the regional project market as it stands today and include an overview of the EICs Survive & Thrive report. What projects are currently underway? What stage are they at? What projects are coming up? What industries are booming? Don’t miss this session if you want to keep your finger on the pulse and have a real understanding of the lay of the land in the region.

Geopolitical pressures and supply chain disruption are global issues, but the impact is perhaps felt most deeply in the Middle East. The reality of ‘enforced chaos’ requires companies to implement flexible and robust workarounds to accommodate the complex needs of breakbulk cargo. Speakers will consider how insurance and customs can support the industry with projects that cannot afford a delay and will ask how the industry can innovate to reduce impact.

Ready or not, interest in AI is growing rapidly and its potential to transform the breakbulk and project cargo industries should not be underestimated. In a series of case studies, showcasing the impact of AI in route optimization, fuel efficiency, congestion reduction and predictive maintenance, you’ll learn how AI could enhance your role and your project.

Project activity is soaring in Saudi Arabia and opportunities for involvement from the project cargo supply chain continue to grow. This session will bring industry professionals working on the ground in Saudi Arabia together to discuss the timelines and next steps in these major giga projects; learn more about the challenges faced and solutions sought to tackle these ambitious developments.

Despite the huge focus on energy transition and mega projects dedicated to renewable energy, in the motherland of oil and gas, a future without these key resources seems unthinkable. IOCs today are stepping up their sustainability commitments – and energy from so-called green sources is sometimes not as environmentally friendly as you might expect. In addition, with several Gulf states considering, planning, or starting nuclear power programs, is it time to reframe the way we define ‘green’ energy?

• Is the idea of an energy transition misleading?
• How are oil and gas companies futureproofing their industry by investing in low-carbon energy?
• How can we avoid greenwashing? Is it important to look at the whole picture when it comes to renewable energy?
• What is the Middle East’s current position on nuclear energy?
• How are companies using the latest tech innovations to support greener energy?

The movement of cargo and market disruption impacting this is an industry-wide problem, but traditionally, many shippers and EPCs would hand over responsibility and decision-making to logistics companies. Today, shippers are far more involved, and business relationships have deepened into true partnerships, with collaborative decision-making on digitalization, sustainability, efficiency and more. In this session, high-profile shippers and EPCs will share their top priorities and greatest challenges in the current market, before asking the audience: what solutions can you bring to the table, and how can we work together to apply these?

With a spotlight on MENA’s energy transition projects, this session will explore the role that LSPs and shipping lines have to play to support such EPC projects. Hydrogen, carbon capture and gasification projects will all be considered. Panelists will also cover investments from the U.S. Export-Import Bank into clean energy projects in the Middle East, and the mutual commitment to deepening the relationship between the two regions.

The outlook for the MPV fleet continues to be the centre of much industry discussion. With capacity challenges, increasing demand for new building programs, and economic pressures at the forefront of the industry’s concerns, this presentation will offer a market update of the current MPV fleet and review of the forward schedule to identify any crunch points in supply, highlighting where the industry will need to forward plan to navigate through any shortages.

Following directly on from the previous session’s fleet update, this panel will explore the reasons behind some of the critical issues raised, and how carriers plan to address them. Capacity, newbuild programs, price building and the latest international regulations will all be covered.

With huge opportunities for the breakbulk market developing in West Africa, an emerging trend sees African companies opening in Dubai, looking to facilitate routes. However, dealing with multiple countries’ authorities can be complex, and knowing what to expect is key. This session offers an in-depth look at opportunities and challenges for project activity in the region.

Congestion is one of the biggest issues facing the industry today: every supply chain stakeholder is affected by delays in transit time and cargo delivery. The knock-on effect from geopolitical situations, strikes, port inefficiency, lack of warehousing space and fleet monopoly is not just on project movement, but rates too – even a small delay can add up to millions of dollars’ worth of additional costs. This session will deep dive into innovative solutions to tackle congestion.

The talent gap problem is not going away: it’s a serious issue. So once you have hired someone talented and bursting with potential, what’s the best way to keep them on your team? How can you keep them engaged and motivated in a job-hopping economy? Based on research conducted by Breakbulk magazine, find out what young professionals are really looking for in their career, why it matters, and where we go from here.