Add The Circuit on Google☀️ Good morning and welcome to The Circuit’s special coverage of the Milken Institute’s annual Middle East and Africa Summit. I’m Jonathan Ferziger, here with Omnia Al Desoukie and Louise Burke at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort to help steer you over the next two days through the swirl of personalities, dealmaking and dinner parties.
Michael Milken kicks things off at 9 a.m. today, joining a panel on the main stage titled, “Global Overview: Innovation, Partnerships and Growth.” Moderated by TV anchor Hadley Gamble of the Abu Dhabi-based IMI Network, the session will also feature GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al Budaiwi, 2pointZero’s Mariam AlMheiri and Palm Hills Developments’ Yasseen Mansour.
Among the central themes of the Milken Summit this year is, of course, artificial intelligence, and the UAE has even created a cabinet position to ensure that everyone in government embraces the technology. At 10 a.m., you’ll meet Omar Al Olama, the Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, interviewed by CNBC’s Dan Murphy.
Other headliners include Mubadala Deputy CEO Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Emaar’s Mohamed Alabbar, Liberty Strategic Capital’s Steven Mnuchin, Saudi Culture House founder Princess Noura bint Faisal, Greycroft’s Dana Settle and Maaden’s Bob Wilt.
While Elon Musk won’t be turning up at the Milken Summit, his brother Kimbal is on the schedule at 3:15 p.m. under the “Visionaries of Tomorrow” program. Kimbal Musk is Co-Founder of Nova Sky Stories, which flies clusters of light-emitting drones to “turn the night sky into a canvas for storytelling.” He is also a major shareholder in Tesla and Co-Founder of both the restaurant group The Kitchen and the non-profit Big Green, which builds school gardens.
Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello will talk at 3:45 p.m. about the interplay between songwriting and activism, discussing some of the causes she champions, including mental health, climate protection and immigrant rights. She’ll be onstage with Jane Millichip, CEO of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, or BAFTA.
Closing out today’s schedule are onstage conversations with Saudi Prince Turki Al Faisal, Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, and U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, followed by a networking reception for all conference participants.
Milken Events
Heard Around Milken
EARLY START
Before today’s formal opening to the Summit, early-arriving delegates mixed over drinks at the St. Regis’ beachside Buddha Bar last night. Later, there were a number of invitation-only receptions, including one hosted by the Milken Institute and U.S. Ambassador to the UAE Lucie Berger. The Institute’s Africa Leadership Council held a dinner reception hosted by Todd McDonald, President of Liberty Bank and Trust, and James Mwangi, Group CEO of Equity Group Holdings. British Robinson, Africa Chair of the Milken Institute International, and Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of the African Finance Corp., delivered remarks.
CULTURE RETREAT
Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, where the Milken Summit takes place, continues to rise to the occasion, with three major museums having opened up since last year. The Zayed National Museum, marked by its silvery 300-foot-tall tilted wings, officially opened its doors just yesterday, one day after the UAE’s 54th National Day. The museum tells the story of the country’s history through a vast collection of artifacts, ranging from Paleolithic stone tools and a reconstructed 4,000-year-old boat to family heirlooms and a replica of a Chrysler owned by the UAE’s Founding Father Sheikh Zayed. The debut comes less than two weeks after the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi opened to the public, becoming the largest institution of its kind in the region. Among the specimens on display is the 11.7-meter tall Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton known as “Stan” and the bones of “Lucy,” one of the earliest human ancestors. Immersive digital gallery teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi opened in April. Next on the list is the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which is slated to open in 2026.
On Tap Today
9 a.m. – Opening Plenary – Global Overview: Innovation, Partnerships, and Growth
Opening remarks: Laura Deal Lacey, Executive Vice President, Milken Institute International.
Jasem Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General, Gulf Cooperation Council; Mariam bint Mohammed AlMheiri, Managing Director, 2pointZero; Yasseen Mansour, Chairman, Palm Hills Developments; Michael Milken, Chairman, Milken Institute. Moderator: Hadley Gamble, Chief International Anchor, IMI.
10 a.m. – The Great AI Adoption Race
Part 1: A Conversation with UAE’s Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Omar Al Olama. Moderator: Dan Murphy, Anchor and Correspondent, CNBC.
Part 2: Capturing AI’s Momentum: Pathways to Growth and Productivity
Alex Israel, CEO, Metropolis; Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, Etihad Airways; Saad Toma, General Manager, Middle East and Africa, IBM. Moderator: Eleni Giokos, Anchor and Correspondent, CNN.
10 a.m. – From Capital to Catalyst: How African Sovereign Wealth Funds Are Accelerating Investment Opportunities
Badr Drissi, Chief Investment Officer, Ithmar Capital; James Mwangi, Group CEO, Equity Group Holdings; Aminu Umar-Sadiq, Managing Director and CEO, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority; Alain Ebobissé, CEO, Africa50; Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO, African Finance Corporation (AFC) Moderator: British Robinson, Chair, Africa, Milken Institute International.
11 a.m. – Navigating the Crosscurrents: Global Macro and Investment Outlook
Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Deputy Group CEO, Mubadala; Tony Minella, CEO Eldridge Capital Management; Anne Walsh, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management. Moderator: Dan Murphy, Anchor and Correspondent, CNBC.
11 a.m. – From Demographics to Digital: Seizing Africa’s AI Investment Opportunity
Guy Diedrich, Senior Vice President and Global Innovation Officer, CISCO; Hisham Halbouny, Managing Partner, P1 Ventures; John Kamara, Chair, AI Center of Excellence Africa; Irene Kiwa, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Arabian Labs; Saadi Monla, Payment Partnership Subject Matter Expert, Flutterwave. Moderator: James Irungu Mwangi, Founder and CEO, Africa Climate Ventures.
11:45 a.m. – FinTech Mega Trends: The Disruption Revolution is Here
Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General, Digital Cooperation Organization; Robert Heyvaert, Founder and Managing Partner, Motive Partners; Rishi Khosla, Co-Founder and CEO, OakNorth Bank; Travis McGhee, Global Head, Predictions, Crypto-dot-com. Moderator: Nicole Valentine, Fintech Director, Milken Institute.
11:45 a.m. – Macro Pulse 2026: Inflation, Rates, and a Multipolar Investment Cycle
Kurt Bjorklund, Executive Chairman, Permira; Molly Duffy, Global Head, Financial Sponsors Coverage, Standard Chartered; Lawrence Golub, CEO Golub Capital; Steven T. Mnuchin, Founder and Managing Partner, Liberty Strategic Capital. Moderator: Dana Khraiche, UAE Bureau Chief, Bloomberg.
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Networking Break
1:30 p.m. – Lunch Plenary – The Power of Youth Culture in Shaping Brands
Sandro Baggiani, Chief Merchandising Officer, Golden Goose; Vinay Menda, Co-Founder, Blank Street Coffee; Brieane Olson, CEO Pacsun; Hayfa Sdiri, Chief Impact Officer, RIVET; Jessica Sibley, CEO, Time. Moderator: Michelle Stevenson, Executive Director, Marketing and Communications, Milken Institute.
2:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. – Networking Break
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. – Strategic Resources, Global Stakes: Critical Mineral Investments in a Changing World
Mateo Goldman, Senior Vice President, Investments, US International Development Finance Corporation; Marie-Chantal Kaninda, President Glencore DRC, Chairperson, Kamoto Copper Company; Oskar Lewnowski, Founder and Group CEO, Orion Resource Partners; Ayo Sopitan, CEO, Metalex Commodities; Bob Wilt, CEO, Maaden. Moderator: Eleni Giokos, Anchor and Correspondent, CNN.
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. – Visionaries, Stories, and the Future of Entertainment
Part 1: Visionaries of Tomorrow: A Conversation with Nova Sky Stories Founder and CEO Kimbal Musk. Moderator: Curtis Chin, Chair, Senior Fellows, and Senior Advisor, Milken Institute.
Part 2: The Story Economy: Hits, Talents, and the Forces that Shape Culture
Camila Cabello, Singer and Songwriter; Jane Millichip, CEO, BAFTA. Moderator: Louise Tabbing, Senior Advisor, Milken Institute.
4:15 p.m. – The Future of Global Asset Platforms: Scaling, Strategy, and Stewardship
Jonathan Goldstein, CEO, Cain; Dana Settle, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Greycroft; David Steinbach, Global Chief Investment Officer, Hines; Guy Weldon, Group Managing Partner and Head of Investment, Bridgepoint Group. Moderator: Nour Amache, Senior Presenter, Business News, Asharq.
4:15 p.m. – Luxury in the Middle East and Beyond: Cultivating Collaboration and Creativity
Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud, Founder, Culture House, CEO Jay3lle; Michael Chalhoub, CEO Chalhoub Group; Thomas Khoury, Managing Director, Condé Nast Middle East; Gstaad Guy, Founder, Poubel. Moderator: Stephanie Phair, Senior Advisor, L Catterton and Chair, Invisible Dynamics.
5:30 p.m. – A Conversation with King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies Chairman Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud. Moderator: Hadley Gamble, Chief International Anchor, IMI
5:30 p.m. – Specialty Credit and Asset-Based Finance
Stephen Ketchum, Managing Partner, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Sound Point Capital; Nicole Musicco, Managing Partner, Square Nine Capital; Jack Neumark, Co-CEO and Managing Partner, Fortress Investment Group; Michael B. Nierenberg, CEO Rithm Capital; Moderator: John Bowman, CEO, CAIA.
6:00 p.m. – A Conversation with U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. Moderator: Michael Milken, Chairman, Milken Institute.
6:45 p.m. MEA Summit Networking Reception.
