Andre Agassi to headline 11th Dubai International Project Management Forum

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, the 11th edition of the Dubai International Project Management Forum (DIPMF) will bring together an elite line-up of local and international speakers, including ministers, heads of authorities and institutions, and senior executives from leading global companies.

Former world No.1 and global tennis champion Andre Agassi will deliver the Forum’s keynote address, which will be held from January 12-15 at Madinat Jumeirah under the theme “Bridging Communities”.

RTA is co-hosting the Forum in collaboration with DP World, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Emaar Properties and the Project Management Institute (PMI). The programme will explore five key themes: The Sustainable City, Digital Transformation, Future Jobs, Technology & Future, and Customer-Centricity.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said, “Over its past ten editions, the Dubai International Project Management Forum has firmly established itself as one of the world’s leading conferences, bringing together decision-makers, experts and innovators. The Forum has enriched discussions on international best practices, supported knowledge transfer and opened new horizons for advancing project management systems across vital sectors.

“The Forum is a strategic platform for showcasing Dubai’s remarkable growth journey, highlighting its pioneering experience in developing and delivering iconic projects that enhance quality of life, and reinforcing the Emirate’s position as a future-focused global city and a model of innovation, governance and sustainability.”

Al Tayer added, “Announcing the participation of an elite group of international speakers reaffirms the Forum’s commitment to attracting influential global figures and decision-makers, thereby enriching discussions across its five themes: The Sustainable City, Digital Transformation, Future Jobs, Technology & Future, and Customer-Centricity. These themes encompass pivotal topics such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, the Metaverse, blockchain, the project economy, organisational resilience and team empowerment.

“These discussions clearly reflect the rapidly evolving demands of today’s world and underscore the need to harness innovative solutions to manage projects with efficiency and foresight.”

The Dubai International Project Management Forum announced that the keynote speaker for its eleventh edition will be Mr Andre Agassi, the former American tennis champion and one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Agassi won eight Grand Slam singles titles and held the world No.1 ranking in men’s singles for a total of 101 weeks. He became renowned for his distinctive baseline playing style and charismatic personality.

Agassi is also regarded as one of the most influential athletes in the field of education reform. He has established several philanthropic initiatives supporting education, including the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, which works to improve the quality of schooling for underserved children in low-income communities, as well as the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy. He frequently underscores his belief that “education is the most powerful tool for transforming children’s lives.”

The eleventh edition of the Dubai International Project Management Forum will discuss five main themes and sixteen sub-themes. The main themes include The Sustainable City, which covers driving sustainable growth and communities of the future; Jobs of the Future, which includes efficiency and optimisation, remote project management, the project and circular economy, and the role of specialised education; Digital Transformation, which covers leadership and strategy, agile management, digital twins and the Metaverse, and blockchain technology; Technology & Future, which covers artificial intelligence, future smart mobility and big data; and Customer Centricity in Project Management, which covers customer engagement and communication, empowered project teams, and agile and hybrid project management.