DAY 01
31 JANUARY, 2026
ABU DHABI DIALOGUE SENIOR OFFICIALS’ MEETING
09:00-10:00 - Opening Session
• 9:00: Welcome Note by H.E. Salem Al Ruzaiqi, Advisor to the Minister,
Ministry of Labour, Sultanate Of Oman
• 9:04: Adoption of the SOM Agenda
• 9:05: Presentation of the Chair’s Report
• 9:35: Business Meeting:
• Agenda of the 8th Ministerial Consultation
• Next Chair of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue
• ADD Chairing Arrangements
10:00-10:30 - Theme 1: Climate Change and Labour Mobility in the Asia - GCC corridor
• Paper: Women, Climate Change and Labour Mobility in the Asia-GCC corridor
• Speaker: Tanja Dedovic, Regional Thematic Specialist on Labor Mobility, IOM
• Q&A
10:30-11:00 - (Cont.) Theme 1: Climate Change and Labour Mobility in the
Asia -GCC corridor
• Paper: Green Transition and Skills Development in the GCC:
Leveraging Intra-Regional Mobility with Circular Migration
• Speaker: Jasim Alhamrani, Director, Strategic Planning and Communication,
GCC Executive Bureau Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs
• Q&A
11:00-11:15 - Coffee Break (15 mins)
11:15-11:45 - Theme 2: Labour Mobility and Skills for a Just Transition to Green Economy
• Paper: Inter-regional study on climate change, just transition and labour mobility
• Speaker: Mette Grangaard Lund, Just Transition Specialist, ILO Office for Arab States
• Q&A
11:45-12:15 - (Cont.) Theme 2: Labour Mobility and Skills for a Just Transition to Green Economy
• Paper: Using Skills Mobility Partnerships to Support Skills Development and
Climate Adaptation in the GCC
• Speaker: Henry Gordon Smith, CEO Agritecture, in partnership with IOM
• Q&A
12:15-12:45 - Theme 3: Expatriate Gig Workers in the ADD Member States: Addressing Legal, Social, and Career Implications
• Paper: Virtual Labour Mobility in Abu Dhabi Dialogue Member States
• Speaker: Rada Naji, Social Protection Specialist, Middle East and North Africa, World Bank
• Q&A
12:45-13:15 - (Cont.) Theme 3: Expatriate Gig Workers in the ADD Member States: Addressing Legal, Social, and Career Implications
• Paper: On Understanding Expatriate Gig Workers in Abu Dhabi Dialogue Member States: Addressing Legal, Social and Career Implications
• Speaker: Stéphanie Winet, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, IOE
• Q&A
13:15-14:15 - Lunch Break
14:15-14:45 - Theme 4: Role of Skills and Diversity for Labour Productivity in ADD
Member States
• Paper: The Promise of Global Skill Partnerships and the Need for Investment in Skills and International Worker Mobility Systems
• Speaker: Jeremy Aaron Lebow, Economist, Social Protection, World Bank
• Q&A
14:45-15:15 - (Cont.) Theme 4: Role of Skills and Diversity for Labour Productivity in ADD Member States
• Paper: On Unlocking the Role of Skills and Diversity for Labour Productivity in
ADD Member States
• Speaker: Murtaza Khan, Partner at Fragomen, in partnership with IOE
• Q&A
15:15-15:45 - Enhancing Social Protection for Labour Migration in ADD countries: A Corridor Perspective
· Presenter: Luca Pellerano, Senior Technical Advisor on Social Protection, STREAM Programme Manager
End of Day 1
DAY 02
01 FEBRUARY, 2026
8TH ABU DHABI DIALOGUE MINISTERIAL CONSULTATION
09:00-10:10 - Opening Session
• 9:00: Statement by H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources
and Emiratisation, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research,
Host Country, Permanent Secretariat of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, UAE
• 9:05: Group photo for Ministers and Heads of Delegation
• 9:15: Opening Remarks by H.E. Dr. Mahad Said Ali Baawain,
Minister of Labour, Sultanate Of Oman
• 9:20: Innovations from the Region: India
• 9:30: Innovations from the Region: United Arab Emirates
• 9.40: Innovations from the Region:
• 9.50: Innovations from the Region:
10:10-10:25 - Coffee Break
10:25-11:25 - Panel Discussions (30 mins each)
10:25-10:55
Panel 1: Climate Change, Skills, and Labour Mobility: Pathways to a Just Transition
in the Asia–GCC Corridor
Moderator: Georgia Tolley - Journalist, Moderator, Host
Speakers:
• Tanja Dedovic - Regional Thematic Specialist on Labor Mobility, IOM
• Henry Gordon Smith, CEO Agritecture
• Mette Grangaard Lund, Just Transition Specialist, ILO
• Jasim Alhamrani - Director, Strategic Planning and Communication, GCC Executive Bureau
Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs
10:55-11:25
Panel 2: Shaping the Future of Work in the ADD member states: Gig Work,
Skills Pathways, and Productivity
Moderator: Georgia Tolley - Journalist, Moderator, Host
Speakers:
• Jeremy Aaron Lebow - Economist, Social Protection, World Bank
• Rada Naji - Social Protection Specialist, Middle East and North Africa, World Bank
• Stephanie Winet - Head of Stakeholder Engagement, IOE
• Murtaza Khan - Partner at Fragomen
11:25-11:45 - GCM Session – Highlighting Best Practices in Implementation
Panel Discussion: Highlighting best practices in the implementation of the GCM and
progress towards the next IMRF
Moderator: H.E. Abdulla Alnuaimi, Advisor, International Relations
Speakers:
• 1. H.E. Catalina Devandas, IOM Director Generals Special Envoy to the IMRF,
International Organization for Migration
• 2. Sabine Henning, Ph.D Chief Sustainable Demographic Transition Section,
Social Development Division, UNESCAP
• 3. Sophie Nonnenmacher, Senior Regional Liaison and Policy Advisor,
International Organization for Migration – UN Migration
Should time permit, we will take questions from the floor.
11:45-12:00 - Break
12:00-13:15 - Lunch Break
13:15-14:45 - Ministerial Interventions
• Priority will be given to Ministers of Member State Delegations
• Statements must be limited 4 minutes per delegation
• If time is available, the floor will be opened to interventions from Observer Delegates
• Delegates are encouraged to pre-register their Ministers' interest to intervene during the session via the online form circulated by the Secretariat.
14:45-15:45 - Closing Session
• Discussion and Adoption of the 8th Joint Ministerial Declaration (Interventions can only be made by Member States)
• Awards Ceremony
• Closing Remarks by Host
End of Day 2
