Concluding a two-day session in Dubai on 30 October, the MENA-OECD Business Advisory Board (BAB) urged governments to prioritise cross-border talent flows and regulatory alignment if the region is to reach its diversification targets. Hosted by the UAE’s Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the meeting gathered officials from 20 countries alongside CEOs and policy experts.
In opening remarks, UAE Economy Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri highlighted that the Emirates has enacted more than 35 economic laws in five years, many aimed at widening residency options such as the Golden Visa and the newly announced AI Specialists Visit Visa. OECD delegates praised the UAE’s legislative agility but stressed that mutual recognition of professional qualifications and digital work-permit platforms are needed across the wider Middle East.
Panel sessions on “Connecting Physical and Digital Infrastructures” and “Connecting People and Ideas” zeroed in on mobility bottlenecks. Logistics leaders cited varying customs procedures and limited multi-entry visa options as constraints on regional supply chains. Tourism executives argued that the forthcoming Unified GCC Tourist Visa should be followed swiftly by a business-mobility counterpart if Gulf capitals want to attract higher-value meetings and incentive travel.
For multinational HR teams, the BAB’s communiqué is a sign that further liberalisation may be on the horizon—not just in the UAE but across neighbouring markets. Companies were encouraged to participate in upcoming public-consultation rounds that will feed into the OECD’s Competitiveness Programme roadmap for 2026-30.
The meeting also showcased Expo City Dubai’s new Green Innovation District, reinforcing the link between sustainability projects and the need for frictionless worker mobility in sectors such as clean tech, agrifood and advanced manufacturing.
In opening remarks, UAE Economy Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri highlighted that the Emirates has enacted more than 35 economic laws in five years, many aimed at widening residency options such as the Golden Visa and the newly announced AI Specialists Visit Visa. OECD delegates praised the UAE’s legislative agility but stressed that mutual recognition of professional qualifications and digital work-permit platforms are needed across the wider Middle East.
Panel sessions on “Connecting Physical and Digital Infrastructures” and “Connecting People and Ideas” zeroed in on mobility bottlenecks. Logistics leaders cited varying customs procedures and limited multi-entry visa options as constraints on regional supply chains. Tourism executives argued that the forthcoming Unified GCC Tourist Visa should be followed swiftly by a business-mobility counterpart if Gulf capitals want to attract higher-value meetings and incentive travel.
For multinational HR teams, the BAB’s communiqué is a sign that further liberalisation may be on the horizon—not just in the UAE but across neighbouring markets. Companies were encouraged to participate in upcoming public-consultation rounds that will feed into the OECD’s Competitiveness Programme roadmap for 2026-30.
The meeting also showcased Expo City Dubai’s new Green Innovation District, reinforcing the link between sustainability projects and the need for frictionless worker mobility in sectors such as clean tech, agrifood and advanced manufacturing.
