GRC and Export Controls in the Middle East Conference, 15 – 16 September 2026, Riyadh, KSA
GRC and Export Controls in the Middle East Conference, 15 – 16 September 2026, Riyadh, KSA
With new export controls, sanctions, and anti-corruption rules from the US, UK, EU, China, and local authorities in the Kingdom, compliance is more complex than ever. The GRC and Export Controls in the Middle East Conference is designed for compliance professionals working directly in the field, providing practical advice and real-world insights from both global experts and respected local leaders.
The US, UK, EU and now China have far reaching export controls, sanctions and anti-corruption initiatives, match this with developing local regulations within the Kingdom and you have a perfect storm of compliance to navigate through. GRC and Export Controls in the Middle East Conference is the one place where you, as a local compliance specialist, can find a way through.
‘Culture beats Compliance’ is well known maxim but carries no weight with Regulators. So how do you not only build leading compliance programs but also ensure their take up and the buy in of the workforce ?To quote ‘Tomell Da Silva of The Middle East and Africa Compliance Association ”you may have the right ‘Tone from the top’ but what about the ‘Mood in the middle’ and the ‘Groove on the ground” ?
Best Practice is commonly called for but does one size fit all ? How can you ensure you are compliant with conflicting international regulations at the same time as ensuring local regulations are adhered too?
This conference has been produced with you the compliance specialist ‘on the ground’ in mind. It is designed specifically for those in industry to allow you to learn from your peers and benchmark your program with not only the global leaders but also with local prominent companies from within the Kingdom. This is the must attend conference in the region where you will interact in an intimate, open and candid setting with eminent speakers from The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as other GCC and leading global specialists, we look forward to meeting you.
- Mr. Fahad Al-Ali, Senior Counsel; Labour Law, Ethics and Compliance, BAE Systems Saudi Arabia
- Mr. Muataz Albardeeni, Executive Director of Governance, Risk & Compliance, TALEMIA
- Dr. Yasser Aboismail, General Counsel and Compliance Officer, Thales Arabia
- Dr. Christopher Wolters, Partner, BLOMSTEIN
- Mr. Muhammad Javed, Head of Internal Audit, CGS Group
- Mr. Felipe Villasuso Lago, PhD candidate, London South Bank and Compliance Officer, AIQ Artificial Intelligence
- Mr. Ronan Duff, Risk & Compliance Specialist, Dow Jones
- Ms. Sumayah Alabbad, Governance, Risk and Compliance Lead, MSD KSA
- Ms. Darja Galante, Global Head of Compliance Operations and Strategy, VEON
Should you wish to join our esteemed speaker panel at this event, please contact If you are interested in speaking at this conference, please contact Mr. Henderson Huang on henderson.huang@nielsonsmith.com.
The agenda for the GRC and Export Controls in the Middle East Conference is prepared by and for industry professionals, and includes the most interesting topics, currently pertinent to the field.
Please contact your NielsonSmith representative to discuss the programme in more depth.
Day One
09:15 – 10:00 Registration opens with early morning refreshments
10:00 – 10:20 Chairman’s welcome and opening address
10:20 – 11:20 GRC and National Transformation Programmes
11:20 – 11:50 Doing Business in the EU: Trade Controls, Investment Screening and Strategic Autonomy
11:50 – 12:15 Prayer Break & Morning refreshments
12:15 – 12:45 Part 2 – Doing Business in the EU: Trade Controls, Investment Screening and Strategic Autonomy
12:45 – 13:30 Building Resilient Compliance Programmes in a Changing Environment
13:30 – 14:45 Prayer Break and Networking Lunch
14:45 – 15:30 Third-Party Risk Governance in GCC Supply Chains
15:30 – 16:30 Panel Discussion: Ethics and Conduct Programmes in GCC State-Linked Firms
16:30 – 16:55 Prayer Break & Afternoon refreshments networking
16:55 – 17:00 Chairman’s closing remarks
Day Two
09:15 – 10:00 Early morning refreshments and networking
10:00 – 10:05 Chairman’s opening remarks
10:05 – 11:00 Integrated GRC Systems Implementation
11:00 – 12:00 The Future GRC Professional: Redefining Governance, Risk & Compliance in a Changing World
12:00 – 12:30 Prayer Break & Morning refreshment
12:30 – 13:30 Panel Discussion: GRC for the Next Phase of Growth
13:30 – 14:45 Prayer Break and Networking Lunch
14:45 – 15:45 Governance and Oversight of Modern Compliance Programmes
15:45 – 16:00 Chairman’s remarks
End of Conference
If you are interested in speaking at this conference, please contact Mr. Henderson Huang on henderson.huang@nielsonsmith.com
The Middle East & Africa Compliance Association (MEACA) is a non-profit, volunteer-driven professional body committed to advancing transparency, accountability, and ethical governance across both public and private sectors in the Middle East and Africa. Established to address the growing need for structured compliance frameworks in the region, MEACA serves as a central hub for compliance professionals, offering resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy to promote integrity in business practices.
Mission and Vision:
- Vision: To be the leading professional association in the Middle East and Africa, promoting transparency, accountability, and a culture of integrity in both private and public sectors.
- Mission: To empower compliance professionals with the skills, resources, and knowledge to be effective ambassadors of goodwill within their respective companies and communities. MEACA seeks to foster and nurture a business context where good governance, adherence to laws, ethics, and transparency are the international norm, not the exception.
Core Activities:
- Professional Development: MEACA offers training programs, workshops, and seminars aimed at enhancing the competencies of compliance professionals.
- Networking Opportunities: The association organizes events and conferences to facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices among professionals in the field.
- Advocacy and Thought Leadership: MEACA engages with policymakers and industry leaders to advocate for robust compliance standards and ethical business practices.
- Mentorship Programs: Committed to nurturing the next generation of compliance professionals, MEACA provides mentorship opportunities to guide and support emerging talent in the industry
Through these initiatives, MEACA aims to build a resilient compliance culture that supports sustainable economic growth and enhances the global reputation of the Middle East and Africa as regions committed to ethical business conduct.
Descartes (Nasdaq:DSGX) (TSX:DSG) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, performance and security of logistics-intensive businesses. Descartes helps customers to work smarter by making access to and analysis of global trade data easy. Our suite of solutions helps businesses achieve higher trade compliance rates, reduce duties paid, minimize transactions with sanctioned parties and provides insight into potential customers and supply chain resources.
Descartes is the world’s largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at www.descartes.com.
BLOMSTEIN is a leading European law firm specialising in international trade as well as government contracts, EU ESG compliance, competition, and State aid. Headquartered in Berlin and operating through offices in Brussels, Lisbon and Düsseldorf, the firm advises global companies across a wide range of industries.
BLOMSTEIN’s experienced team supports high-profile clients worldwide on complex EU sanctions regimes, dual-use compliance, and high-stakes enforcement matters, combining deep regulatory expertise with strategic guidance to help companies navigate fast-evolving geopolitical, supply-chain, and security-related risks. Beyond export control, customs and sanctions, BLOMSTEIN is highly active in foreign direct investment (FDI) screenings, regularly assisting international clients with complex filings before the EU and Member States authorities. The firm also advises business associations, manufacturers, and importers on all aspects of trade defence instruments, including anti dumping and safeguard measures.
BLOMSTEIN has been recognised for its outstanding foreign trade law expertise by Chambers, Legal 500 and JUVE.
Dow Jones Risk & Compliance is a global provider of best-in-class risk data, web-based software applications and scalable due diligence services that help organizations manage risk and meet regulatory requirements related to financial crime, third-party risk management, sanctions and international trade. Built on the legacy of one of the world’s most trusted newsrooms, Dow Jones Risk & Compliance combines the expertise of a multilingual research team with industry-leading data scientists and technologists to provide actionable content structured specifically for compliance needs. Our solutions were developed in partnership with top legal and political advisors — including former regulators — to help our clients maintain consistency across global business units and teams.
Should you wish to become our Partner at this event, please contact Mr. Reyhan Perera on reyhan.perera@nielsonsmith.com
1 physical 2-Day pass and the Company-wide Post-Event Microsite license for 1 year – 999 USD
*15% off price for MEACA members
The in-person event includes sessions, lunch, refreshments and available documentation. Please contact us for Groups. Please note: “Vendor” companies may attend as sponsors only.
Conference Venue
Area, Business Gate, Qurtubah,
Riyadh 11552, Saudi Arabia
Accommodation Allotment
TBC
Information
Delegate tickets are for in-house participants only. Compliance vendors may only attend by becoming a sponsor, please request a prospectus via the button below. Vendors purchasing tickets will not gain access to the event and will receive only a 70% refund.
