GRC and Export Controls in the Middle East Conference, 25 – 26 November 2025, Riyadh, KSA

GRC and Export Controls in the Middle East Conference, 25 – 26 November 2025, 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.

  • Mr. Mohamed El Sadany, GRC Director, BOD and Committees Secretary, Mowah
  • Dr. Saleh M. Alshunaif, Director Legal, Contracts, & Global Trade Compliance, Alsalam Aerospace
  • Dr. Syed Abid Hassan, Head of Compliance, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs, Dallah Pharma
  • Mr. Ibraheem Alkahtani, Head of Logistics & Trade Compliance KSA & PYB Cluster, Schneider Electric
  • Mr. Mohammed Al Ghafly, Regional Regulatory Affairs & Trade Compliance Manager, Ecolab
  • Mr. Fahad Al-ali, Senior Counsel; Labour Law, Ethics and Compliance, BAE Systems Saudi Arabia
  • Ms. Aljoharah AlMazrou, Corporate Governance and Compliance Section Head, TAWAL
  • Ms. Fai Alawad, Governance, Compliance and Board Relation Lead, NEOM 
  • Mr. Kefah El-Ghobbas, Sr. Compliance and Operational Excellence Manager, Saudi Aramco
  • Ms. Ghada Al Ghamdi, People & Business Integrity Director, Eisai EMEA 
  • Mr. Khalid Bubshait, Director of the International Partnerships Department, Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (NAZAHA) 
  • Mr. Reinhard Mahn, Chief Compliance Officer, ASMO 
  • Mr. Ebrahem Alhoqel, Chief Legal Officer, TASNEE 
  • Mr. Abdulkader Bahous, Country Compliance Officer, Siemens 

 


 

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.


Day One

08:15 – 09:00 Registration opens with early morning refreshments

09:00 – 09:15 Chairman’s welcome and opening address

09:15 – 10:15 GRC Integration in the Public and Private Sectors

10:15 – 11:15 Sanctions Compliance in the Gulf: Adapting to U.S., EU, and Local Frameworks

11:15 – 11:35 Morning refreshments and networking

11:35 – 12:00 The Fast Five – 5 solutions – 5-minute interviews

12:00 – 12:50 Supply Chain Due Diligence: Managing Trade Risks Across Tiers and Borders

12:50 – 14:00 Prayer Break and Networking Lunch

14:00 – 15:00 Governance in Action: Elevating Risk Management to the Executive Agenda

15:00 – 16:00 Combatting Bribery in MENA: From Internal Allegations to Enforcement Lessons

16:00 – 16:25 Afternoon refreshments and networking

16:25 – 17:25 Panel Discussion: Building Ethical Business Culture in High-Growth Markets

17:25 – 17:30 Chairman’s closing remarks

17:45 – 18:45 Conference Drinks reception

Day Two

08:30 – 08:55 Early morning refreshments and networking

08:55 – 09:00 Chairman’s opening remarks

09:00 – 10:00 Export Controls in Practice: Screening, Licensing, and Red Flags

10:00 – 11:00 Smart GRC: Leveraging Technology and Foresight to Manage Emerging Risks

11:00 – 11:20 Morning refreshments and networking

11:20 – 12:20 Panel Discussion: Future Challenges in GRC Across the GCC

12:20 – 13:30 Prayer Break and Networking Lunch

13:30 – 14:30 Export Control Nexus: Managing Sensitive Technology Transfers in the GCC

14:30 – 15:30 Post-Acquisition Ethics & GRC Integration: Aligning Governance After Mergers

15:30 – 15:50 Afternoon refreshments and networking

15:50 – 16:50 Interactive Roundtables on topics brought up by the delegates on the day

16:50 – 17:00 Chairman’s remarks and End of Conference

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in speaking at this conference, please contact Miss Isra Mahmoud on isra.mahmoud@nielsonsmith.com

Please contact your NielsonSmith representative to discuss the programme in more depth.

Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq: DSGX, TSX: DSG) is a global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions designed to enhance the productivity, performance, and security of logistics-intensive businesses. The company’s solutions make it easier for organizations to access and analyze global trade data, offering insights that help businesses improve trade compliance, reduce duties paid, minimize transactions with sanctioned parties, and identify potential customers and supply chain resources.

As the world’s largest collaborative multimodal logistics community, Descartes serves a broad range of industries. Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Descartes operates with a global network of offices and partners. More details are available on their website at www.descartes.com.


 

AGRC is a global, non-profit, professional accreditation & certification organisation, as well as a networking platform, that was founded in 2020 and started its operations a year later. We have developed a series of Level 3 professional qualifications on topics such as AML, ESG, KYC/CDD, Compliance, Risk Management, Corporate Governance, and International Economic Sanctions, all of which have been accredited by the London Institute of Banking and Finance (LIBF) in the UK.

We also facilitate the exchange of knowledge and sharing of experiences among governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) professionals. We support our community of multi-jurisdictional GRC professionals in the financial services industry and beyond by sharing their common values, experiences, expertise, and business development opportunities.

You can find out more about us at www.agrc.org.

 

 


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 with access to conference recordings – 999 USD

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

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.