Summit to draw global experts and industry leaders to debate future of automobile on Jan26
Doha, Qatar (January 17, 2010) – Qatar Motor Show revealed today that the 1st Middle East Automotive Summit will focus on “The Future of the Automobile” and is expected to draw top executives and key representatives in the automotive, auto-related, energy and technology industries from across the region and around the world. The summit will be held on January 26 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha on the opening day of the First International Edition of the Qatar Motor Show, scheduled to run from the 26th to the 29th of January. Participants and high-profile speakers will discuss the future of the automotive industry with an eye to proposing a new vision of sustainable, intelligent and secure mobility.
“The 1st Middle East Automotive Summit is an event not to be missed for industry leaders and car manufacturers,” commented Mr. Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority. “By bringing together the automotive sector’s various interest groups, from energy providers and infrastructure planners to car manufacturers and intelligent mobility companies, and offering them an invaluable opportunity for dialogue and debate, the Middle East Automotive Summit promises to become an important annual event for the automotive world,” concluded Mr. Al Nuaimi.
Distinguished speakers at the high-profile event include Mr. Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority; H.E. Sheikh Alhussain Bin Ali Bin Ahmed Al Thani, CEO of q.media; Mr. Ahmad Al-Sayed, Managing Director and CEO of Qatar Holding (QH); Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chief Executive of Volkswagen Group; Mr. Ghanim Bin Saad Al Saad, Chairman of Qatar Ag and H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar.
The summit will take place in two technical sessions designed to provide a complete overview of mobility, examining the state of the sector today—in terms of technologies, innovations, and market—and looking to the future of the industry. The opening session, which will take place the morning of January 26th, will be dedicated to the future of the automobile and will cover topics such as environmental sustainability, safety, technology, alternative energy sources, mobility infrastructure, and the interaction between transport, information technology and telecommunications. The summit’s second session will focus on info-mobility and the future technological developments of the whole car transportation system. More specifically, this session will discuss Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and their influence on the future of infrastructure, telematics and navigation technology in the Gulf region.
The event is designed to provide an integrated vision of mobility from the sector’s various perspectives, and some of the world’s top executives in the automotive, auto-related, energy and technology industries will be sharing their experiences and insights during the sessions.
The Qatar Motor Show, a prestigious exhibition dedicated to the automobile and to the world of motor vehicles, is organized by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) in partnership with q.media Events and GL events, under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim BinJabr Al Thani, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Qatar Holding (QH) is the main sponsor of the Qatar Motor Show, and QATARI DIAR and Barwa are Diamond Sponsors.
The show’s official inauguration will follow the 1st Middle East Automotive Summit on January 26 at the Doha Exhibitions Center, and will feature leading international automobile manufacturers Volkswagen and Porsche, in addition to more than 30 other auto companies and 25 international brands. The four-day exhibition will also offer a host of outdoor activities for visitors, including test drive sessions organized by many of the exhibitors.
This year’s Qatar Motor Show is the first fully-integrated and truly international automotive show in the Middle East and promises to excite, educate and thrill spectators. Special days for media and VIPs have been organized for the 25 and 26 January, with the doors opening to the public at 8pm on 26 January. Entry is free.
