14-01-2026
The fourth edition of the “Private Sector Social Responsibility and Its Role in Sustainable Development” Conference opened today, January 14, at the Qatar Chamber’s headquarters, bringing together a distinguished gathering of officials, experts, and representatives of regional and international organisations.
The opening ceremony was attended by H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Chamber; H.E. Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of State, Chairman of Qatar National Library, and International Ambassador for Social Responsibility; H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al-Maatouq, Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Dr. Khaled Hanafy, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers; H.E. Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Secretary-General of the Federation of GCC Chambers; H.E. Tarek El Nabulsi, Minister Plenipotentiary and Director of the Development and Social Policies Department at the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs; Dr. Hashim Sulaiman Hussein, Head of the Investment and Technology Promotion Office in the Kingdom of Bahrain at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO); Prof. Yousef Abdul Ghaffar, Chairman of the Regional Network for CSR; and Dr. Ali Al Ibrahim, Director General of the Regional Network Consultancy.
The event was also attended by Qatar Chamber Second Vice-Chairman H.E. Rashid bin Hamad Al Athba, along with a number of Board members and leading businessmen.
The two-day conference is hosted by the Qatar Chamber in collaboration with the Union of Arab Chambers, the League of Arab States, the Regional Network Consultancy, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
The conference aims to highlight the growing role of the private sector, particularly family businesses, in promoting social responsibility and integrating sustainability principles into corporate strategies, in line with sustainable development goals. It also provides a platform for dialogue, exchange of expertise, and the presentation of best practices that contribute to enhancing the social, economic, and environmental impact of private sector institutions in the Arab region.
In his remarks, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, QC Chairman, emphasised that private sector social responsibility has become a strategic pillar of good governance, enhancing competitiveness and building trust with society, stressing the pivotal role of the private sector as a key partner in achieving sustainable development.
He also noted that the selection of this year’s conference theme, ‘Mechanisms for Integrating Sustainability and Social Responsibility Principles in Arab Family Businesses,’ underscores the pivotal role of family businesses in Arab economies and their vital contribution to achieving a balance between economic growth, social responsibility, and long-term sustainability.
Sheikh Khalifa highlighted the vital role of Arab family businesses in balancing economic growth with social responsibility and long-term sustainability, affirming the importance of adopting sound governance practices, strategic planning, transparency, innovation, and investing in young leadership to ensure business continuity across generations.
For his part, Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari emphasised that integrating sustainability and social responsibility into Arab family businesses is essential for achieving comprehensive social development and building more cohesive and sustainable economies.
He commended the Qatar Chamber’s strategic role in stimulating the national economy, and driving growth in Qatar, thanks to its efforts in linking business sectors, and promoting the Qatari private sector’s presence on the international stage.
He noted that social responsibility has evolved from seasonal initiatives into a core component of corporate governance, underscoring that the long-term sustainability of family businesses relies on sound governance, transparency, alignment with sustainable development goals, investment in human capital, and support for innovation.
Meanwhile, H.E. Dr. Khaled Hanafy, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, thanked Qatar Chamber for hosting the conference, noting that it serves as a model of commitment to social responsibility through its keenness to embrace initiatives that support this vital area.
He pointed out that family businesses constitute a large proportion of the private sector, which represent nearly 75% of the Arab economy.
For his part, H.E. Tarek El Nabulsi, Minister Plenipotentiary and Director of the Development and Social Policies Department at the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, expressed, on behalf of the League of Arab States, his appreciation to Qatar Chamber for this initiative.
He stressed the vital role of the private sector in adopting social responsibility as a key partner in the development process, emphasising the League of Arab States’ support for the conference’s recommendations, which will be submitted to the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs.
Dr. Hashim Sulaiman Hussein, Head of the Investment and Technology Promotion Office in the Kingdom of Bahrain at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), said that family businesses are a key pillar in the economies of Arab countries, providing job opportunities and contributing to increasing the GDP.
Prof. Yousef Abdul Ghaffar, Chairman of the Regional Network for CSR, said that the Arab private sector, especially family businesses, constitutes a fundamental pillar in supporting Arab economies, enhancing social stability, and achieving sustainable development.
He noted that integrating the principles of sustainability and social responsibility into the core corporate strategies of family businesses is no longer an option, but rather an economic, developmental, and ethical necessity that ensures the continuity of these companies and enhances their competitiveness regionally and globally.
During the opening ceremony, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani and Dr Khaled Hanafy honoured the conference’s partners and honour guests.
Following the honouring ceremony, Mr. Ali Bu Sharbak Al Mansori, Acting General Manager of the Qatar Chamber, stressed that the Chamber’s hosting of the event stems from its firm belief in the importance of social responsibility and the pivotal role played by Arab family businesses in supporting national economies and community institutions, as well as in achieving sustainable development.
Experts Discuss Governance of Social Responsibility in Family Businesses
The conference’s first day featured three panel discussions.
The first session, entitled “Governance of Social Responsibility in Arab Family Businesses,” featured a distinguished group of speakers and experts and was led by H.E. Advisor Ghanem bin Saad Al-Khayareen, Honorary Member of the Regional Network for Social Responsibility.
The panel included Dr H.E. Sheikh Dr. Thani bin Ali bin Saud Al Thani, Vice-Chairman of the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration and International Ambassador for Social Responsibility in the State of Qatar; H.E. Dr. Yousef bin Othman Al-Hazim, Secretary-General of the Al-Anoud Charitable Foundation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al-Kuwari, environmental expert and engineering consultant at the Office of H.E. the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in the State of Qatar; and Dr. Hoda Galal Yassa, President of the Arab Women Investors Union in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Speakers also included Dr. Mazen Abboud, Faculty Member at the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Lebanon; Dr. Abdul Wahab Al-Zahrani, CEO of Social Responsibility at Al Rajhi Partners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Counselor Warf Qamiha, CEO of Global Professional Services in Lebanon; and Ms. Mona Fattah Wahdi, Regional Advisor for Social Development Affairs and Coordinator of the “Bridges” Initiative at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in Lebanon.
During the session, H.E. Sheikh Dr. Thani bin Ali bin Saud Al Thani presented a working paper entitled “Transparency, Disclosure, Trust Building and Their Applications in Family Businesses in the GCC Countries”.
He emphasised that family businesses play a pivotal role in the economies of the Gulf countries, as they constitute most private sector companies and contribute significantly to economic and social development. However, he noted that the family-based nature of these businesses makes them more vulnerable to challenges such as conflicts of interest, weak separation between ownership and management, and the absence of clear institutional structures, all of which negatively affect their sustainability.
Sheikh Thani also stressed that transparency, disclosure, and trust-building form an integrated framework for the sustainability of family businesses in the GCC countries. He added that the higher the level of commitment to these principles, the greater the ability of family businesses to address institutional challenges, achieve sustainable growth, and contribute effectively to national economies.
