With less than three weeks to go until the world’s leading authorities on internal auditing gather in Dubai for The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) International Conference — from May 6 to 9 — the event’s key note speakers have been announced.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the three-day event will see some of the region’s leading business names address topics concerning artificial intelligence, cyber security and business disruption.

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, will be one of the most high-profile speakers when he takes to the stage to discuss ‘reaching new heights through innovation’.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Alabbar said: “Internal auditing is a cornerstone of an organization’s long-term growth, sustained progress and success. Hosting the IIA International Conference in the MENA region for the first time is a great opportunity for business owners to develop the internal competencies of their organizations through a greater understanding of the audit process and in turn further strengthening their corporate governance standards.”

Other speakers include Abdullah al-Rowais, Chief Audit Executive, Etihad Etisalat Co. (Mobily); Claudia Olsson, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum; and the ‘youngest A.I. scientist in the world’ Tanmay Bakshi.

The event, held at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, will be the first time the IIA International Conference has been held in the MENA region. An estimated 3,000 auditing professionals from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the 70 sessions.

Running under the theme “Connecting the World Through Innovation”, highlights of the programme include:

How Corporate Culture Can Silence the Whistle – Lessons Learned from Volkswagen's Dieselgate
Why Good People Do Bad Things: What’s an Auditor to Do?
Preparing Internal Audit for the New World of Robotics and Automation
Bad Actors: Cyber Criminal Profiling and the Digital Crime Scene
Auditing the Corporate Business Continuity Plan
Prepare for Blockchain Disruption: The Basics and What It Means
Ethics and the Mindset of the Fraudster
Auditing in the era of Artificial Intelligence

Abdulqader Obaid Ali, CEO of IIA UAE, said: "The UAE is very proud to host this conference, the first of its kind in the MENA region, which we have worked on since 2010. We are honored to hold such a prestigious and anticipated event. It will surely be a programme that delves into timely issues impacting the profession, rich with insights for internal auditors at every level.”

The international conference will focus on the key areas of auditing from best practice to the major challenges facing both public and private sectors, as well as raising awareness about the importance of internal auditing to help organisations achieve their objectives.

Attendees will have access to a number of educational sessions on current and emerging issues and trends, ranging from business sustainability, information security, and governance to risk, fraud, and corruption. It will also present industry best practices in addressing common challenges, as well as knowledge-sharing opportunities.