20th ARABAL to focus on solutions for global challenges

Top executives from the GCC's primary aluminium smelters will participate at the 20th Arab International Aluminium Conference ("ARABAL 2016") in Dubai, UAE, from 22 to 24 November 2016 as part of an industry keynote panel discussion - covering topics such as the various factors relating to the regional downstream aluminium industry. Emirates Global Aluminium ("EGA") - the largest primary aluminium producer in the Gulf - is host of the two-day ARABAL 2016 conference, which has adopted the theme "Global Challenges - Seeking Solutions", this year marking the sixth time that EGA will have hosted the event.

Commenting on his own participation in the industry keynote panel discussion at ARABAL 2016, Abdulla Kalban (MD & CEO: EGA) said, "It is always a pleasure to share the stage with industry colleagues and to have the opportunity to promote the excellent work being done in our region's aluminium industry. This, along with the varied and interesting topics covered during the rest of the conference programme, will make for an extremely productive few days for the industry."

ARABAL is the only event of its kind in the region to unite all the leading primary aluminium manufacturers in the GCC, enabling industry leaders to network, conduct business, discuss global challenges and identify suitable solutions. This year, the ARABAL conference will gain focus on a number of key topics, including the Gulf aluminium industry perspectives; sustainability; operations and technology; scrap and recycling; and China's influence in the market. The programme will also include a dedicated session on end-user perspectives, focusing on aluminium usage trends in the automotive, aerospace, construction and packaging sectors.

Conference delegates will also have the opportunity to participate in site tours to EGA's core operating midstream assets Dubai Aluminium ("DUBAL", also known as Jebel Ali Operations) and Emirates Aluminium ("EMAL", also known as Al Taweelah Operations). The DUBAL smelter complex was commissioned at the end of 1979 while phase I of the EMAL smelter complex began at the end of 2009 and phase II was fully commissioned by mid-2014. EGA's combined annual production capacity of 2.4 million tonnes per annum currently accounts for almost 50 per cent of the total primary aluminium production capacity in the GCC.

An exhibition held alongside the conference will showcase about 65 of the biggest names in the global aluminium sector, featuring specialists across the spectrum - from upstream, through midstream, to downstream industry. More than 2,000 local, regional and international delegates, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and visitors are expected to attend the Middle East's premium aluminium industry gathering.