The Back to Business annual event was held this year at the Canadian Embassy, where members and non-members gathered for an opportunity to network and to meet the new Ambassador of Canada to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), H.E. Masud Husain. CBC Chairman, Mr. Jack Matar, welcomed the new Board members Mrs. Carol Milne, Mr. Brij Bali and Mr. Essam Azar and he announced the resignation of Mrs. Tanya Habib, the Board’s legal secretary, due to other commitments. He also recognized the presence of current CBC Platinum Sponsors: Bank of Montreal represented by Mr. Firas Mallah and Ideanco represented by Mr. Maher Ezzeddine. Mr. Matar also recognized the presence of CBC’s newest Gold Sponsors: Awazen Medical Center represented by Mr. Shamis Bin Ali Al Dhaheri, and Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi Hotel represented by Ms. Salwa Hussein and Mr. Hisham Obaidat. Mr. Matar then introduced H.E. Ambassador Masud Husain.

Ambassador Husain talked about his role in Abu Dhabi as a catalyst of UAE-Canada relationships, which continues to grow, and he highlighted in this context Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s recent visit to Canada and his meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Ambassador also mentioned that these initiatives are made on several levels: economic, cultural and educational. He also highlighted the emphasis on encouraging enrollment of Emirati students in Canadian Universities. He then acknowledged the presence of Mr. Omar Alhashimi, Co-Chairman of Canada-UAE Business Council (CUBC), and invited him to speak.

Mr. Alhashimi highlighted the importance of CUBC as a platform for cooperation between the two countries. He also highlighted the recent successful meetings that took place to strengthen the business ties between Canada and the UAE.

Mr. Gregory Zoughbi, CBC Board Member and Head of Membership and Sponsorship committee, then recognized CBC’s Platinum and Gold sponsors and thanked them for their support. Mr. Zoughbi went on to explain the benefits that CBC brings to sponsors and members, and invited non-members present at the event to have a conversation with CBC staff about the benefits that would be available to them. Mr. Zoughbi then called on Mr. Essam Azar, CBC Board Member and Head of the Events Committee, to announce the agenda of future CBC events. Mr. Azar thanked the Business to Business event sponsors: Cell Information Technology, Pascal Tepper Catering, Hyatt Capital Gate Hotel and Holiday Inn hotel as he raffled the prizes they generously donated amidst the excitement and winning anticipation. Mr. Roger Smibert from HISS Emirates won a laptop offered by Cell Information Technology.

Photos were taken with Ambassador Husain and networking continued in a relaxed and cheerful ambiance.