Dr Fahad Al Twaijry, Director of Ejtemaat, Organiser of G[P]RC Summit 2026 to Al Jundi : The G[P]RC Summit 2026 Reshapes the Future of Strategy, Risk and Compliance

The 4th edition of the G[P]RC Summit 2026‭ ‬will take place from‭ ‬‮٢٥‬–‮٢٤‬‭ ‬June 2026‭ ‬in Dubai‭, ‬United Arab Emirates‭, ‬bringing together global leaders‭, ‬policymakers‭, ‬and governance experts to discuss the evolving role of Governance‭, ‬Risk‭, ‬and Compliance integrated with performance and strategy‭. ‬Organised by Ejtemaat‭, ‬the summit‭ ‬is recognised as one of the world’s largest gatherings dedicated to the integration of GRC with organisational performance and strategy execution‭.‬

To discuss the vision behind the upcoming summit and its relevance for governments‭, ‬defence institutions‭, ‬and global organisations‭, ‬Al Jundi Journal interviewed Dr Fahad Al Twaijry‭, ‬Director at Ejtemaat and had the following dialogue with him‭:‬

What is the strategic vision behind the 4th edition of the G[P]RC Summit 2026‭ ‬in Dubai‭, ‬and how does it aim to shape the future‭ ‬of Governance‭, ‬Risk‭, ‬and Compliance integrated with organisational performance and strategy‭?‬

The vision of the G[P]RC Summit 2026‭ ‬is to create a global platform where leaders can explore how governance‭, ‬risk management‭, ‬and compliance can be integrated with organisational performance and strategic execution‭. ‬In today’s interconnected world‭, ‬organisations face complex challenges that require a holistic approach to governance and decision-making‭.‬The summit brings together C-suite executives‭, ‬GRC experts‭, ‬policymakers‭, ‬and professionals from industry and academia to share‭ ‬insights‭, ‬innovative solutions‭, ‬and best practices that support organisational resilience and long-term success‭. ‬By fostering dialogue and collaboration‭, ‬the summit aims to strengthen the integration of governance‭, ‬risk‭, ‬and compliance with strategic performance management‭, ‬enabling organisations to navigate uncertainty and seize new opportunities‭.‬

In an era of evolving geopolitical and technological risks‭, ‬how can integrated GRC frameworks strengthen institutional resilience and strategic decision-making‭?‬

Modern organisations operate in a rapidly evolving environment shaped by regulatory complexities‭, ‬technological disruption‭, ‬and‭ ‬shifting geopolitical dynamics‭. ‬Integrated GRC frameworks help institutions address these challenges by ensuring that governance‭, ‬risk management‭, ‬compliance‭, ‬and performance management are aligned with strategic objectives‭. ‬When these elements function together‭, ‬organisations can make more informed and timely decisions‭. ‬Integrated frameworks allow leaders to identify risks early‭, ‬manage regulatory requirements effectively‭, ‬and align operational processes with strategic goals‭. ‬This connected approach strengthens resilience and enables institutions—whether in government‭, ‬defence‭, ‬or the private sector—to respond proactively to emerging risks and opportunities‭.‬

The 2026‭ ‬summit theme is‭ ‬“Driving Success‭: ‬Integrating GRC with Strategy Execution in a Hyperconnected World‭.‬”‭ ‬What key challenges and opportunities does this theme address for organisations today‭?‬

The theme reflects the reality that organisations are increasingly operating in a hyperconnected world where decisions‭, ‬risks‭, ‬and opportunities are closely interlinked‭. ‬Traditional approaches to governance and compliance are no longer sufficient in such an environment‭. ‬Today’s organisations must evolve into what we call‭ ‬“connected enterprises‭,‬”‭ ‬where people‭, ‬processes‭, ‬and data are aligned through integrated systems and strategies‭. ‬By aligning GRC with strategy execution‭, ‬organisations can ensure that governance frameworks actively support business objectives rather than functioning as separate‭ ‬compliance processes‭. ‬The summit will explore how this integration enables organisations to improve agility‭, ‬leverage data-driven insights‭, ‬and strengthen their capacity to manage complexity in a digital and interconnected environment‭.‬

How does hosting the summit in Dubai contribute to advancing governance excellence and risk management maturity in the Gulf region and the wider Middle East‭?‬

Hosting the summit in Dubai reflects the region’s growing role as a global hub for innovation‭, ‬governance excellence‭, ‬and strategic leadership‭. ‬Across the Gulf Cooperation Council‭ (‬GCC‭) ‬region‭, ‬organisations are increasingly embedding sustainability‭, ‬accountability‭, ‬and compliance into their core strategies‭. ‬In the UAE in particular‭, ‬there is a strong emphasis on forward-looking governance frameworks that support sustainable economic growth and organisational transparency‭. ‬By bringing global experts and regional leaders together in Dubai‭, ‬the summit provides an opportunity to exchange knowledge‭, ‬share best practices‭, ‬and strengthen governance maturity across the region‭.‬

With emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence transforming organisations‭, ‬what new governance and risk considerations will be explored during the summit‭?‬

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced digital platforms are transforming how organisations operate‭.‬‭ ‬While these technologies offer enormous opportunities for innovation and efficiency‭, ‬they also introduce new governance and risk challenges‭. ‬The summit will explore how organisations can establish governance frameworks that ensure responsible and secure technology adoption‭. ‬Discussions will focus on topics such as digital transformation‭, ‬cybersecurity‭, ‬data governance‭, ‬and regulatory compliance in the digital era‭. ‬By addressing these issues‭, ‬the summit aims to help organisations develop strategies that maximise technological benefits while effectively managing associated risks‭.‬

The summit brings together leaders from both the public and private sectors‭. ‬How important is cross-sector collaboration in strengthening governance frameworks‭?‬

Cross-sector collaboration is essential in today’s interconnected environment‭. ‬Many of the challenges organisations face‭, ‬such as regulatory compliance‭, ‬cybersecurity threats‭, ‬and sustainability goals‭, ‬cannot be addressed in isolation‭. ‬The summit serves as a platform where leaders from government‭, ‬industry‭, ‬and academia can exchange perspectives and collaborate on practical solutions‭. ‬Through keynote presentations‭, ‬panel discussions‭, ‬and networking sessions‭, ‬participants can learn from each other’s experiences and identify innovative approaches to governance and risk management‭. ‬Such collaboration helps create stronger governance ecosystems and encourages the development of shared standards and best practices across sectors‭.‬

What practical insights or outcomes do you expect participants to gain from the summit‭?‬

Participants can expect to gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest trends‭, ‬methodologies‭, ‬and tools shaping the future‭ ‬of Governance‭, ‬Risk‭, ‬and Compliance‭. ‬The summit programme includes keynote presentations and panel discussions that focus on governance best practices‭, ‬performance optimisation‭, ‬risk mitigation strategies‭, ‬and regulatory compliance‭. ‬Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore innovative approaches to enterprise management‭, ‬including the concept of connected enterprises and‭ ‬integrated GRC frameworks‭. ‬These insights will help organisations enhance strategic alignment‭, ‬strengthen decision-making‭, ‬and improve overall organisational performance‭.‬

Looking beyond the 2026‭ ‬edition‭, ‬how do you envision the long-term impact of the G[P]RC Summit as a global platform for governance innovation‭?‬

The long-term vision of the summit is to establish a global community of leaders committed to advancing governance excellence and organisational resilience‭. ‬As organisations continue to face new risks and opportunities‭, ‬the importance of integrating governance‭, ‬risk management‭, ‬compliance‭, ‬and performance will only grow‭. ‬The summit aims to remain a leading platform where thought leaders can exchange ideas‭, ‬explore emerging trends‭, ‬and shape the future of enterprise governance‭. ‬By fostering collaboration and‭ ‬knowledge sharing‭, ‬the G[P]RC Summit will continue to contribute to stronger‭, ‬more resilient organisations worldwide‭.‬

‮‬‬Interviewed by‭: ALJUNDI

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