2026 Edition · Preliminary programme
Two days. One strategic agenda.
Across two days, plenary sessions and workshops connect geopolitical analysis with practical fields of German–European–Gulf cooperation. Selected side events are accessible by personal invitation only. This is a preliminary programme; programme items and speakers that are not yet final are clearly marked and remain subject to change.
- Day 1
- 21 September
- Day 2
- 22 September
- Venue
- JW Marriott Hotel Berlin, Stauffenbergstr. 26, 10785 Berlin
Programme structure
Timeline and session formats
Filter the published programme by theme, format and access level.
Status note: This is the preliminary programme. Programme items and speakers that are not yet confirmed are marked (tbc.) and remain subject to change.
Main Programme
A regular part of the congress programme.
VIP Session
Reserved for the designated VIP participant group.
By Invitation Only
Side event requiring a separate personal invitation.
15 preliminary sessions shown
30 min
15 min
Welcome Addresses
Berlin ASecurity and Geopolitics
Dr. Otto Wiesheu · Dr. Markus Söder · H.R.H. Prince Turki AlFaisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud · Ali Aslan
View session15 min
Spotlight (TBC)
Ali Aslan in conversation with H.R.H. Prince Turki AlFaisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Berlin ASecurity and Geopolitics
H.R.H. Prince Turki AlFaisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud · Ali Aslan
View session60 min
Keynote Speeches
Keynote perspectives from political representatives of the Gulf states and Germany. Participants marked tbc. remain subject to confirmation.
Berlin ASecurity and Geopolitics
H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi (tbc.) · H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber (tbc.) · Omid Nouripour · Hans-Georg Engelke · Serap Güler (tbc.)
View session15 min
Coffee Break
75 min
VIP Panel Discussion I: Cooperation in Volatile Times, Deepening Strategic Partnership
A high-level discussion on foreign policy and strategic partnership between Germany, Europe and the Gulf states.
Berlin ASecurity and Geopolitics
ChairAmbassador (ret.) Bernd Mützelburg
SpeakersAlexander Radwan · Clemens Hach · Abdullah Hamidaddin (tbc.) · H.E. Dr. Ahmed Albanna · Prof. Dr. Saad Bin Tiflah Al Ajmi (tbc.) · Abdulhakeem Alsabbagh (tbc.)
75 min
VIP Panel Discussion II: Cooperation in Policy Fields
Security policy, mediation and conflict management, public and cultural diplomacy, and economic cooperation in industry, digitalisation, AI, technology, research and development.
Berlin ASecurity and Geopolitics · Diplomacy, Society and Human Capital · Economy, Technology and Resilience
ChairDr. Cinzia Bianco
SpeakersLamya Kaddor · H.E. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi (tbc.) · Dherar Belhoul Al Falasi (tbc.) · Dr. Yousuf Mohammed Al Bulushi (tbc.) · Dr. Zafer Al Ajmi (tbc.)
60 min
Lunch Break
Parallel formats
Parallel programme block
Parallel workshop group
Cooperation and Partnership in Conflict Management and Mediation
Working title. Chair and further contributors remain to be confirmed.
Salon 2 RomSecurity and Geopolitics · Diplomacy, Society and Human Capital
View session EU-GCC Partnership as an Engine for a European Programme for a Middle East–Gulf Process on Cooperation and Security
In cooperation with the European Programme of Bertelsmann Stiftung and the Gulf Research Center Foundation Brussels. The workshop examines lessons from subregional cooperation, three EU-GCC tasks—protection, diplomacy and interconnectivity—and concrete projects that could be implemented together.
Salon 3 RomSecurity and Geopolitics · Diplomacy, Society and Human Capital
ChairChristian Hanelt · Dr. Christian Koch
Potentials of Cooperation in the Security and Defence Industries
A platform for exchange between German and Gulf Arab security and defence industries and representatives from security policy.
Salon 4 LondonSecurity and Geopolitics · Economy, Technology and Resilience
ChairH.E. Major General Khalid Abdullah Al Bu Ainin Al Mazrouei (tbc.) · Ambassador (ret.) Bernd Mützelburg
15 min
Coffee Break
Parallel formats
Parallel programme block
Parallel workshop group
Cooperation and Partnership in Security Policies: Extremism Prevention and Counter-Terrorism, Security of Trade Routes
The chair and further contributors remain to be confirmed.
Salon 2 RomSecurity and Geopolitics · Energy and Critical Infrastructure
View session The Role of Media in Mutual Understanding and the Formation of Public Opinion
Salon 3 RomDiplomacy, Society and Human Capital
ChairKlaus-Dieter Frankenberger
Duration TBC
Networking Opportunity
Time and venue remain to be confirmed.
Room pendingDiplomacy, Society and Human Capital
View session