London Business School (LBS) hosted its 23rd Annual MENA Conference at its London campus, bringing together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, academics, and industry leaders to discuss the forces reshaping the Middle East and North Africa’s economic future.

Over the years, the conference has evolved into one of the region’s most recognised platforms for discussions around innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, and economic transformation. This year’s edition focused heavily on the intersection of technology, capital, sustainability, and policy, reflecting the region’s growing role within the global digital economy.

“This year’s MENA Conference highlights how the region is positioning itself at the intersection of capital, innovation, and global economic transformation,” said Florin Vasvari, Executive Dean of Executive Education, Middle East, at London Business School.

The agenda explored themes including global capital flows, fintech, climate resilience, artificial intelligence, and the financing landscape surrounding the region’s technology ecosystem. Discussions also examined how regional markets are evolving to support stronger startup ecosystems, deeper capital markets, and long-term economic competitiveness.

Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the defining themes of the conference, with speakers discussing how regional organisations can build sustainable AI capabilities through investments in infrastructure, talent, data, and capital. Conversations also explored how fintech is reshaping financial infrastructure and improving access to digital financial services across the region.

Throughout the event, senior executives, policymakers, founders, and investors shared perspectives on the MENA region’s evolving role within global markets, as governments and businesses increasingly position technology and innovation at the centre of long-term economic diversification strategies.

The conference also highlighted London Business School’s growing regional engagement, following the opening of its executive office in Riyadh alongside its longstanding Dubai campus, strengthening its support for leadership development and executive education across the GCC.

Holcim, the leading partner for sustainable construction, has launched its latest ECOPlanet low-carbon cement in the UAE, produced from locally sourced materials and designed to support the country’s drive toward stronger, more self-reliant industrial growth.

The launch reflects the UAE’s continued focus on building a more resilient manufacturing base and minimizing dependence on imported construction inputs. By using materials sourced within the country and produced locally, ECOPlanet helps strengthen in-country value while supporting the construction sector’s transition to lower-carbon building practices.

Holcim’s new product achieves a 30% reduction in carbon footprint compared to traditional cement and offers developers, contractors, architects and engineers a locally made solution that aligns with both sustainability targets and national industrial priorities. ECOPlanet is engineered to deliver reduced carbon emissions without compromising performance, offering the same strength, durability, and consistency required for large-scale infrastructure and commercial developments. Its formulation enables ready-mix producers and contractors to integrate low-carbon solutions into existing construction workflows with ease.

In the UAE, ready-mix concrete producer Conmix is already using ECOPlanet in an active project, demonstrating the material’s real-world applicability and readiness for immediate deployment at scale. This marks an important step in translating low-carbon construction materials from production into on-ground execution.

As the UAE continues to lead regional growth across the built environment, ECOPlanet establishes the new benchmark for high-performance, low-carbon construction, delivering the scalable foundations required for projects ranging from critical infrastructure and industrial hubs to the icons of the future.

“ECOPlanet reflects our commitment to delivering real, measurable progress in sustainable construction. It is made in the UAE, from UAE materials, and designed to help reduce emissions while strengthening the country’s industrial ecosystem.” said Ali Said, CEO of Holcim UAE and Oman. Holcim is showcasing ECOPlanet at Make it in the Emirates 2026, highlighting how material innovation and local production are helping shape the future of construction in the UAE. The presence reflects the company’s broader role in supporting industrial development, while early adoption by partners such as Conmix demonstrates growing momentum for low-carbon building solutions across active projects in the country.

ECOPlanet is part of Holcim’s global portfolio of low-carbon building materials and solutions designed to deliver high performance while supporting the transition to more sustainable construction practices, building progress for people and the planet.

Nothing and Charli xcx are announcing a partnership that pairs one of the most distinct artists of her generation with a tech brand built on the same principle. As Nothing’s latest Shareholder and first Global Brand Ambassador, Charli xcx marks a new creative chapter for the brand.

As a Shareholder, Charli joins a global roster of cultural leaders, including The Weeknd, Casey Neistat, and Swedish House Mafia, who back Nothing not just as a maker of award-winning technology, but as a platform for creative expression.

Charli xcx said: “When I’m creating, I’m always thinking about how my work will be experienced out in the world and I love how Nothing headphones sound and are designed. Its ethos of prioritising creatives is really something I look for when working with a partner.”

Carl Pei, Co-Founder and CEO of Nothing, said: “I’ve been a fan of Charli’s work for years, and what struck me when we started talking was how much we agreed on. The tech industry has spent a decade making everything quieter, more minimal, more monotonous. Charli has spent her career going the other way in pop. We want Nothing to feel more like that. She’s joining as a shareholder and partner, and the campaign launching today is just the start of what we’re working on together.”

A global campaign with Charli xcx – shot by Aidan Zamiri, her long-time collaborator, in London – launches today under the name ‘NOTHING (CHARLI XCX)’. In the campaign Charli wears Nothing headphone (a) for five days straight, highlighting its industry-leading 135 hours of playtime.

Nothing recently raised US$200M in a Series C round at a USD $1.3B valuation. The partnership with Charli xcx signals what that scale is now being directed toward: a new kind of company at the intersection of technology and culture, built in partnership with the creative community.