Updated: April 14, 2024

More than a thousand guests attended the FBC Annual Gala Dinner, held on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in one of the most iconic locations in the Middle East: the Dubai Opera.

We had the opportunity to receive several VIPs, including H.E. Élisabeth Borne, French Minister of Transport, H.E. Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Ludovic Pouille, Ambassador of France to the United Arab Emirates, and also H.E. Najeeb Mohamed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Bureau Expo 2020, H.E. Majid Saif Al-Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, H.E. Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Chairman of the World Chambers Federation, as well as H.E. Mohamed Ali Musabbeh Al Nuaimi, Chairman of RAK Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other local and French senior representatives.

This evening was an opportunity to celebrate the Light and the Enlightenment. The theme “Lumière, Lumières” of our Gala 2019 is based on the one chosen for the French Pavilion, which will represent our country at the 2020 World Expo.

During the evening, guests were able to attend a concert of classical music by Trio Virtuoso, featuring pieces of the greatest French musicians, such as Camille Saint-Saëns, Claude Debussy or Francis Poulenc, followed by a performance of Kamal Musallam Trio (featuring Eddie Misk), interpreting various French and Arabic songs in oud, guitar and singing. The final show, composed by The Fridge Dubai, honored the legend Michel Legrand through dance, music and acrobatics.

For the occasion, the Opera, usually shaped in theater layout, has turned into flat-floor, a unique opportunity to discover the famous Dubai Opera in this shape.

The FBC Business Award 2019 – Opportunity, winner, Agricool, has been rewarded for its involvement in developing urban farming. The company is a French startup revolutionizing AgTech, grows pesticide free, local and delicious fruits and vegetables in recycled containers calls “Cooltainers”, that you can find in The Sustainable City.

The French Business Council Dubai & Northern Emirates warmly thanks all the sponsors and partners of this evening for their valuable support.