IBIS Middle East 2026 – new page

Tuesday 10 February 2026

7.00 pm – IBIS Middle East Welcome Reception – in partnership with Axalta

The Avery Terrace, 6th Floor

Wednesday 11 February 2026

8.15am to 9.15am – Arrival and registration

Tea, coffee and light pastries available from 8.15am

Welcome and networking time

9.15am – Welcome to the IBIS Middle East 2026

Robert Snook, Conference Director, and Suzie Scott, Head of Sales, at IBIS Worldwide, welcome delegates, introduce the theme for 2026, set out the timings and format for the day and explain how delegates can get involved in multiple ways throughout.

9.30am Session One – Inside Stage
Doing the Right Thing : What really happens in the next accident?
The real state of play with road safety on the regions roads today.

Presentations followed by discussion and debate and a Chaired Roundtable.

Following the increase in EV’s, collision mitigation technology and new brands in the last three years, we fact check the latest road safety data and examine what the trends tell us. Is the industry impacting  road safety today, are we ensuring the car and driver are protected in the next accident, are there any consequences or growing gaps in safety, skills and standards ? Before moving to a Changemaker round table to discuss “The 1 Thing we can do to improve road safety is…”

Thomas Edelmann, Founder & Managing Director, RoadSafetyUAE
Samir Abdelfattah, National Development Manager, Haji Husein Alireza & Co. Ltd. (MAN Truck & Bus)
Mahmoud Othman, Head of Group Aftersales, Al Nabooda Automobiles
Supported by global data insight slides from Almudena Benedito, CEO, GiPA

10.30am – 11.15 am – Networking coffee break and roundtable on Session One
Roundtable Chaired by: Thomas Edelmann

11.15am Session Two  – Outside Stage
Is the future for the Middle East Collision Industry already written…
Or can Changemakers change it ?

A series of lightening discussions on different perspectives.

Changemakers are the masters of uncertainty. Changemakers lead rather than just manage or cope. But how do they lead with certainty when everything is so uncertain, how they manage strategy when everything changes all the time. We ask the question, are we too late and the future is already written, or can Changemakers still create our future?

Kerry Watts, Founder and Owner, Star Centre Dubai
Maher El Ghailani, Area Managing Director, MENAT Region, Solera
Graham Threlfall, Partner, PER4M
Frederik Bisbjerg, Non-executive Director, Global Association of Insurtech Professionals – GAIP
Chedhli Marouan, Bodyshop Manager, Al Masaood Automobiles
Anas Saleh, Senior National Body Shop & Car Care Manager, SAMACO Motors
Joseph Kattikaren, Head of Business Development, Aarya Auto | APS Auto Parts
Maria Razmustova, Head of Claims UAE&Bahrain, LIVA Insurance, UAE
Ralph Meichtry, CEO, BETAG Innovation

12.30pm –  Moments that Mattered

12.45pm – 2pm –  Networking Lunch in partnership with Kayan

2.00pm Session Three – Inside Stage
Ensuring Insurability by Mobilising for Mobility
The increasing pace of change in ownership, assistance and mobility solutions.

Presentation followed by discussion and debate and a Chaired Roundtable.

Insurance services are being redefined. AI is establishing its place in the future of connected mobility as Insurance Changemakers deliver future-ready, high-tech high-touch products and solutions that go beyond traditional insurance. We hear how one Changemaker is innovating to ensure continued insurability and mobility of the worlds car parc, before moving to a Changemaker round table to discuss “This means the biggest change for us is going to be…”

Vinay Surana, Managing Director – Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa – Allianz Partners
Natarajan Ramesh, Exec Vice President & Head of General Claims, Arab Orient Insurance Co PJSC

3.15 pm – 4 pm  – Networking coffee break and roundtable on Session three
Roundtable Chaired by: Eman Mojali, CEO, Mada Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers

4.00pm Session 4 – Follow the Car : Where’s it going next ?
The Future for Collision Repairability in the Middle East.

Presentations followed by discussion and debate and a Chaired Roundtable.

Everything starts with the car. Changemakers follow the car to stay ahead of the trends, competitors and commodity pricing. So, what new products and technologies are coming down the line from OEM’s and how will that change the collision repair industry?

We debate how the Changemakers can overcome these challenges and what that means for the future of repairability in the region.

Wim Van Loo, General Manager – MENA Operations, MSX International
Grant Greef, Accident Damage Management and Programs Manager, VWG ME

Roundtable Chaired by: Stephen Louis, Consultant, MSX International

4.50pm – Moments that Mattered

4.55pm Closing Remarks

Robert Snook summarises the conference sessions content, reviews key points, actions and the support from IBIS for the Changemakers. Confirms IBIS activity for 2026.

5.15 pm – Closing Reception.

Delegates are invited to relax and continue discussions by connecting with other Changemakers at the IBIS Middle East closing drinks reception.

6.15 pm – IBIS Middle East 2026 Closes

Delegates depart at leisure

*This is a provisional agenda, we recommend checking back regularly for the latest updates.