GLOBAL DUBAI TEA FORUM
TEA AT THE CROSSROADS
TRADE, TARIFFS AND TECHNOLOGY IN AN AGE OF REALIGNMENT
2 - 3 November 2025
The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, JBR
Programme
Welcome reception
Welcome speech
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO, DMCC
Registration and check-in
Welcome speech
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO, DMCC
Keynote speaker
H.E. Abdulaziz Alnuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for Entrepreneurship and the Economic Affairs Regulatory Sector, Ministry of Economy
Special address
A World Rewritten: How global trade lost its map
Melanie Noronha, Principal, Policy & Insights, Economist Impact
The Future of Trade: Tea edition
Feryal Ahmadi, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer, DMCC
Networking break
Panel 1: The Future of Tea: Key challenges and solutions for the global tea industry
Moderated by Sanjay Sethi, CEO, Gundlach Packaging DMCC
Panellists:
James Suranga Perera, Executive Director, International Tea Committee
Sherring Thekekkara, Global Executive Vice President - Market Access, DP World
Mao Limin, Chairman, Zhejiang Tea Doctor Biotechnology
Mohit Agarwal, Director, The Asian Tea Group
Lunch break
Panel 2: Surplus to Sizzle: Reigniting global demand for tea
Moderated by Kurush Bharucha, Former Global Tea Expertise Director, Lipton Teas and Infusions
Panellists:
Amir Bagheri, Head of Sales, Ahmad Tea
Teddie Levenfiche, Co-Founder, Perfect Ted
Wouter Verelst, Marketing & Business Development, Satemwa Tea Estates Ltd - Satemwa Europe BV
Panel 3: From Auction to Action: The direct-to-consumer regional tea revolution
Moderated by Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman & CEO, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC
Panellists:
Chris de Lavigne, Executive Director, Deloitte
Rudra Chatterjee, Managing Director, Luxmi Group
Tanvi Binani, SVP, Strategy & Ops Excellence, Vahdam Teas
Networking break
Panel 4: Sustainable Tea Production: Shifting to quality in a challenging climate
Moderated by Anil Cooke, Managing Director, Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC
Panellists:
George Omuga, Managing Director, East African Tea Trade Association
Julius Ng'ang'a, Senior Director East and Southern Africa, Rainforest Alliancee
Mohit Agarwal, Director, The Asian Tea Group