About the Conference

The Family Business Conference is the ideal conference in the Middle East for networking, discussions and debates on the dynamics of family businesses.

The Family Business Conference is a 2-day conference that aims to encourage greater understanding of family business dynamics and the challenges they face in order to accomplish greater business success and sustainability leading to a higher impact on economic development. The Conference will feature presentations and panel discussions by expert speakers with plenty of case studies, interactive dialogue and networking opportunities.

The Family Business Conference is aimed at CEOs, owners, board members of leading Arab family owned businesses as well as legal and financial advisors and is supported by the Institute of Family & Entrepreneurial Business of the Lebanese American University and by other local and regional organisations.

Many families businesses are highly successful and have been around for several generations. Wal-Mart, Ford, Samsung, LG, Carrefour, Fiat, Marriott, BMW, Motorola, Novartis, Estée Lauder, Roche, Michelin, Mars, L'Oréal, Gap, Louis Vuitton, Porsche, Ikea, Bechtel, Benetton, Henkel … are few of the successful international families businesses around the world. Examples of Arab families businesses include Saudi Oger, Saudi Binladin, SABIC, Dallet al Baraka, M.A. Kharafi & Sons, Orascom, Nuqul Group and many others.

Over 90% of businesses in the Arab world are family owned. As with other family businesses around the world, they face many challenges that threaten their success and sustainability. Only about 30% of family businesses move on to the 2nd generation, 14% to the third generation and only 3% survive beyond the 3rd generation!

However, the rate of collapse among family business in the Middle East is alarming. Regardless of size, family businesses face significant challenges of continuity, longevity, and ultimately success which threaten their performance and future survival. The challenges that family businesses face range from management and ownership to succession planning, employing family & non-family executives, the transition between generations, managing the family’s wealth, building the right governance structure, passing on entrepreneurial talent between generations and many others.

Family-owned businesses in Jordan, whether SMEs or large companies, need to be aware of these challenges and develop strategies to insure their continuity and long-term success. This will impact positively on the economic performance & development of Jordan through increased contribution to GDP, exports and foreign currency generation.