The three-day meeting, entitled ”Economic Growth and Job Creation in the Arab World”,  will convene on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea with the participation of a number of heads of state and senior officials, including King Juan Carlos of Spain and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

”Recent shifts in the Arab world coupled with economic contraction at the global level have created a new urgency for decision-makers across the region: The need to address the fundamental conditions required to revive growth and support human development,” a WEF statement said.

The meeting, which is due to be officially opened by Jordan’s King Abdallah on Saturday, brings the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, other Middle Eastern and North African countries and the world community to discuss ”the best practices in economic policy and reform”, it added.

Among those taking part in the discussions will be Mohammad Al-Mady, vice-chairman and chief executive of the Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC).