It was certainly a good opportunity to analyze the various successes and failures that the organizing body, the Gulf Research Center (GRC), will need to address if they want to improve the 2011 forum.
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Delegates at the JEF were on the whole pleased with the caliber of speakers this year but lamented the lack of celebrity presence that had so often lit up the event in the past.
One source at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) remarked that one or two high-profile presentations would have added a bit more glitz and improved media coverage of the JEF.
"We have had George Bush Sr. and Richard Branson in the past. I do not understand why we did not have similar speakers this year. They would have raised the profile of the forum, as well as of Jeddah and the Kingdom," he said.
Certainly, he had a point. While the media presence was still strong, the forum has in the past attracted international media including Sky News and CNN. None of those organizations attended the forum this year.
This was obviously due to the organizers' insistence that the event should be more content-driven, focusing on substance rather than style.
However, many delegates felt this had been to the detriment of the JEF. Yet this should not detract from the fact that the forum still managed to attract nearly 2,000 people on the first two days.
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This was not the only criticism of the forum. The JEF had a mandate to explain to delegates what the global economic outlook would be in the next decade, and particularly how it would shape the Kingdom.
A number of prominent businesspeople thought that while the speakers were of an obviously high standard, too much emphasis was given to the past and present, and not enough to the future.
"We already know what we have achieved in the past and what the current global climate is like now. We want to know what opportunities will exist for us in the future and how we can start tailoring our business strategies accordingly," said one businessman.
And another added, "No doubt a lot of thought went into sourcing the speakers for this year's event. But I still think they did not have enough to offer us in terms of how we can plan for the future."
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One of the Middle East business community's focuses has been the role the GCC will play in the future. A particular bone of contention among Saudi businesspeople is whether it is necessary for the Kingdom to join the single Gulf currency that has been in the pipeline for some time.
Opinions were decidedly mixed among those Arab News spoke to at the JEF. However, all were united in feeling that sooner or later, a single currency would be introduced, and Saudi Arabia would have to act as a leader.
"We are not sure whether it (the single Gulf currency) is needed by the businessmen in the Kingdom, or whether it will add value to our operations. But it will be implemented and we are going to have to deal with it," said one delegate.
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One sector that appears to have much cause for optimism is health care. The provision of health care was one of the focuses of the JEF, with a keynote speech from Dino Celeste of industry leader Holisizwe Healthcare Holding, based in South Africa.
He said that the economic crisis had affected many industries, with health care being the notable exception. "We are actually growing in the crisis, double digits, because people always need health care. The challenge now is how to optimize its growth."
He added that excitement was continuing to increase ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, claiming that the event had changed the country for the better.
"We've built five new stadiums and revolutionized the transport system. We are ready to receive the visitors."
Celeste predicted that Spain would win the World Cup, while the South African national team, known as the Bafana Bafana, would not do so well. He added he hoped Ghana would go far in the tournament.
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On the whole, the JEF has been an interesting experience over the last few days. The wonderful service provided by the ushers has been refreshing, while the organizers' intention to focus on substance over style must be applauded.
However, it seems that this has upset some who were used to the glitz and glamour that has been associated with the forum in recent years.
In addition, businesswomen are still complaining that they are being marginalized, which is a concern that all business-oriented events in the Kingdom, not just the JEF, will have to address in the future.
