Dow Chemical in the Middle East Launches Second Annual Young Arab Leaders Arab American Business Fellowship

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Dow Chemical in the Middle East and Young Arab Leaders (YAL), the Middle East’s foremost development platform for business, public sector and civil society leaders, recently launched the second annual Arab American Business Fellowship (AABF) program, of which Dow is a lead sponsor.

The AABF program is designed to expose Arab and American Fellows to each other’s cultural and business environments in order to foster mutual understanding and ongoing dialogue. Dow’s association with this program is in line with its commitment to Young Arab Leaders through its charitable arm, The Dow Chemical Foundation, to support various initiatives under the Young Arab Leaders ‘Arab and American Dialogue Program’ in 2008 and 2009.

This year’s program offered 21 young Arab and American professionals the opportunity to gain exposure to the business practices, culture and way of life in the United States and Middle East respectively. As part of the Arab Fellowship, which was launched on October 4, 2008, 13 young Arab professionals travelled to the United States for meetings with leading corporations such as The Dow Chemical Company, Boeing and Microsoft, among others.

Dow also hosted nine American Fellows at its India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA) headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on October 12-13 and 19-20. Other participating Middle East companies include TATWEER (United Arab Emirates) and Global Investment House (Kuwait). While at Dow, Fellows had the opportunity to engage in candid and insightful conversations with company leaders and employees.

John Dearborn, president, Dow Chemical IMEA, said “As the Middle East continues to emerge as a dynamic region, we are committed to working closely with organizations such as Young Arab Leaders to further support the development of the individuals and communities in which we operate. We are delighted to sponsor the AABF program, which will allow young Arabs and Americans to gain insights into the rich, diverse and evolving business environment and culture of the United States and the Arab world”.

Assem O. Kabesh, Chief Executive Officer, Young Arab Leaders, said, “AABF is a major program that YAL has initiated. The Fellowship provides young Arab and American leaders with a unique opportunity to learn more about diverse corporate practices and gain invaluable insight from companies in different business and cultural environments. I am confident that our partnership with Dow will substantially help us in making this initiative a concrete and sustainable program”.

The program will conclude officially on October 27 with a closing ceremony in Dubai. The event will feature keynote addresses by YAL leadership and John Dearborn. Candid roundtables will enable all participating Fellows, Arab and American, to share their impressions and lessons learned.

About Young Arab Leaders (YAL):

The Young Arab Leaders is a network of Arab men and women who have seen the power of action in their own lives, reached unprecedented levels of success for their age, are positive and can see beyond today’s difficulties to that vision of a prosperous Arab future. These leaders are currently in prominent positions of responsibility and strive for extraordinary achievement. They believe that their efforts today can have an impact on their communities, countries and the region as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.yaleaders.org

About Dow

With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the “ Human Element ” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

About The Dow Chemical Company Foundation:

Established in 1979, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation serves Dow’s philanthropic needs by providing charitable gifts to eligible non-profit organizations in the communities where Dow operates that contribute to community success, support sustainability, foster science in society and stimulate innovation.