IEDEA

Name

IEDEA

Legal name

IEDEA

Website

https://iedea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Management & Platform Services: Revenue generated from organizing and hosting flagship events like the Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF), ABLF Talks Live virtual series, and related leadership forums. Services include venue management, networking facilitation, awards ceremonies, and publication platforms.
2. PR & Outreach Consulting: Integrated marketing campaigns, communications audits, and strategic stakeholder engagement initiatives for clients entering Asian markets. Services leverage extensive regional networks and market intelligence.
3. Strategic Fundraising Services: Bespoke fundraising strategies for non-profit organisations, leveraging global network of influential leaders, policymakers, and changemakers to amplify advocacy and achieve meaningful humanitarian outcomes.
4. Strategic Partnership Facilitation: Facilitating strategic partnerships, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and high-value investment projects through curated networking and matchmaking services.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IEDEA operates as a Dubai-based ideation, outreach, facilitation, and influencer agency that designs, manages, and curates high-profile leadership forums and consulting engagements. Its flagship product is the Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF), a leadership platform convening influential policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs across 33 Asian nations under UAE government patronage. Complementing the ABLF platform, IEDEA delivers PR & Outreach Consulting, Strategic Fundraising services for non-profits, and partnership facilitation for clients in government, private, and social enterprise sectors.

Product overview

IEDEA operates as a unified platform combining an ideation agency, outreach agency, facilitation agency, and influencer agency. The core product is the Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF), IEDEA's flagship intellectual property founded in 2005, which serves as Asia's premier leadership platform. The ABLF ecosystem includes the ABLF Talks Live virtual event series hosted on ABLF City (the bespoke virtual venue platform), the ABLF Awards recognition platform, ABLF Times publications, and digital dialogue forums. Complementing the ABLF platform are three core professional services: PR & Outreach Consulting (innovation-driven communications and stakeholder engagement), Strategic Fundraising (bespoke humanitarian mission fundraising), and Leadership Networking (curating and engaging an unparalleled network of progressive leaders and policymakers). IEDEA also maintains strategic partnerships with government initiatives including Dubai Cares, World Government Summit, Investopia, Global Women's Forum Dubai, National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing, Dubai Investment Week, Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, and Arab Media Forum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ABLF (Asian Business Leadership Forum): IEDEA's flagship event IP - Asia's premier leadership platform convening global leaders for meaningful conversations and strategic collaborations. Includes ABLF Talks, ABLF Awards, and ABLF Times formats operating across recognition, publishing, broadcast media, and digital channels.
• ABLF City

Products and services

• Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF) IEDEA's flagship leadership platform convening Asia's most influential leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators through high-level forums, masterclasses, publications, podcasts, and digital dialogues. Operates under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan and is formally associated with the UAE Ministry of Economy. The platform engages participants across 33 Asian nations with an alumni and partner network managing over $1.5 trillion in cumulative revenues.
• ABLF Talks Live Virtual leadership event series hosted on the ABLF City virtual venue, featuring plenaries, roundtables, networking, one-on-one meetings, invite-only Royal Majlis gatherings, media rooms, and ABLF Partner Expo. The series enables year-round engagement with Asia's leadership community in a digital environment.
• ABLF City Virtual Venue Bespoke immersive digital environment facilitating year-round ABLF events including plenaries, roundtables, meaningful networking, private meetings, Royal Majlis gatherings, media rooms for press interactions, and a dynamic Partner Expo.
• PR & Outreach Consulting Innovation and reliability-driven public relations and outreach services providing exclusive access to influential regional networks across Asia, facilitating meaningful collaborations and strategic partnerships with emphasis on commercially progressive and socially impactful ventures. Includes integrated marketing campaigns, communications audits, and stakeholder engagement initiatives for clients entering or expanding in Asian markets.
• Strategic Fundraising Services Bespoke fundraising strategies for non-profit organisations advancing humanitarian missions, leveraging IEDEA's global network of influential leaders, policymakers, and changemakers to curate optimal stakeholder alliances, integrating strategic communication, PR intelligence, and robust local connectivity.
• Strategic Partnership Facilitation Facilitation of strategic partnerships, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and high-value investment projects through curated networking and matchmaking services, connecting clients with IEDEA's network of influential leaders and investors.
• ABLF Awards Recognition platform within the ABLF ecosystem honoring outstanding achievements by men and women leaders from a wide variety of private and public enterprises across Asia.
• ABLF Times Publications Publications including ABLF Times magazine, podcasts, digital dialogues, and masterclasses creating thought-leadership content for the ABLF ecosystem across recognition, publishing, broadcast media, and digital channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Portfolio of over 1,500 successful initiatives delivered over 35 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, flagship and minor.

• InvestopiamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022IEDEA served as Advisor and Outreach Partner in 2022 and 2023. Investopia was launched by UAE Ministry of Economy in 2021 to position UAE as a global hub for investment and innovation. Focuses on renewable energy, fintech, healthcare, education, logistics, agritech, and space exploration. Promotes foreign direct investment and UAE's role in shaping resilient, sustainable, future-ready global economies.
• Global Women's Forum Dubai (GWFD)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020IEDEA serves as official Outreach Partner of the Dubai Women Establishment who hosted the second edition of GWFD in 2020 under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Held under the theme 'The Power of Influence', GWFD 2020 is a significant social impact-driven initiative advocating gender parity, inclusive progress and women empowerment. Drew over 3,000 attendees including global leaders, experts, academics, entrepreneurs and students.
• Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation (MBRCGI)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018IEDEA serves as Outreach Partner since 2018. MBRCGI was established in 2014 under directive of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to embed innovation as a core principle within the UAE government. Fosters a culture of innovation by developing integrated frameworks, building capacities, and promoting collaborative networks across public sector entities.
• Dubai Investment Week (DIW)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016IEDEA serves as Advisor and Outreach Partner since 2016. Initiative of the Government of Dubai Department of Economic Development (Dubai Economy) and Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI). Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE. Provides private sector unique opportunities to engage with leading government figures on investment opportunities.
• Arab Media ForummajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016IEDEA served as Advisor and Outreach Partner in 2016 and 2017. Convened under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. As the largest annual media gathering in the Arab world, the Forum shapes the regional media agenda, fostering dialogue on the future of journalism, digital innovation, and freedom of expression across the Middle East.
• World Government Summit (WGS)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2014IEDEA serves as Advisor and Outreach Partner since 2014. WGS brings together more than 150 governments and international organisations on a global platform to promote awareness, share knowledge and experiences so that governments can provide better services to citizens. A knowledge-exchange platform at the intersection between government, futurism, technology and innovation.
• Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007IEDEA's flagship initiative established in 2007, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, UAE. Recognized by the UAE Federal Government through association with UAE Ministry of Economy. ABLF is Asia's premier business leadership platform convening influential leaders across 33 Asian nations.
• Dubai CarescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007IEDEA serves as Strategic Partner to Dubai Cares, a UAE-based global philanthropic organisation established in 2007 by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Dubai Cares works towards providing children and young people in developing countries with access to quality education. Has launched education programmes reaching over 18 million beneficiaries in 57 developing countries.
• National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing (NPHW)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerIEDEA serves as Advisor and Outreach Partner for UAE's National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing. Led by H.E. Ohood Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, Minister of State for Government Development and Future. Focuses on fundraising and strategic outreach for key events advancing wellbeing as a national priority.
• AssochamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signing mentioned in gallery between Assocham and IEDEA at ABLF 2019, indicating partnership for business connectivity between Indian and UAE business communities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): London-based international affairs think tank convening heads of state, ministers, and business leaders through its high-level forums and research programs. Comparable to IEDEA as an elite, forum-driven convener producing policy-relevant dialogue among global leaders.
• Milken Institute: U.S.-based economic think tank convening global conferences (Milken Conference, MENA Summit) that bring together policymakers, investors, and executives. Overlaps with IEDEA in producing regional leadership forums and publishing thought-leadership content tied to deal-making and policy.
• Eurasia Group: Global political-risk advisory and consulting firm (GZERO media, Eurasia Group Foundation). Comparable to IEDEA in advising governments and corporates on geopolitical positioning and convening stakeholders around shared policy/economic agendas.
• World Economic Forum (WEF): The dominant global convening platform (Davos, regional meetings, Global Future Councils, issue-specific initiatives). Competes with IEDEA in the same elite-leadership-forum category but at vastly greater scale, geopolitical reach, and brand recognition.
• APCO Worldwide: Global public affairs, communications, and strategic-consulting firm advising corporates, governments, and NGOs on stakeholder engagement and market entry. Comparable to IEDEA's PR & Outreach and Strategic Fundraising consulting lines in the same Middle East/Asia corridors.
• Brunswick Group: International strategic-communications and PR advisory firm serving corporates and governments on critical, transformative engagements. Competes with IEDEA for high-stakes stakeholder engagement mandates in the UAE/Asia region.
• Asia Society: U.S.-based leading organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships across Asia through programs, events, and policy dialogue. Overlaps with IEDEA's mandate of intra-Asia policy/business dialogue and convening influential stakeholders.

Direct peers

• Horasis: Switzerland-based organization that runs a portfolio of high-level visions-meetings (including the Horasis Asia Meeting) bringing together heads of state, CEOs, and investors. Directly comparable to IEDEA in hosting curated invite-only leadership forums that drive partnership origination.
• Future Investment Initiative Institute (FII): Saudi Arabia-headquartered global convening platform (the 'Davos of the Middle East') that hosts flagship leadership forums, publishes thought-leadership content, and brokers partnerships. Closely mirrors IEDEA's ABLF model of government-patronized leadership convening, strategic networking, and policy forums across emerging markets.

Regional players

• Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India): India's apex business chamber with IEDEA's formal MoU for India–UAE business connectivity. Comparable as an institutional network organizing high-level dialogue between governments and corporates, primarily serving the Indian market through which a large share of IEDEA's constituency engages.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iedea/posts
• Xx.com/iedea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IEDEA