What The Global Diwan does

The Global Diwan is a private international membership club founded in early 2020 in Brussels by Eric Schell, designed to connect senior business, academic, and cultural leaders across Europe, the Arab World, Africa, and Asia. The organization operates as a non-partisan, independent platform offering exclusive events, annual forums, and city-based networking encounters in Paris, London, Berlin, and main Arab capital cities. Its core activities include flagship Annual Forums (Nice 2022 on blue and green security; Monaco 2024 on Data Governance and Security with 180 attendees from Maghreb, Middle East, Gulf, Egypt, Turkey, and select Asian and African markets; Riyadh S1 2026 planned), thematic webinar series on Healthcare and the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), and a monthly newsletter that has published 20+ editions since inception. The membership targets European and Arab business leaders, an emerging cohort of Euro-Arab Young Leaders, and professional service providers (lawyers, banks, finance funds, start-ups) seeking cross-regional business development.

The Global Diwan does not operate a proprietary technology platform. Its offering is fundamentally a relationship and convening business — the product is access to a curated, exclusive network of senior decision-makers, mediated through in-person events, webinars, and written analysis. Engagement is sustained through a multi-channel approach including a LinkedIn presence with 5,000+ followers, monthly newsletter distribution, thematic webinar programming, and city-level networking encounters across its geographic footprint.

Revenue is generated through membership subscriptions and sponsorship. The sponsorship base comprises five main corporate sponsors (Egis, Xerys Invest, Jolt Capital, GL Events, Saur), four legal sponsors (Al-Yaquout & Al-Fouzan Legal Group, Al Sulaiti Law Firm, Alem & Associates, Franklin), and a wider ecosystem of strategic partners (Women In Tech, Generation 2030, Ardian, Yacht Club de Monaco, Fujitsu, TV5 Monde, Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur, Jadir International, Memorist, Enodis). The organization has 9 employees and operates a lean central team under founder-controlled governance, with a Business Board reporting to Executive Chairman Eric Schell. In 2025 the organization publicly affirmed its independent, non-partisan posture by severing prior institutional affiliations to remain a reliable private partner for its membership.

Name

The Global Diwan

Legal name

The Global Diwan

Website

https://theglobaldiwan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Global Diwan is a private international networking club founded in 2020 in Brussels, connecting senior business, academic, and cultural leaders across Europe, the Arab World, Africa, and Asia through exclusive annual forums, thematic webinars, and city-based networking events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Networking Club / Business Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), International Affairs (92812), International Affairs (928120), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International Economic & Trade Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protocol, State Visits & Diplomatic Events Management (BPAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Executive networking club
• International business events
• Membership association
• Euro-Arab relations
• Premium leadership forums

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership-based networking services: The organization generates revenue through membership subscriptions for its exclusive international club serving leaders between Europe and the Arab World, with broader connections to Africa and Asia. Members pay for privileged access to networking events, exclusive forums, and business development opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Global Diwan is an international membership club that connects business, academic, and cultural leaders across Europe, the Arab World, Africa, and Asia through exclusive events, forums, and networking opportunities. Its core deliverables are the Annual Forum (held in Nice 2022, Monaco 2024, with Riyadh S1 2026 planned), a monthly analytical newsletter on MENA-ASEAN developments, themed forums such as the Healthcare Forum and IMEC Webinar, and curated city-based encounters in Paris, London, Berlin, and Arab capital cities for members.

Product overview

The Global Diwan is an international networking organization, not a unified software product. It operates as a membership club connecting business, academic, and cultural leaders across Europe, the Arab World, Africa, and Asia. The core offering comprises the Annual Forum (the flagship event addressing topics like data governance, healthcare, and regional business), the Newsletter (providing MENA-ASEAN analysis), and specialized forums/webinars such as the Healthcare Forum and IMEC Webinar. The organization does not appear to offer a traditional software platform or SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Global Diwan Membership Club An international membership club designed for leaders wishing to develop their business network between Europe and the Arab World and beyond with Africa and Asia. Members gain access to exclusive events, forums, and networking opportunities including the Annual Forum and city-based encounters.
• Annual Forum The Global Diwan's flagship annual event featuring forums on themes including Data Governance and Security (Monaco 2024), healthcare (Riyadh 2026), and other specialized topics. The 2nd edition in Monaco attracted 180 attendees from Maghreb, Middle East, Gulf, Egypt, Turkey, India, Japan, and Africa.
• Global Diwan Newsletter A regular publication (Newsletter N°20 as of October 2025) providing analysis and updates on MENA-ASEAN region developments and business matters, distributed to members and followers.
• Healthcare Forum A specialized forum dedicated to healthcare issues, with the 3rd edition scheduled to take place in Riyadh during S1 2026.
• IMEC Webinar A webinar series focused on the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), examining geo-economic opportunities connecting India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Mediterranean ports.
• City-Based Networking Encounters Regular networking encounters and meetings held in Paris, London, Berlin, and main Arab capital cities providing ongoing touchpoints for member engagement outside the annual forum.

Quantifiable outcome

• 180 attendees from Maghreb, Middle East, Gulf, Egypt, Turkey at January 2024 Monaco Forum

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Women In TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner contributing to Annual Forum programming. Women In Tech provided inputs during the Monaco 2024 Forum on Data Security & Governance, supporting the organization's mission to foster diverse leadership across regions.
• Generation 2030supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization aligned with Global Diwan's mission for future-oriented initiatives and sustainable development goals across Euro-Arab regions.
• ArdiansupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate investment company listed as a partner, supporting Global Diwan's initiatives through sponsorship and network connections within the investment and business community.
• Yacht Club de MonacocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious venue partner for the 2nd Annual Forum in Monaco (January 2024), providing exclusive facilities for data governance and security discussions.
• Aéroports de la Côte d'AzursupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional infrastructure partner supporting Global Diwan events and connectivity for international attendees to Nice and Monaco forums.
• FujitsusupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology partner providing technology sector expertise and potentially supporting digital transformation topics in forum programming.
• TV5 MondesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner potentially providing coverage and reach for Global Diwan events and mission across French-speaking international audiences.
• Jadir InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting international development initiatives and cross-regional collaboration efforts.
• MemoristsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization contributing to Global Diwan initiatives and business networking activities.
• EnodissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner contributing to Global Diwan's operational capabilities and regional business development activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• World Economic Forum: Swiss-founded international organization convening political, business, and cultural leaders at flagship annual meetings. Comparable as a high-prestige multi-stakeholder convening platform, but far broader in scope and resources.
• Friends of Europe: Brussels-based think tank convening EU and global policymakers and business leaders on European and global policy issues. Comparable as a non-partisan European dialogue platform headquartered in Brussels like Global Diwan.
• Concordia Summit: Non-partisan global forum convening heads of state, business executives, and NGO leaders around shared challenges. Comparable in the high-level convening model targeting cross-region collaboration.

Direct peers

• Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce: French bilateral chamber facilitating business ties between France and Arab countries. Closely comparable mission and member profile, anchored in Paris — one of Global Diwan's core cities.
• British Arab Network: UK organization promoting understanding and business cooperation between Britain and the Arab world through events and dialogue. Comparable as a non-partisan convening platform targeting senior leaders.
• EU-Arab Business Forum: Periodic high-level forum convening EU and Arab business leaders to deepen economic cooperation. The most directly comparable event-format peer, also explicitly positioned at the Europe–Arab World intersection.
• Arab British Chamber of Commerce: UK-based bilateral chamber promoting trade and business between Britain and the Arab world. Directly comparable as a Europe–Arab World networking and dialogue organization for senior business leaders.
• German-Arab Chamber of Commerce (GAZ): Bilateral chamber promoting German-Arab economic relations with offices in Germany and several Arab capitals. Comparable as a multi-office Europe–Arab networking institution with annual forums.
• MEDEF International: The international arm of France's main employers' federation, organizing high-level business delegations and forums connecting French CEOs with global markets including MENA. Comparable in convening senior executives for cross-border deal flow.

Others

• AmCham EU: American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union, representing U.S. business in Brussels policy circles. Comparable as a Brussels-based membership organization for international business leaders, though serving a different bilateral corridor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theglobaldiwan
• Instagraminstagram.com/theglobaldiwan

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

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Global Diwan