Looking for an international keynote speaker in Dubai?
Sylvie di Giusto calls the United States home, and airport lounges around the world her second office. She is a CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame keynote speaker who helps organizations, and the people inside them, become impossible to replace. She has worked with leaders from Germany to the UK and Hong Kong, and brings two keynotes to Dubai stages: Forever Human and The Power of Choice, live or as the world’s first 3D immersive keynote.
PassengerYour audience
ClassIrreplaceable
GateYour stage
BoardingWhen you are ready
Languages
English
Keynotes
Forever Human The Power of Choice
Formats
3D immersive or traditional · in person, hybrid, virtual
Recognition
CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame · Esprit, Davey and EventEx awards
Reach
Audiences in 25+ countries
Books
More than a dozen books on leadership and being chosen
An Austrian mother, a French father, a Spanish grandmother and an Italian grandfather: I was international before I ever boarded a plane. Respect for many cultures was simply how I grew up.
For nearly twenty years I sat on your side of the table. I led the leadership academy of Europe’s largest retail and tourism group, decided which leaders rose, and booked the speakers who stood in front of them. I partnered with executives from Düsseldorf to Hong Kong, and I know what an audience of many nationalities needs: a message that travels across every one of them.
I also have close family in the United Arab Emirates and have spent time there personally and professionally, so Dubai never feels like a foreign stage to me. Its hospitality, ambition and pace are part of what I love about speaking here.
Trusted by organizations around the world
Choose your route
Two keynotes, built for your Dubai audience
Future of work & AI
Forever Human
The better the machines get, the more your people will set you apart.
AI just made everyone equally capable. Sylvie names the ten moves a machine still can’t make and shows your audience how to lead, sell and connect with the human signals technology can’t fake.
Why it lands in Dubai: the UAE has made AI a national priority. Your audience will hear the human side of that plan.
What your people know rarely gets them chosen. What others see in them does.
Clients, talent and the room decide in seconds. Sylvie reveals the five dimensions that quietly decide who gets kept, followed and chosen, and how to shape them on purpose.
Why it lands in Dubai: dozens of nationalities in one room. It gives everyone a shared language for how trust and choice really work.
Bring the world’s first 3D immersive keynote to Dubai
No slides, no pre-recorded hologram beamed in from somewhere else. Sylvie stays live in the room while holograms appear around her, and your leaders, sponsors and theme can step into the story. In Dubai, our team works hand in hand with your venue and AV partner, so the wow never costs you a sleepless night.
Multicultural, with family in the UAEAustrian, French, Spanish and Italian roots, close family in the Emirates, and at home in an international Dubai audience.
From your side of the tableTwenty years of booking speakers herself. She knows what you risk when you choose one.
Built for your roomEvery keynote is researched and customized, down to your people, your theme and your city.
Zero diva, full partnerOne team for travel and logistics, working hand in hand with yours or your bureau’s, and a speaker who makes your event the star.
Planning a conference in Dubai: local insights
Dubai secured 504 successful bids for international business events in 2025, expected to bring an estimated 272,262 delegates to the city through 2029. Here is what helps when you plan yours.
Fly inDubai International Airport (DXB)The Dubai Metro Red Line serves DXB Terminals 1 and 3, linking the airport with the city's main districts.
Time zoneGST (UTC+4, no daylight saving)Check the live clock under the departures board above.
LanguageArabic (official), with English the everyday language of businessSylvie’s keynotes are delivered in English and built for international audiences.
CurrencyUAE dirham (AED)The dirham is pegged to the US dollar and cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Plan for the UAE week. The working week runs Monday to Friday, with many offices closing early on Friday for midday prayers; Saturday and Sunday are the weekend.
Respect the rhythm of Ramadan. Ramadan dates shift earlier each year. Working hours shorten, daytime eating and drinking in public is discouraged, and evening iftar receptions replace daytime hospitality.
Book around GITEX and Gulfood.GITEX Global (7 to 11 December 2026) and Gulfood (15 to 19 March 2027) fill the city, and summer heat from June to September makes outdoor evenings difficult.
Taking it on the road? Add Abu Dhabi or Riyadh to a Dubai booking and bring the same human message to leaders across the Gulf.
Make the evening unforgettable. Take your guests to the top of the Burj Khalifa for the view, or out to a desert camp under the stars for a night they will talk about for years.
Landmarks for your evening program
Burj Khalifa (At the Top)The Dubai FountainDubai Creek and abra crossingsAl Fahidi Historical NeighbourhoodMuseum of the FutureDubai Marina dhow cruiseDesert camp under the starsPalm Jumeirah
Questions planners ask about Dubai
Who is a good international keynote speaker for a conference in Dubai?
Sylvie di Giusto is a CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame keynote speaker and has worked with leaders across Europe and Asia. She delivers two keynotes, Forever Human on the human edge in the age of AI and The Power of Choice on how people get chosen, either on a traditional stage or as the world’s first 3D immersive keynote.
Can the keynote be tailored to an international audience in Dubai?
Yes. Every keynote is researched and customized for your people, your industry and your theme, and Sylvie’s multicultural background helps her connect with audiences of many nationalities in Dubai.
Can the 3D immersive keynote be staged in a Dubai venue?
Yes, wherever there is a stage and a room that can go dark. Sylvie’s team works directly with your Dubai venue and AV partner, checks the floor plan early and sends the full tech requirements. See how the experience works.
Which keynote fits an AI or technology conference in Dubai?
Forever Human. It shows audiences the ten moves a machine still can’t make, and turns AI anxiety into a clear plan for the human skills that grow in value as technology gets better.
Which keynote fits a leadership, sales or HR event in Dubai?
The Power of Choice. It reveals the five dimensions that decide who gets kept, followed and chosen, and shows people how to shape those judgments on purpose. It is built on Sylvie’s book The Image of Leadership.
Sylvie is based in the US. Does she travel to Dubai?
Yes. Sylvie speaks in more than 25 countries. Her team handles travel and logistics, so you work with one contact from the first call to the show.
Can we book Sylvie through our local speaker bureau?
Yes. Sylvie partners with speaker bureaus around the world. If a bureau already supports your event, Sylvie’s team will work directly with them from the first call to the show, so you keep the partner you trust.
What about visas, permits and other formalities for a keynote in United Arab Emirates?
Sylvie’s team handles it with you. Sylvie speaks internationally all year, so her team knows the paperwork a cross-border keynote can involve: business visas or work permits, invitation letters, and any tax forms United Arab Emirates requires for foreign speakers. They check the requirements for United Arab Emirates early, tell you exactly what they need from you, and take care of the rest, so nothing stands between your date and the stage.
How far in advance should we book a keynote speaker for Dubai?
As early as your dates are set. Peak conference seasons in Dubai fill venues and hotels fast, and the 3D immersive keynote needs a few weeks of custom work for your audience. Check availability to hold your date.
Can Sylvie speak virtually or in a hybrid format for a Dubai event?
Yes. Both keynotes are available in person, hybrid or virtual, and each version is customized to your audience and theme.