Forbes, the publisher of leading business magazines Forbes and Forbes Asia, said it will hold its 12th annual Forbes Global CEO Conference in Dubai in 2012. This is the first time the event is being held in the Middle East. Under an agreement signed by Ahmad Al Shaikh, Director General of the Dubai Government Media Office and Chairman of Falcon & Associates, and William Adamopoulos, President and Publisher of Forbes Asia, the event will take place in October 2012. The Forbes Global CEO Conference, launched in 2001, gathers under one roof some of the world\'s most successful tycoons, entrepreneurs, multinational CEOs, emerging company CEOs, financiers, and thought leaders. Since its inception, the Forbes Global CEO Conference has travelled to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney. Article continues below Al Shaikh commented: \"The emirate is increasingly at the forefront of global business leaders\' minds as a strategic hub as they recognise its pivotal role in the global economy. Dubai\'s sophisticated infrastructure, built to foster international business and opportunities, has led to a steady rise in multinational companies establishing their regional headquarters here.\" Recent speakers at the Forbes Global CEO Conference include the world\'s richest man, Carlos Slim, and other multi-billionaire tycoons such as Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of steelmaker ArcelorMittal; Rob Walton, Chairman of Wal-Mart; Li Ka-Shing, Chairman of Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa, and Sheldon Adelson, Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Adamopoulos said: \"We are confident that the Forbes community of captains of industry and world-leading entrepreneurs will take great pleasure in meeting in Dubai, one of the world\'s great cities.\" Past speakers also include Mario Polegato, Chairman of GEOX Group; Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten; Liang Xinjun, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Fosun Group; Malvinder Singh, Group Chairman of Fortis Healthcare; Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons, and Shi Zhengrong, CEO of Suntech Power. This year\'s conference is being held in Kuala Lumpur on September 12-14.