Leading international experts are expected to gather in Dubai during September for a conference on private sector involvement in public services and infrastructure in the Middle East.

The Middle East Public/Private Investment Forum is scheduled to take place at the Al-Bustan Rotana during September 19-21.

''At the inaugural forum, we hope to attract 50-60 speakers, with break-out sessions focusing on specific sectors as well as maximum opportunities for roundtable discussions throughout the conference,'' said a spokesperson for the organiser WBR of the UK. ''Overall we expect between 200-250 key players to attend the forum.''

The event is the first of its kind for the Middle East, she said.

She continued: ''Public-private partnerships are playing an increasing role in enabling governments to finance and operate capital-intensive projects.

''The aim of this conference is to bring together the respective expertise of bankers, lawyers, risk managers, accountants, contractors and central and local government figures from both the UK and the Middle East to discuss, through a series of presentations, panel and roundtable discussions their analysis of the potential for the PPI market in the Middle East.

''The conference will bring together senior decision-makers involved in PPP/PFI from the public and private sectors. About 35 per cent of the expected delegates will be from the UK and the remainder from the Gulf and Middle East, plus some from other European countries with an interest in the Middle East.