Raed Safadi, Chief Economist

Overview of Raed

Raed Safadi is a leading expert on development economics and has extensive experience advising governments on economic policy and management. He joined Whiteshield after seven years (2015-2022) as Chief Economist at Dubai’s Department of Economy & Tourism where his responsibilities during the last 2 years included developing policy options and initiatives in support of post-Covid19 pandemic recovery plans, and promoting the diversification and sustainable growth of Dubai and its transformation into a knowledge-based economy.

Experience overview

Raed Safadi is a leading expert on development economics and has extensive experience advising governments on economic policy and management. He joined Whiteshield after seven years (2015-2022) as Chief Economist at Dubai’s Department of Economy & Tourism where his responsibilities during the last 2 years included developing policy options and initiatives in support of post-Covid19 pandemic recovery plans, and promoting the diversification and sustainable growth of Dubai and its transformation into a knowledge-based economy.

Raed started his career at the World Bank in Washington, and then moved to the OECD in Paris where he was, successively, senior economist, principal economist, Head of Division, and Deputy Director of the Trade & Agriculture Department (2008-2015). Raed’s thirty years of experience span the Middle East, North Africa, China, and the G20, where he led senior-level policy dialogues and advisory to governments, UN agencies, the WTO, and regional development banks.

Expertise

• Economic development
• Macroeconomics
• International trade
• Public policy
• Labor policy
• Small & medium enterprises

Education

Ph.D. Economics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC