fikr 6: overall impression

So here is my overall impression of Fikr 6, and some random thoughts:

The staff at the registration desks were awful; when they weren't completely ignoring you they were trying to fob you off onto someone else. Even under pressure, it doesn't take much effort to tell someone they will be seen to in a moment.

As I (and others) have already mentioned, free wireless internet should have been available.

The sessions were very variable – there were some extraordinary and awe-inspiring speakers, as well as some total dunderheads (albeit influential dunderheads). And the quality of the session also depended on the skill of the moderator. A couple of moderators felt it was their job to talk as much as the invited speakers.

Some of the most impressive speakers were Saudi, and I mention that only because of the stereotype of Saudis prevalent in the Gulf, let alone the rest of the world. I have encountered a number of very cultured Saudis, mainly writers, but this was the first time I had listened to people working in business and industry, and I was struck by their education and articulacy (whether in Arabic or English) and their dynamism and innovative thinking. At one point I was feeling tired, and uncertain whether I could sit through a particular session; I checked to see who the speakers were, and because they were Saudi I knew it would be worth attending.

As with most conferences, an important element is the opportunity for networking and sharing ideas informally. And I think that's where a lot of the real debate was happening too. I feel very lucky that I had the chance to meet people, many at the top of their fields and with very interesting backgrounds, who made me think about things in a new way. But I would agree with Butterfly's questioning of the real and long-term impact of events like this - how the ideas can 'trickle down'.