A number of businessmen came from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Norway, Chile and Iran. Among them were Sheikh Abdullah Al Futaim, Sheikh Omar Al Futaim, Al Humaizi Foodstuff Company chief executive officer Antoine Hamshawi, Bechtel International vice-president Lee La Verne Tabler, Nina Ricci general manager Pierre Hemar, a group of Italian jewelers, McDonald's real estate manager for the Middle East, and London restaurant owner Albert Roux.
    Several representatives of travel agencies and a major financial institutions, such as Merrill Lynch, American Express, as well as French and Belgian banking delegations, also visited the city center. So did professional and academic groups from various countries, in addition to representatives of US, UK, French, Italian and Belgian media, including the Washington Times, AFP and several French television channels.