Raed Safadi
Partner and Chief Economist, Whiteshield Partners, Dubai
Dr. Raed Safadi is Partner and Chief Economist at Whiteshield Partners, a global advisory firm based in Dubai specializing in public policy, economic strategy, and artificial intelligence. He brings over three decades of experience in economic development, trade policy, and international cooperation. Before joining Whiteshield, Dr. Safadi served as Chief Economist at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, where he led initiatives to support post-COVID-19 recovery, economic diversification, and the emirate’s transformation into a knowledge- and innovation-based economy. He previously held senior positions at the OECD and the World Bank, and has advised numerous governments, regional development banks, and UN agencies on fiscal sustainability, trade, and structural reform. Dr. Safadi has published extensively on development, trade, and globalization, including Inclusive Global Value Chains, which explores how SMEs and developing economies can participate more effectively in global production networks. He also leads the Global Trade Resilience Index, a flagship initiative assessing countries’ capacity to absorb, adapt, and transform in response to trade disruptions and global shocks. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Georgetown University.
Areas of Interest:
- Macroeconomics
- International Trade
- International Finance
Education:
- Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989
Experience:
- Partner and Chief Economist, Whiteshield Partners, Dubai, 2022 - Present
- Chief Economic Adviser, Dubai's Department of Economic Development, UAE, 2015-2022
- Deputy-Director, Trade and Development Division, the Trade & Agriculture Directorate, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, France, Jun. 2009
- Chief Economist, Department of Economic Development, Government of Dubai, Dec. 2008 – Jun. 2009
- Head of the Trade and Development Division, the Trade & Agriculture Directorate, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, France, Aug. 2001 – Nov. 2008
Latest Publications:
- Safadi, Raed. 2006. The Legacy of Trade Reforms in the Arab Countries, The OPEC Fund for International Development, Vienna, December 2006.
- Safadi, Raed and Abdelbasset Chemingui. 2005. Saudi Arabia Long Road to WTO Membership: The Potential Payoffs, ERF, Cairo, December 2005.
- Safadi, Raed and Sam Laird and Alessandro Turini), “The WTO and Development.” In Douglas Nelson (editor), The Political Economy of Policy Reforms, Elsevier, 2004.
The MENA Countries and the Uruguay Round and Beyond
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
February, 2000
Working PapersGlobal Challenges and Opportunities Facing MENA Countries at the Dawn of the 21st Century
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
August, 1996
Working PapersThe Impact of the Uruguay Round Agreements on ESCWA Countries’ Manufactured Exports
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
March, 1996
Working PapersInternational Agreements and the Environment
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
January, 1995
Working PapersThe ‘New’ Trade Theories and New Trading Opportunities for Turkey
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
November, 1994
Working PapersERF 31st Annual Conference: Parallel Sessions
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
Apr 27, 2025
Revisiting Macroeconomic Management in Times of Crisis and Beyond
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
Mar 26, 2022
Revisiting Macroeconomic Management in Times of Crisis and Beyond – Parallel Sessions – March 27
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
Mar 26, 2022
The GCC Economies in the Wake of COVID19: Charting the Road to Recovery and Resilience
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
Mar 09, 2021
ERF 26th Annual Conference: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a Framework for MENA’s Development Policy
Areas of Interest: Macroeconomics International Trade International Finance Education: Ph.D. in Economics. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 1989 Experience:... Read More
Jun 23, 2020