Dr. Paolo Petrocelli (PhD, EMBA, FRSA)

Dr. Paolo Petrocelli (PhD, EMBA, FRSA) is a global cultural leader, academic, and author committed to advancing culture, arts, and education as drivers of growth and international cooperation. He currently serves as Head of Dubai Opera, one of the Middle East’s most prestigious performing arts institutions.

In 2025, he was appointed Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the country’s highest honor, recognizing his contributions to culture and diplomacy. Widely acknowledged as a prominent voice in the sector, he has been named among the Top 100 Most Influential Personalities in Dubai, the Top 30 Leaders Under 40 in the Middle East by Arabian Business, and one of the most creative personalities in the region by Fast Company. Cartier selected him as a Luminary Thinker.

A Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and a European Young Leader of Friends of Europe, he is also Founder and President of EMMA for Peace, a leading nonprofit promoting music diplomacy. Passionate about education, he has lectured at Yale, MIT, NYU, and Université Paris-Sorbonne. A TEDx Speaker and LinkedIn Top Voice, Dr. Petrocelli continues to shape global cultural leadership through vision, innovation, and dialogue.