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Regional International Accounting Research Forum (RIARF)

Endorsed by the Journal of the International Accounting Research (JIAR)


March 28, 2026

American University of Kuwait
Kuwait City, Kuwait



Conference Program 

Conference Registration will open soon. Stay tuned 

Inaugural RIARF Final Program

Inaugural RIARF Final Program

Pre-RIARF Session | Friday, March 27, 2026

Kuwait Accountants and Auditors Association (KAAA)

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm Registration
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm Opening Remarks

• Sabah Al Jalawi, President, KAAA
• Changjiang Wang, University of Cincinnati (online)
• Agnes Cheng, University of Oklahoma (online)
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Publishing Clinic: Ask the JIAR Senior Editor
An interactive session on publishing strategy, editorial expectations, the review process, and open Q&A.

• Ling Lisic, Virginia Tech (online)
• Samir Trabelsi, Brock University
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm RIARF Networking Reception


RIARF Main Program | Saturday, March 28, 2026

American University of Kuwait (AUK)

9:00 - 9:15 am Opening Remarks

• Samir Trabelsi, Brock University
• Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi, AUK
• Sabah Al Jalawi, KAAA
• Mohammad Issa Al-Elian, AUK

Moderator: Samir Trabelsi
9:15 - 10:00 am When Do Green Innovations Pay Off? Workforce, Governance, and Resource Use in GCC Firms
Presenter: Suzan Dsouza, American University of the Middle East
10:00 - 10:45 am Does ESG Reduce Earnings Management? Evidence from GCC Markets
Presenter: Yaseen Al Janadi, Qatar University
10:45 - 11:15 am Coffee Break
11:15 - 12:00 pm Panel: Re-Architecting Accounting Education in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is redefining the future of accounting. Education must be re-architected to prepare graduates for AI-enabled reporting, auditing, and sustainability analysis.

Moderator: Kamel Eddine Ben Ameur, American University of Kuwait
Panelists:
• Sabah Al Jalawi, President of Kuwait Accountants and Auditors Association (KAAA)
• Yasean A Tahat, Gulf University for Science and Technology
• Dalya Youssef (TBC), PWC Kuwait
• Sonia Titus Enamakel (TBC), Deloitte Kuwait (TBC)
12:00 - 12:45 pm IFRS Adoption, Quality of Institutions of Governance and Financial Development: MENA Region
Presenter: Marwa Sahli, University of Tunis
12:45 - 1:45 pm Lunch
1:45 - 2:30 pm Institutional Quality and Accounting Environment in Emerging Economies
Presenter: Rashid Khalil, Bahrain Polytechnic
2:30 - 3:15 pm Cybersecurity Processes Under the Lens
Presenter: Rihab Grassa, Higher Colleges of Technology
3:15 - 3:45 pm Coffee Break
3:45 - 4:30 pm Panel: Sustainability, Natural Capital, Regulation, and Capital Markets in MENA

Discussion on regulatory modernization, ESG disclosure, and natural capital valuation.

Moderator: Mohammad Issa Al-Elian, American University of Kuwait
Panelists:
• Karim Abu Eid, RSM Kuwait
• Abed Al-Nasser Abdallah, American University of Sharjah
• Samir Trabelsi, Brock University
• Zamzam Al Ali (TBC), Capital Markets Authority
4:30 - 4:45 pm Closing Remarks
Ahmad Al Qatan, Co-Chair, RIARF
Kamel Eddine Ben Ameur, American University of Kuwait
Ling Lisic, Editor in Chief, Journal of International Accounting Research, Wayne E. Leininger Professor, Virginia Tech
7:30 - 9:00 pm Networking Dinner



Traveling to Kuwait City


The easiest way to reach Kuwait City is by flying into Kuwait International Airport,

the country's busiest airport. From there, you can take a taxi directly to the city center.


If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

Conference Venue: American University of Kuwait




Conference Venue

The Conference Organizing Committee 

Ling Lisic 
Senior Editor

W E. Leininger Professor of Accounting, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech

Ahmad Alqatan
 Co-Chair

Professor of Accounting, Open Arab University, Kuwait

Samir Trabelsi 
Co-Chair & Guest Editor

CPA Ontario Distinguished Scholar and Professor
Brock University

CS Agnes Cheng

Dale Looper Chair in Accounting
University of Oklahoma

Changjiang (John) Wang

President of IAS AAA, and EY Professor of Accounting, Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati

Kameleddine Benameur

Professor of Accounting, American University of Kuwait.

Amna Chalwati

Associate Professor,  Accounting
Saint Mary's University

Nearby Hotels

In the area, you can find hotels like Sheraton Kuwait, Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait and Holiday Inn Kuwait Salmiya by IHG

An address must be specified for a map to be embedded

Frequently Asked Question

In this section, you can find answers to frequently asked questions about our conference .


You can reach our event team by emailing the organizers at 

[email protected]
We are happy to announce that we will host a  Publishing Clinic: Ask the JIAR Editor-in-Chief.  An interactive session on publishing strategy, editorial expectations, the review process, and open Q&A.

Participants will benefit from interactive workshops led by these experts, gaining insights into cutting-edge research topics and methodologies.

Exclusive Sponsor


American University of Kuwait

Kuwait Accountants & Auditors Association

Event Organizers


American Accounting Association - International Section